Going to Hospital with Inured Employees?
About 15 years ago we got a new GM from Corporate, for our division of 10 plants. She was out first female GM. One of the first things she did was make an edict that anytime we sent someone to the hospital the top HR or EHS person was to immediately go to the hospital to be with the family and offer support. The Plant Manager was to go as soon as possible to represent her. She even wrote a policy where she outlined that we were to stay until the employee was stable, offer the family any support they needed (including getting coffee or snacks), and answer any questions we could. We were to sit as to be helpful but NOT intrusive! She performed a Zoom where she described her policy and ended with words I will never forget, “We will support our employees when they are injured working for us! Also, I want to immediately know when I send someone to the hospital! When you do I do!”
At first, I was stuck in my old paradigm, in that in my many years of experience I had never ever done that, although the thoughts had crossed my mind. Second, she was requiring HR and/or EHS to carry the initial burden, as in our food chain we only had dotted line responsibility to her, and reported to Group Staff, she was Ops. Since I was an old dinosaur (Baby Boomer) I was HR and EHS, so for our plant I would always be the one to go to the hospital. However, I decided to give it a try and do my best!
Sometimes it was tense and intense, but I must admit that it was a great thing in the long run! I immediately noticed the family and employee appreciated the support. Worker’s Compensation usually went much easier as there was more trust, even when things got sensitive, which can easily happen in WC. I do think it helped get people back to work sooner too, the trust thing again! Wished I had done it years before! It also made me work harder to stop accidents from happening!
Anyone else have a policy that requires management to go to the hospital to be with the family? If not, I highly recommend it. One of the little things that really count with employees!
Comments (4)
It wasn't really a policy - but that was typically how I handled it at most places. Although luckily this didn't happen often.
In my past experience I was usually the one to transport employees to and from the hospital. We weren't able to stay in the waiting room because of COVID restrictions but I feel like the conversations with the injured employee in the vehicle helped with making it more personable, possibly giving more details for the investigation, and most of all showing that we care.
I feel like being with the employee's family, if it is a more serious injury would be very impactful for the employee and their family. Shows that at the end of the day we care about the employee's well being.
Tom,
I have always done my best to handled injuries like this no matter the severity.
The problem now is when Covid came through it made that management style very difficult to perform and sustain.
The company I am with now, does not want us going, workers comp sends someone. We can't even transport in company cars; they want them sent in taxi service or Ambulance.