by Jerry Mooney

Our relationships with our workplaces are delicate. Everything, from the view to the colors on the walls, impacts how happy we are to arrive each day. If an employer gets this wrong, colleagues could end up unhappy no matter how passionate they are about their careers. If this is all done right, even an uninspiring career could end up being a dream job. There really is that much riding on the small things.

Of course, appearance isn’t the only thing that matters. Feeling safe can also have significant standing on how much you enjoy your work time. If you’ve never felt threatened or unsafe in a workplace, it could seem like a second home. But, the careful construction of your career is at risk of crumbling if that feeling of safety changes.

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Things like these aren’t always your employer’s fault. A fire in the work space or damage from a storm are freak accidents which no one can help. Still, either of these could be enough to see you unhappy in your position. If you aren’t careful, they could see you leaving a workplace which has been good to you otherwise. To make sure that doesn’t happen, be sure to follow these steps in the aftermath of a disaster.

Take things slow

If you return full-time straight away, there’s a risk you won’t be either mentally or physically up to it. Instead, be sure to take things slow. Ask your boss if you could work remotely for a while. At the very least, switch to half days to give yourself time. By building yourself up slowly, you ensure that things don’t get too much. Think of it like dipping your toe in water instead of jumping straight in. You can warm back up to your career without too much of a shock.

Accept help from your employer

It’s your employer’s job to maintain your well being. In the aftermath of a disaster, they may offer in-work medical help, or even therapy. Your first instinct may be to refuse, but give this some thought. Therapy is too pricey for many of us, but the claims process from your employer’s insurance is sure to cover the cost. This makes sense for them as it sees you back on your feet sooner. And, this process alone could see you overcoming what happened and returning to work happy.

Speak with your colleagues

When we experience trauma, it isn’t unusual to bottle things up. But, if you do that, you’ll find it near enough impossible to return to work after what happened. You’ll feel alone and isolated from your team. Instead, then, remember that they all went through what happened with you. Don’t block your feelings about that fire. Speak about them with a colleague you trust. This alone could show you what a good team you have behind you here. Rather than putting you off work, something like this could well remind you why you enjoyed working with these people so much in the first place.