Supporting Employee Mental Health Post-Injury: Minor Injuries
What employers can do to support workers with minor injuries.
Injury Example: A cook cuts their finger, a cashier sprains their ankle, a room attendant with a sore wrist, a grounds keeper scrapes their knee, a ski instructor has a sore shoulder
| Potential Impacts | How to Support |
| • Reduced confidence in performing job tasks that lead to injury • Fear that they will be perceived as less competent | Ensure the worker’s confidence in performing any job tasks that lead to the injury – offer further training if necessary. Approach this topic with empathy as it is easy to accidentally trigger shame by implying the injury was a result of incompetence. |
| • A feeling of shame for having incurred the injury | Reassure the worker that mistakes happen to everybody – maybe share a story about a similar injury you’ve incurred in the past. |
| • Bullying or harassment from coworkers or guests | Watch out for potential bullying and harassment as a result of injury, and address it proactively before it grows. |
| • Pride in working through injury as a badge of honor • Denying the need for further treatment | Validate the need for recovery through proper messaging: there is no badge of honor for “toughing it out” through a painful injury, and that “self-care is cool.” |
| • Psychological trauma to themselves or coworkers through witnessing injury | Have an empathetic conversation with the injured worker to help them identify the potential impacts of the injury and refer them to additional support if needed. Check-in with witnesses of the injury for the need to debrief and refer to additional support if needed. |
Additional Resources
- Crisis Lines: 1-800-784-2433 or 9-8-8
- Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789
- Drug and Alcohol Info and Referral: 1-800-663-1441
- Mental Health Services: helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca
- Mental Health Information: heretohelp.bc.ca
- Free Wellness Program: bouncebackbc.ca
Download Supporting Employee Mental Health Post-Injury: Minor Injuries as a handout to share with your employees or print off.
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