A reader asks:
A 12 months in the past, one in every of our workers, Jane, was killed by a drunk driver. Jane labored right here for nearly a decade and was well-liked. Now we have an EAP and supplied paid remedy providers to anybody who wants it in addition to absolutely paid bereavement and day off to attend the trial, no questions requested.
A month after Jane’s dying, her substitute began. Nevertheless, three months after beginning the job, she abruptly give up with out discover. We supplied to the runner-up from our search, however he give up after 4 months. We employed one other individual, who lasted three months and simply give up final week.
HR advised me the final rent stated in her exit interview that she was leaving as a result of she couldn’t deal with working with Jane’s previous coworkers and supervisor. She stated she resumed job looking out virtually as quickly as she began right here due to how unhealthy it was. She had tried to deal with it with the supervisor however nothing modified. Apparently the primary two replacements for Jane’s job additionally each stated they couldn’t deal with it and the supervisor had performed nothing.
All of them reported being consistently in comparison with Jane, accused of hostility or coldness for arranging the desk in another way than Jane had it, and having issues like “if Jane have been right here…” or “a few of us nonetheless care about Jane” stated aloud to them. We’ve been advised the supervisor participated and accused them of being terrible for “disrespecting” Jane once they introduced their issues ahead. One was requested how she might sleep at evening after taking Jane’s job.
I work in a special constructing and had no concept any of this was occurring (I additionally don’t know why HR didn’t act on these complaints till now). I had thought the primary two replacements left as a result of they couldn’t deal with the strain.
I perceive Jane’s dying is upsetting and troublesome for her coworkers, however what they’re doing can’t proceed. We will’t hold hiring folks each few months. I do know I want to speak to the coworkers and supervisor about their habits however given the emotion behind this I don’t even know the place to begin. I’m method out of my depth with this.
I reply this query over at Inc. right now, the place I’m revisiting letters which have been buried within the archives right here from years in the past (and generally updating/increasing my solutions to them). You can learn it right here.
