---
title: 5 Ways to Care for Your Employees’ Emotions
description: Learn the 5 ways to care for your employees' emotions
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---

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## [5 Ways to Care for Your Employees’ Emotions](https://promotion-payroll-hr.pinnaclehro.com/human-resources-articles/bid/70359/5-Ways-to-Care-for-Your-Employees-Emotions)

[Posted on Wed, Jan 04, 2012](https://promotion-payroll-hr.pinnaclehro.com/human-resources-articles/author/michael-allen)

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![HR Allen Consulting Services](https://promotion-payroll-hr.pinnaclehro.com/hs-fs/file-13825568-jpg/images/istock_000015554321xsmall-300x199-resized-600.jpg)Everyone appreciates a cheerful co-worker, but employees often experience negative feelings  
on the job, too. Episodes of depression, anxiety, or anger can affect your company’s bottom line: The [World Health Organization](http://www.who.int/) estimates that [35 to 45 percent of workplace absenteeism can be attributed to mental distress](http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/investing_in_mnh_final.pdf). Meanwhile, researchers at [Tel Aviv University](http://www.tau.ac.il/index-eng.html)found that those who described a workplace as “emotionally non-supportive” were [2.4 times more likely to die](http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/05/friendly-workplace-linked-to-longer-life/) over the study’s 20-year period, *The New York Times* reports. Questions posed by researchers included whether or not subjects viewed supervisors and peers as approachable and friendly.

Here are five ways to better care for your employees’ emotions.

1. **Pay attention to body language. **Train managers to be more cognizant of other people’s feelings by teaching them to be consciously aware of body language. It’s [a strategy already in use by the hospitality industry](http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2011/11/15/hotels-train-staff-to-read/), Fox News reports. Chrissy Denihan, chief comfort officer of [Denihan Hospitality Group](http://www.denihan.com/), says the company’s body-language expert trains employees in the art of deciphering nonverbal signals. “Reading facial expressions, like anger or happiness, can also provide clues for staff on how best to handle a situation,” she says. The firm uses the same training to enhance hotel security.
2. **Provide privacy. **Tough conversations may be better handled off-site. In the article[“How to Provide Constructive Criticism”](http://www.inc.com/guides/how-to-provide-constructive-criticism.html) for *Inc. Magazine,* entrepreneur Stephen Marsh notes that getting away from the office brings a “fresh perspective” to an ongoing conflict in the workplace and can help an employee to maintain emotional control. Human resources professionals often have [expertise in handling emotionally charged employees](http://www.mbs.edu/index.cfm?objectid=A1CAE8DE-5056-AD5A-239FCC01F67C74A0), so consider inviting someone from HR to the meeting.
3. **Emotional recovery post-disaster. **Have a plan in place to help employees’ with the emotional trauma that often occurs after a natural disaster or act of violence in the workplace. Psychiatrist Carol S. North says that [fostering a vision of hope and “memorializing and commemorating”](http://www.eapassn.org/files/public/jeavol41no3.pdf) at critical milestones or dates is important to helping employees emotionally heal from highly traumatic events.
4. ******Don’t tolerate gossip.** Do encourage empathic actions and lead by example. “[Smart companies have a zero-tolerance policy toward gossip](http://www.handelgroup.com/gossip-in-the-workplace/),” says Beth Weissenberger, co-founder and vice-chairman**** of [The Handel Group](http://www.handelgroup.com/), a coaching firm. She says companies should encourage employees to put the kibosh on backroom kvetching.
5. ******Practice the art of engaged listening.** [Avoid offering homilies to distressed workers.](http://www.tacklementalhealth.org.uk/how-do-i/has-mental-ill-health/manage-the-situation-afterwards/)Trite responses often do little to help employees successfully surmount stressful situations. Instead, create an emotionally supportive workplace through warm, genuine [engaged listening](http://www.docdreyfus.com/psychologically-speaking/personal-growth/how-do-you-listen/). This involves giving the person your full, undivided, empathetic attention. ****Note that this supportive strategy can backfire if you fail to follow through with genuine assistance, which may cause the employee to feel abandoned.

by Jan Fletcher<http://blog.intuit.com/employees/5-ways-to-care-for-your-employees-emotions/#about-author>

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