A little more than a year ago, a Muslim family in London, Ontario, was killed while out for a walk after dinner. The community was left reeling by this hate crime. And organizations, both local and beyond, were left trying to figure out what to do or say to be helpful. Some organizations we work with got it right. Others realized they needed to re-evaluate their response and how it impacted their teams as they worked to ensure their employees felt supported and acknowledged.
In a perfect world, we would never have to turn on the news and see another report about a hate-based crime or walk into an office and see a colleague on the verge of tears because their mosque or synagogue has been targeted and defaced.
In a perfect world, we would not need to think about the implications of hate crimes on our communities. Unfortunately, we don’t live in that perfect world. Statistics Canada recently released data showing that religiously based hate crimes have increased by 67% over the last two years, with much of it focused on the Jewish and Muslim communities.
When the unthinkable happens, how we react can communicate a lot – and sometimes, what we are communicating isn’t reflective of our good intentions. Sometimes we are so worried about saying the wrong thing, stepping into a space where we don’t belong, or making situations worse that we don’t say anything at all. Unfortunately, that response is rarely helpful. So how should we react when the news is bad?
Always start from a place of compassion
The first thing to remember is that compassion in these circumstances is our goal, and it is an excellent place to begin. Our collective expectations for how organizations respond to external crises are evolving. If a local, regional, or national event has shaken our colleagues or our clients, set aside worries about what might be “right,” and begin with compassion.
Acknowledge the incident and its effect on the community internally first
The first response must be to acknowledge what has occurred and check in with our teams. While public responses are admirable, they could ring hollow unless your team knows through both words and actions that you care more about them than the appearance of a public statement.
Remind team leaders to check in with their team members
Give your leadership at all levels not only permission but the resources and support to connect with their team members. Remember that the impacts of a crisis can be ongoing. Empower leaders to offer compassionate and meaningful support to the team.
Offer information about available support
Communicate to staff and their families the support options available through your Employee Assistance Program if you have one or through the community. Consider whether there is a need for some internal counselling or support programs.
If there are local implications, or your staff feels review and communicate security information and expectations for workplaces
Consider what components of your business might need to be reviewed to ensure personal safety for all. Don’t do this work in a vacuum, though. Remember to solicit feedback from affected groups to ensure any suggested amendments or additions are actually helpful. Be careful of your tone in the communications to ensure that comments are supportive and not construed as victim-blaming.
If you are considering issuing a public statement, think first about what value that statement will contribute to the conversation
Organizations can get themselves into trouble by issuing public statements, especially if they don’t align with their corporate culture. A statement that feels inauthentic to your major stakeholders – your staff, your clients, your community – will do more harm than good to both the cause and your reputation. The voices which need to be centred belong to those who are most affected. Consider instead supporting and amplifying statements made by community leaders. If there is meaningful information for your customers or community that needs to be shared, acknowledge that in your statement as the reason for the communication.
Make a donation if you can
This one comes with one huge caveat. Do NOT turn this into a public relations event. The point is to offer support within your community and not to score points. A donation to a community group battling Islamophobia or antisemitism, for example, or directly to an affected organization can go a long way to helping the community rebuild, feel safe and continue its important work.
Remember, we are all struggling
Incidences of violence are unsettling for us all, even if we are not directly impacted. We may have friends, family or neighbors grieving. We may have children who are grappling with difficult questions. We may be wondering how to make meaningful personal contributions toward change. Workplaces which authentically acknowledge these realities, or better yet, which can create space to connect with others around them, are well on their way toward a compassionate response.
Keep the lines of communication open
If you miss the mark, or you have missed it after previous events, acknowledge that your goal is to do better and then share your plan. Remember that it is a positive thing to seek input from affected colleagues and communities but be mindful of placing additional demands on them in these situations.
Summary
In short, when dealing with tragic or traumatic news, start with compassion and keep the focus on those who are most affected. Make sure your leadership and communications team are on the same page, and consider increasing your organization’s religious literacy in addition to other DEI areas, so you are well-positioned to respond appropriately when the news is bad.
This blog by guest author, Brian Carwana was originally published by Diversio EDU (formerly CCDI Consulting) in December 2022.
Our newsletter and blogs feature personal opinions and diverse viewpoints. We aim to create a safe space for our team to share their perspectives on diversity and inclusion. Please note that individual articles may not align with every reader’s view or comprehensively cover a topic. We appreciate the diversity of opinions and respect our team’s contributions.
