Ducks in a Row: Hurricanes at Work and Home
by Miki Saxon
I just read an article about hurricane employees; referring to employees who “destroy the social fabric of the organization by creating friction, drama, tension and hostility among other employees.”
It’s an excellent article, but what struck me is how often good team players turn toxic during the holidays.
I’ve always said that people aren’t water faucets, i.e., there is no way they can spend 8-12 hours daily in a toxic culture or with an abusive boss and not have it affect their relationships and non-work actions.
By the same token, what happens outside of work affects attitudes and actions at work and what happens during the holidays is quite different from the rest of the year.
The holidays, starting at Thanksgiving, often include exposure to hurricane family members and excessive and/or unrealistic expectations that overwhelm normal coping capability.
That greater stress can disrupt mental equilibrium and negatively impact attitude.
The take-away here, whether you are the boss or not, is that if a team member becomes disruptive or has a sudden personality change talk with them and see what you can do to help.
Flickr image credit: Ducklover Bonnie
