Gordon Graham
Category: Corrections
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for all my friends in corrections and community supervision. I’d like to talk about checking in on your colleagues’ health and wellness.
Other areas of public safety – fire, EMS and law enforcement – have made great strides in addressing wellness challenges. But corrections and community supervision tends to lag behind.
Leaders need to have their finger on the pulse of employee wellness.
It’s no secret that the intense pressure and safety concerns you and your colleagues face at work take a toll. Just like other public safety professionals, these challenges negatively affect the health and wellness of those working in corrections.
You probably all know one person at work who’s a bit grumpy or on edge. Maybe you even steer clear of them because they have a knack for escalating otherwise calm encounters, leaving you to step in and de-escalate. Or perhaps you’ve noticed a coworker who used to be friendly and chatty becoming quiet and withdrawn. It’s important to look out for one another. Turning a blind eye to a struggling coworker isn’t the answer.
So, when a coworker tells you they’re having trouble sleeping or feeling stressed out, don’t brush their comments aside with, “It’s just part of the job.” Take the time to find out more. Dig deeper and listen actively. But don’t stop there. If a colleague tells you they’re struggling, support them in getting help. Your observations and intervention could mean the difference between life and death.
And last, but not least, it’s incumbent upon agency leadership to invest in the health and wellness of their employees. This means leaders need to have their finger on the pulse of employee wellness. Know what’s going on, and step in when necessary to make sure your staff have the support they need.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
