Everyday many employees go to work using a motorcycle, unfortunately sometimes they may be involved in a motorcycle accident. According to the US Department of Transportation, 5,932 people were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2021. A further 82,686 people were injured in the same type of accident.
Not only is this devastating to the employees family, but it can also have an impact on the business they work for as well. If you have employees who ride motorcycles to work, in this article are some helpful tips and information on how to help them if they ever become involved in an accident.
The Impact of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can result in serious complications, and can cause a person to be away from work for a long time. Some of the impacts which can occur include:
- There may be physical injuries as a result of the accident which may need rehabilitation, surgery, and long term care.
- An employee may be emotionally traumatized by the accident which can lead to PTSD, depression and anxiety.
- It could cause financial strain on them if they don’t have any insurance to cover expenses.
- Colleagues may feel anxiety if they have to take on additional workload while the employee is away.
If someone has been involved in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t their fault, it’s important they seek professional legal help from an Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer or one in your local area to help you gain compensation for the accident.
How to Support Employees
After an employee has had a motorcycle accident, it’s important to support them during this time. Some of the ways you can do this includes:
- Open communication: Reach out to the employee if you can, and express your concern about their well-being. Reassure them that their job will be there when they get back, and allow them to share their feelings if they need to.
- Find out what they need: It’s important to find out the extent of their injuries to know how long they may be out of work for. Ask family and friends about how you and your business could support the employee during their recovery period.
- Leave and flexible work accommodations: It’s a good idea to look into your company’s policy on leave in regards to workers being sick or having short term disabilities. Make sure the employees rights are communicated properly so they know if they can access any benefits while they’re off. Encourage the employee to have time off and prioritize their health around work obligations. Also discuss if there’s any modifications you can offer the employee which may include flexible hours, lighter duties or remote working options. This can be helpful if they are able to work a little but not to the full capacity it was before the accident.
- Promote a safe work environment: It’s important to use the incident to help create a safer work environment for those who ride motorcycles. Maybe you could implement a motorcycle parking area away from cars, offer workshops or refresher courses to help riders improve their skills on the bike.
- Communicate with the team: Employers need to communicate with the team about the accident so everyone understands what’s happened and the short or long term changes that need to occur within the company. In doing this you’ll be able to encourage and motivate the team during this difficult time, manage workload distribution easier amongst employees, or through a temporary employee, and bring the team together to do something nice for a team mate.
- Check-in regularly: Schedule regular check-ins with the employee who’s had the accident to see how they’re going and how their recovery is. This will help them feel supported. Also keep a check on other employees to make sure they’re coping with the effects of the accident.
- Provide resources for recovery: Employers can also help support their employees by providing access to professional resources. If there’s a counselor or therapist on site, offer their services for free if the employee needs to talk. If there’s financial aid programs available, inform the employee about their rights to accessing that.
- Create a positive work environment: When the employee is returning to work it’s important to be supportive. Setup a return to work plan to help accommodate their needs. Acknowledge their return by giving a personal welcome back note, or a gift basket to show they were appreciated and they belong in the company.
- Continue to promote open communication: After the employee returns to work create an open door policy for them to discuss their needs. Make sure they have the ability to reach out no matter the issue.
How to Take Care of Yourself During Their Recovery
In some cases the employer may be close friends with the employee who’s had the accident. It’s important in cases such as this that you also take care of yourself during this emotional time. Some things you can do could be:
- Recognize your feelings and make sure to talk about them to a professional or with other friends. This can help to reduce stress.
- Set boundaries around yourself so you don’t experience burnout, and get help from others around you if needed to complete work.
- Try to stick to a normal routine as much as possible as this will help to feel like life is stable during this difficult time. Prioritize a work-life balance to help bring you back to feeling centered.
- Practice self care by exercising, eating right and practicing mindful techniques.
- Educate yourself on the accident and the expected recovery time so you can come to terms with what’s happened.
Having someone you know involved in a motorcycle accident is hard. Always take care of yourself as well even if they are your employee.
Endnote
With over 36% of motorcycle riders not having the appropriate license and skills to drive a motorcycle, it’s no wonder many get into an accident. Motorcycle accidents can be serious and sometimes can take a long time to recover from. If you’ve recently had an employee who has gone through something like this, it’s important to help support them during this difficult time. Whether it’s encouraging flexible time or additional benefits for financial support, the employee will feel appreciated in the long term.
