When something happens at work, looking after the people affected matters too.
Some workplace events are impossible to plan for.
A sudden death. A serious accident or injury. A suicide or attempted suicide. Violence or assault. A medical emergency. A safeguarding incident. A robbery. A traumatic event witnessed by colleagues. Or simply an event that leaves a team shocked, frightened or struggling to know what to do next.
In those moments, managers are often dealing with the practical response — while also trying to support the people affected.
That’s where COS Corporate – Workforce Wellbeing can step in.
We provide calm, professional and independent support following serious or distressing workplace incidents. Depending on what has happened, this may include an on-site counsellor, confidential one-to-one support, a quiet drop-in space, support for managers, brief group information, follow-up counselling and signposting to additional services where appropriate.
Support without forcing people to talk
Following a frightening or traumatic event, people respond differently. One employee may want to talk immediately; another may need space. Someone may appear completely composed and struggle several days later.
Our approach is not to gather everyone together and make them relive what happened.
Instead, we focus on helping people feel safe, steadier, informed and supported. Employees can talk if they want to, receive practical guidance about common reactions to distress, and understand where further help is available.
Managers need support too
When something serious happens, managers are often expected to know what to say — while managing their own reaction and carrying responsibility for everyone else.
We can help managers think through how to communicate with staff, respond sensitively, recognise employees who may need additional support and understand when specialist or urgent help may be appropriate.
It also gives the manager somewhere to talk through the impact on them.
The impact may not appear immediately
The first few hours are only part of the picture.
Sleep difficulties, anxiety, irritability, tearfulness, poor concentration, intrusive thoughts, guilt or avoidance can emerge later. For this reason, support can continue beyond the immediate incident, with follow-up contact or counselling available where needed.
Not everybody who experiences a difficult event will need counselling — and we do not assume that they will. The aim is to make appropriate support available and allow people to access it when they need it.
Independent and confidential
Although the organisation funds the service, the employee remains our client.
Individual conversations remain confidential within the normal limits of counselling confidentiality. We do not report employees’ personal disclosures, counselling notes or opinions back to management.
Where useful, COS may provide the organisation with a broad, anonymised overview of support needs — for example, that employees would benefit from further access to support — without identifying what individual employees have said.
When the unexpected happens
You may already have procedures for emergencies, accidents, safeguarding or business continuity.
Critical Incident Support adds the human response.
It means that when something serious happens, managers do not have to carry the emotional aftermath alone, and employees know that professional support is available.
When the unexpected happens, we’ll help you look after the people behind your business.
COS Corporate – Workforce Wellbeing
Independent support for your workforce, when it matters most.