Much of our time is spent at work and as a result we development relationships with those who work alongside of us. When a coworker becomes sick or passes away it can have a large effect on their work group and the sense of loss can be significant.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to assist you during these times.

The Idaho Department of Correction seeks to protect employee confidentiality during these times, so medical information about employees should not be shared without the employee's permission. It is natural to want to help and gather people around to provide support and services for our cherished coworker, but we also want to make sure we maintain confidentiality and be mindful that we are not sharing more than what the employee is comfortable sharing. If the employee does not indicate they are comfortable with updates being provided about their health situation, only a manager or human resources should be involved in providing that communication.

We can provide support by discussing with the employee what might be beneficial for them and checking in periodically to see how they are doing and if we can help them out in any way. Some employees may need assistance with meals and other tasks. Assistance for employees is always voluntary.

Your HR Rep is happy to provide a listening ear to you if you are struggling with the illness and/or the absence of a coworker due to his or her illness. Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can also provide professional resources for helping you cope with the grief and loss associated with your coworker's illness.