Do you or your utilities employees work in the field?
By the very nature of their duties, field workers sometimes interact with the homeless. Homelessness is a complex social issue that can elicit many emotions, but we recommend that field workers practice using empathy when engaging with the homeless.
When you can’t avoid interactions, follow these practices:
Don’t Judge – You have no idea what this person is dealing with or the conditions that brought them to this situation.
Be Kind – A smile or nod of recognition can set the tone for a better interaction or avoid a negative one altogether.
Remain Aware – Homeless people may interact in unexpected ways, so monitor their distance and movement.
Decline Requests for Help or Money – Decline apologetically and use a short but reasonable excuse for why you won’t comply. Examples include, “I’m sorry, I can’t right now, I have to work,” and “I’m sorry, I don’t have any cash on me today.”
Learn more about interacting with the homeless.
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Would you staff benefit from comprehensive workplace violence E-Learning that can be completed in an hour or less?
Training topics include the Run, Hide, Fight methodology, situational awareness, verbal de-escalation, response to injury, and much more.
Let’s talk about your training needs today.
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