09/11/2026
Friday’s HR Tip:
A personal post today. This is my sweet girl in a photo taken before her accident this week. She sustained a life-threatening injury, and it was one of the most difficult 12 hours I have experienced in a long time. She is home with me now, and I am incredibly grateful.
As I processed everything, I began thinking about how an employer might handle a situation like this.
Retaining good employees is important. Small businesses may not always have the resources to offer expensive benefits or elaborate retention programs—but empathy is a powerful benefit.
Had I been working for an employer, I would have needed time away from work. For an employer who genuinely cares about employees, situations like this are opportunities to offer support. Often, the greatest cost is simply a little flexibility, understanding, and time.
I believe that when we help employees through difficult life circumstances, they are better able to support our businesses, our clients, and one another.
The data supports the connection between engagement and business outcomes. According to Gallup, highly engaged teams see 10% higher customer loyalty/engagement and 23% higher profitability than teams with lower engagement. (Link to the article in the comments.)
Supporting employees through difficult seasons does not guarantee they will stay forever. But it can build trust, strengthen loyalty, and ensure they remember how they were treated when it mattered most.