You notice a coworker has come to work tearful and upset and says things aren’t going well at home. What should you do?

You notice a coworker has come to work tearful and upset and says things aren’t going well at home. What should you do?

• A. Report your coworker's statement to the director of nursing
• B. Contact authorities since this might indicate an abusive situation
• C. Refer your coworker to the Employee Assistance Plan
• D. Ask your coworker for more information before deciding what action to take

Answer: (C)

Connecting the coworker to the Employee Assistance Plan is the best approach because it provides confidential, professional support for personal and family issues that can spill into work life. The EAP offers short-term counseling, coping strategies, and referrals, all while keeping the person's privacy. This lets them decide whether to seek help without involving supervisors or outside authorities, which can feel invasive and stigmatizing. Approaching with care is key: privately express concern, and offer to connect them with the EAP and explain that it’s a confidential resource available through the job. If there were clear signs of immediate danger or mandatory reporting requirements (such as suspected abuse with imminent risk), those rules would apply, but with general home-life stress, the right first step is to point them toward the EAP rather than taking other actions or demanding more information upfront.

Connecting the coworker to the Employee Assistance Plan is the best approach because it provides confidential, professional support for personal and family issues that can spill into work life. The EAP offers short-term counseling, coping strategies, and referrals, all while keeping the person's privacy. This lets them decide whether to seek help without involving supervisors or outside authorities, which can feel invasive and stigmatizing.

Approaching with care is key: privately express concern, and offer to connect them with the EAP and explain that it’s a confidential resource available through the job. If there were clear signs of immediate danger or mandatory reporting requirements (such as suspected abuse with imminent risk), those rules would apply, but with general home-life stress, the right first step is to point them toward the EAP rather than taking other actions or demanding more information upfront.