Suicide Office To-Dos

So at times, organizations send out notices to their staff with self help suggestions or organizational resources that are available.

One such case is for suicide prevention. 

For example, if you are thinking about suicide, perhaps you should contract the employee assistance program.

It’s a good idea to reach out to employees when the messaging is done in a way that makes employees feel they are genuinely cared about and needed, and substantial help is available to them.

People contemplating suicide are in a desperate state of mind and proper handling is nothing less than a life or death situation.

Going to the extreme to make a point for a moment, office reminders about suicide prevention should never be selfish or cavalier, such as:

– Remember to turn the lights out.

– Set your out of office message on.

– Have you done a knowledge transfer to ensure a smooth transition?

If employees are coming away feeling like the organization is just sending out a form message or treating their feelings and situation lightly or in their own interests (such as to remove/reduce liability) that is apt to make things worse and not better.

Please treat employees with genuine dignity, respect, caring, and humanity, and offer them substantive help when they need it.

There are families depending on them and they love and need them. 😉

(Source Photo: here with attribution to Jason Kuffer)

Metro Opens (Wrong) Doors

MetroOpensDoors.com is a website name for WMATA trains in/around Washington, D.C.

So this was Metro opening the train doors today.

Unfortunatey, it was the wrong doors–the ones facing the tracks, and not the side with the platform.

I took this photo with the doors open on the wrong side.

I wondered what would have happened if the trains had been full and someone was leaning up or against the doors–they could’ve actually fallen off/out of the train.

Where exactly are the safety features so this doesn’t happen?

Anyway, we ended up being offloaded from the train, but at least no one that I know of ended up as train kill. 😦

Vandalism and Vomit — Only $2,500!

So we went to look at a new dorm-type apartment for my daughter.

She and her friends want to be near campus and where everyone hangs out.

When we got to the building, the front door glass was smashed in and wooden planks filled the space over the whole door.

While we were waiting in front, a group of girls were walking in–and one was saying to the others, “Oh, he says he love me, and he wants to have sex with me…”–then couldn’t hear the rest as they continued by.

Inside the lobby was this “Vandalism Report” with dates for each (not shown)–Take a look at it (THIS IS REAL!).

– Signs and fire extinguishers vandalized.

– Beer cups thrown off the balcony.

– Graffiti painted on the walls.

– And best for last…urine, vomit, rubbish, and blood discovered–at multiple times and in multiple places!

The slumlord landlord, buys up the filthy apartments, renovates them, and rents out two-bedroom units in this building for approximately $2500, split 4 ways among the students.

He takes 2 months security deposit.

And he makes each person responsible for all the others, so if one person backs out or doesn’t pay, each of the other students are responsible–not just for their share (lease).

He advertised one unit, but showed us another.

Then told us this one was also already taken and we should trust him and sign up for another unit that he is purchasing and “it will be the same thing, trust me!”

This whole thing was disappointing to my daughter who was excited to be with all her friends so close to campus.

I was proud of her when my wife asked her despite how much she wanted this…did she feel this guy was trustworthy?–and she said, “No!”

Not sure who would want to live in a place like this…but my daughter was disappointed anyway.

It’s hard to be practical, when the emotional side for people take over.

These young people are victimized by the slumlords, who prey on their youth, inexperience, and needs.

This place was disgusting–even so, it’s tough to be a parent because you want your children to learn from mistakes, but mistakes can be so costly.

Funny thing is, there were plenty of kids in this building–where are the grownups? 😉