Giving Bad News

[gavintc]

I had a pretty horrid afternoon when I had to tell one of my staff that his only son had been killed earlier in the day. It was one of the most unpleasant things I have had to do. You get stuck for words, and sympathy sounds so hollow compared to the incredible loss that he has just been confronted with. I then took the rest of the team to Costa coffee for a bit of cheering up. It was a very stilted and difficult afternoon.

 

[Mr Pig]

That's a bad one. Why did you have to do it?

 

[gavintc]

I cannot go into the details as the incident is not yet public. But, I was asked as his boss to do the deed. It is only the 2nd time that I have had to this - it never gets easier.

 

[ComedyPilot]

It is truly a horrible thing to have to do. I've done it loads and hated every time, but just did it.

 

[Mr Pig]

That's two times more than most people I recon.

 

[Noodley]

My thoughts are with you and his family.

 

[mickle]

Jeez Gav.

 

[yenrod]

Oh....(no) feel soo hard.

 

[gary r]

i remember taking a phone call at home when i was about 12yrs old,It was my auntie who was calling to speak to my mum, "she's not home at the moment"
"well when she gets home can you tell her her mothers died"
That was an awful thing to ask a kid to do & i can still picture my Mum walking up the path when i went outside to break the news.

 

[Wigsie]

Thats horrible news Gavin, I am truly sorry for your employee and his family, having been through similar to what he has I know he will need all the support you and everyone around him can give for as long as they need it.

 

[Arch]

oh, that's hard. I've only ever had to do it when I've been 'involved' too, and emotion just takes over, having to do it as an 'outsider' must be very difficult.

 

[Fnaar]

Had to do it once in my nursing days... was trying to do it 'professionally' and got a complaint that I had done it wrongly. One of the reasons I gave up nursing. Horrible thing to have to do.

 

[AdamBlade]

That must have been hard. I can remember my parents being on holiday and having to tell my dad that his mum had died over the phone. I hated every second of it. Can sympathise totally.

 

[Wigsie]

Had to do it once in my nursing days... was trying to do it 'professionally' and got a complaint that I had done it wrongly. One of the reasons I gave up nursing. Horrible thing to have to do.

Can understand this Fnaar, my wife was due to start nurse training and then possibly midwifery but after what happened to Bodhi all the nurses were in tears and she said she would not be able to do that, i guess you never know how you will handle it untill it actually happens.

 

[Fnaar]

Hi Wigsie, I'd missed your post before about your son... just searched and found it... so sorry to hear that.