Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22BACK TO WORK Having a staff member or contractor kidnapped is a disruptive and challenging event for any organisation. Not only will you have had to deal with the crisis response to the kidnap itself, you will have been supporting the hostage’s family and colleagues. It can take an emotional and physical toll on everyone concerned. The hard work does not end when the hostage returns home safely. They are likely to be suffering the impacts of their captivity; the initial release period may feel surreal for them, they may struggle to sleep, experience flashbacks and nightmares, they may be hyper-vigilant, feel angry, or have a heightened sense of emotions. They might want to avoid doing things that remind them of what has happened to them. These things are all normal, and most will pass over time. As a result of this, many hostages find it difficult to return to work. As an employer, there is a lot you can do to make this process easier. Not only will this enable the returning hostage to get back on their feet quickly, it is also likely to reduce the impact on their colleagues and the work of the organisation overall. Based on over a decade’s experience of supporting returning hostages, this guide offers some simple advice about how organisations can help to make the reintegration process as positive and constructive as possible. Each individual is different so there is no one-size-fits- all approach, but there are a number of common elements that can be adopted in the workplace and adapted as necessary. Hostage UK also offers bespoke training for organisations who would like to learn more about reintegration into the workplace following traumatic incidents as well as effective family support during a kidnapping. Get in touch if you would like to discuss training further. This document is for guidance only. HELPING RETURNING HOSTAGES BACK TO THE WORKPLACE 5