First Crisis Aid in the Workplace: Exploring Action Algorithms for Acute Emotional States

28/ 08/ 2026

In the context of prolonged stress, war and constant uncertainty, employees’ emotional wellbeing has a direct impact on team interaction, work processes and business resilience. How can we support a colleague experiencing a strong emotional reaction, respond appropriately to a crisis situation while maintaining professional boundaries? These issues were discussed on August 26 during the first, online module of the training programme “First Crisis Aid in the Workplace: Action Algorithms for Acute Emotional States Amid Chronic Stress and War”, organised by the Southern Ukrainian and Western Ukrainian Offices of the European Business Association. The seminar brought together representatives of EBA member companies who work with teams, employees and internal communication. The participants joined the training to gain practical tools for supporting colleagues in challenging emotional situations, as well as to better understand their own responses to stress. This stage of the programme focused primarily on the theoretical foundation. Participants discussed psychological safety in the workplace, the mechanisms behind emotional responses and the specifics of human behaviour in situations of danger. The seminar was led by Nataliia Shcherbyna, trauma therapist, crisis communication expert and organisational supervisor. During the seminar, participants explored: principles of psychological safety in teams; the “parts theory” as a tool for understanding and working with emotional responses; instinctive psychological responses to danger and their impact on behaviour; how people perceive workplace situations when experiencing stress; approaches to supporting colleagues experiencing strong emotional reactions. An important part of the session was the discussion of real-life workplace situations. Participants analysed their own reactions to different messages and scenarios involving interaction with management, discussed how management style can influence the perception of a situation, and shared their experiences. The participants also addressed issues relevant to HR professionals, managers and other employees who work closely with teams on a daily basis: how to recognise a colleague’s emotional state, when support at the team level is sufficient, and when it is necessary to involve a professional. Following the online seminar, participants also received access to professional online assessment toolsdesigned to help identify overall stress load and professional burnout, as well as basic stress-coping strategies. The results will help tailor the next stages of the training to participants’ needs. The second, practical offline module of the programme is coming next. During this session, participants will develop and practise crisis response skills: recognising anxiety, panic, apathy, emotional exhaustion and other states; applying self-regulation techniques; choosing appropriate words and actions to reduce tension; and understanding the boundaries of their own role in providing support. The second module will also allow participants to turn the knowledge gained during the online seminar into practical skills that can be applied in their day-to-day work with teams. We thank all participants for their active engagement and Nataliia Shcherbyna for an insightful and practical discussion. We look forward to seeing you at the practical module of the programme!

The seminar brought together representatives of EBA member companies who work with teams, employees and internal communication. The participants joined the training to gain practical tools for supporting colleagues in challenging emotional situations, as well as to better understand their own responses to stress.

This stage of the programme focused primarily on the theoretical foundation. Participants discussed psychological safety in the workplace, the mechanisms behind emotional responses and the specifics of human behaviour in situations of danger.

The seminar was led by Nataliia Shcherbyna, trauma therapist, crisis communication expert and organisational supervisor.

During the seminar, participants explored:

principles of psychological safety in teams;
the “parts theory” as a tool for understanding and working with emotional responses;
instinctive psychological responses to danger and their impact on behaviour;
how people perceive workplace situations when experiencing stress;
approaches to supporting colleagues experiencing strong emotional reactions.

An important part of the session was the discussion of real-life workplace situations. Participants analysed their own reactions to different messages and scenarios involving interaction with management, discussed how management style can influence the perception of a situation, and shared their experiences.

The participants also addressed issues relevant to HR professionals, managers and other employees who work closely with teams on a daily basis: how to recognise a colleague’s emotional state, when support at the team level is sufficient, and when it is necessary to involve a professional.

Following the online seminar, participants also received access to professional online assessment toolsdesigned to help identify overall stress load and professional burnout, as well as basic stress-coping strategies. The results will help tailor the next stages of the training to participants’ needs.

The second, practical offline module of the programme is coming next. During this session, participants will develop and practise crisis response skills: recognising anxiety, panic, apathy, emotional exhaustion and other states; applying self-regulation techniques; choosing appropriate words and actions to reduce tension; and understanding the boundaries of their own role in providing support.

The second module will also allow participants to turn the knowledge gained during the online seminar into practical skills that can be applied in their day-to-day work with teams.

We thank all participants for their active engagement and Nataliia Shcherbyna for an insightful and practical discussion.

We look forward to seeing you at the practical module of the programme!