Urgent Help Needed: How Should Management Respond to a Suicide Attempt at Work?

Dear Seniors, today, one of our female employees attempted suicide on our shop floor during the lunch break. She did not express the reason when inquired about this. What action can we, as management, take regarding this situation? I am expecting your valuable response in this regard as soon as possible.

Regards,
Sudha

Please approach Samadhana Counselling Centre. A counselor will come to the employee's home. This is a social service, and no charges need to be paid. The website is as below:

About | Samadhana Counselling Centre

All the best!

Regards,
Dinesh V Divekar

In India, attempted suicide is an offense punishable under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code. Section 309 reads thus: Attempt to commit suicide. "Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offense, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine, or with both."

Legal Precedents

A Division Bench of the Supreme Court of India in P. Rathinam v. Union of India (AIR 1994 SC 1844) held that the right to live, of which Article 21 speaks, can be said to bring in its trail the right not to live a forced life, and therefore, Section 309 violates Article 21. This decision was, however, subsequently overruled in Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab (AIR 1996 SC 946) by a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, holding that Article 21 could not be construed to include within it the 'right to die' as a part of the fundamental right guaranteed therein; therefore, it was ruled that it could not be validly stated that Section 309 is violative of Article 21.

Law Commission's Recommendation

In 2008, the Law Commission of India submitted a review to the government to repeal Section 309. The Law Commission said, "The Supreme Court in Gian Kaur focused on the constitutionality of Section 309. It did not go into the wisdom of retaining or continuing the same in the statute." The Commission has resolved to recommend to the Government to initiate steps for the repeal of the anachronistic law contained in Section 309, IPC, which would relieve the distressed of their suffering. The suicide rate in India is above "the average world suicide rate."

So, in my opinion, you can inform her family and the local police station about the same.

Thanking you,

Regards,
Ashish

Ashish, whilst I am not arguing that there is a law about this, isn't this a very hard view to take? Clearly, the person concerned has problems, and surely we need to show some compassion before we rush to judgment or report this to the police, etc. I would sincerely hope that the organization concerned has taken steps to provide assistance to this person in an enlightened and compassionate way.

Handling Workplace Suicide Attempts and Mental Harassment

What if a person tried to commit suicide due to work pressure and mental harassment from seniors? What if she attempts the same in another location? What if the police take action against the company for keeping these incidents confidential? What if she succeeds in a subsequent attempt, and the police take action against the company for concealing the initial suicide attempt? What if there was no suicide attempt, but an attempt to harm her?

In my opinion, all these scenarios could be resolved if we inform her parents and the police.

Thank you.

Regards,
Ashish

Hi Ashish, I understand your concerns, but I must emphasize that these issues need to be handled with great sensitivity. Initially, involving the police may not be necessary and should be considered at a later stage. The priority is to ensure the well-being of the individual and to understand the underlying reasons leading her to this point. If it is indeed work-related harassment by management or colleagues, then involving the police becomes crucial. It is important to take all precautions to prevent any further attempts, but simply bringing the police in immediately may not be the best approach. It could potentially traumatize her further and worsen the psychological impact. This is a serious matter that requires careful consideration and a more sensitive approach. I hope that the company has already taken steps to provide medical assistance and counseling to support this individual. --- I have corrected the spelling and grammar errors in your text and adjusted the paragraph formatting for better readability. Let me know if you need any further assistance.

I am Venkat. It's a common thing that has happened in your workplace because nowadays many people have become accustomed to living under severe, stressful circumstances. Therefore, try not to panic. Instead, contact the right and experienced person for good suggestions. Please understand that the person involved may already be facing some issues that led them to make such a decision. You mentioned that she did not say a single word during the inquiry, so handle such situations with care. By handling things well, you can become a great person and protect the interests of all your employees while safeguarding yourself too.

If there are any mistakes in the above information, please correct me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my views on this. Thank you.

Understanding the Rise in Suicide Attempts

Nowadays, suicide attempts are common as nobody likes to be scolded or fired, even if they commit wrong actions. This applies to both homes and companies. Many might have read in the newspaper about a teenager committing suicide when they were prevented from watching TV by their parents. In Kerala, there are students who attempt suicide if they have not achieved the grades they were expecting. Due to stress and fear, they are doing this. Some are trying to do so because of family problems, marital relations, etc.

Addressing a Suicide Attempt on the Shop Floor

This is a case on the shop floor. Definitely, the reasons should be probed into. Instead of calling the police and handing over the female employee and washing the hands of management, the Plant Head along with the Factory HR Manager may call the employee along with her family members and hold a closed-door discussion. Once the reasons that have cropped up are genuine or reasonable, a proper remedial measure should be taken.

Thanks.

Regards,
R K Nair

I would personally request you to ensure that your colleague is treated with compassion, respect, and care. Since she is already going through an emotional crisis, all of you wish that she tides over this period to return to normal life. Rumors or side talks about the incident should be discouraged in the near future. Seek professional help at the earliest.

Regards,
Sourav Mukherjee

After all, we are all humans. Therefore, if the condition of the employee demands it, the situation should be communicated to his or her parents. Then, a counseling center should be involved to help the employee speak out about the issues or problems. Once the reasons or causes are known, whether personal or official, the management should inform the police. By doing this, both humanitarian concerns and legal documentation are addressed.

Immediate Steps to Address Employee Crisis

1. Talk to the employee first and identify the reason behind her actions.

2. Inform her family members without any delay. They can watch over her at home, and your company also won't be held responsible if she attempts suicide in the future.

3. If the problem is related to work, give her a break for 15 days.

4. Seek professional help.

Do all of these immediately.

Handling a Workplace Suicide Attempt

Suicide in a workplace can certainly put pressure on the management. However, on the other hand, she is your employee and certainly needs counseling. Mr. Dinesh has suggested the center, and in my opinion, I would recommend that you take her through this process.

If you have a good rapport with the local police station, you can inform them. However, if they insist that you must provide a letter in writing, you may have to abide by it, as you have the obligation to protect the interests of the management as well. I am sure that police authorities do not harass suicide cases.

In the meantime, you can consult the respective department head and give the employee time off from work to avoid any immediate unpleasant situations within the organization.

You must certainly alert the parents, if required, in writing about the events and advise them to support their daughter in the counseling process.

Regards

I feel one immediate action should be to introduce her to a professional counselor or psychologist. She may open up in front of a neutral person. Also, the professional would know the right methodology to help her open up. Of course, as suggested by our esteemed members, please keep the family informed, and it is important for the family to be supportive in taking the corrective action going forward. As an organization, we may have a limited role, but the family plays the biggest role in helping the individual cope with the situation. Meanwhile, please be in touch with the counselor to understand if there were any work-related issues that triggered her to take this dire step.

Regards,
Gia

Lots of opinions are coming to you, but I guess nobody has put themselves in that box. It is completely right that you should inform the parents and call them for a discussion. Also, inform the police to check if there is any harassment she faced during work or with any senior.

Don't put too much pressure on her in this situation. This should all be just a formal session. The actual thing will start after that. I hope she has been working in your company for more than 3-4 months. Surely she will have friends there, maybe even good friends.

This is a matter of suicide, and the person is completely disturbed at that time. So, you should reach out to her 1-2 very good or close friends who can try to be more supportive and find out what had happened to her at that time. A doctor or counselor can check on her, but if I put myself in her place, I would never reveal the reason if it is related to my personal life or anything in which I felt harassed because it wouldn't help me in my relationships or my self-esteem. Look at the level she tried to kill herself; the level of disturbance is so high that she was not seeking any help related to the issue bothering her mind. A person who will be close to her for the next 3-4 days will likely find out something as a friend, and he or she will let you know about the issue. Then management can discuss with the girl if it is related to work or the company and inform her parents if it is related to her personal life.

You are right; it's a punishable offense. However, what the situation demands is not punishment but rather helping the person/employee from a human and social perspective through counseling. She must be going through a difficult phase, and it is the duty of the HR department to offer her a helping hand rather than punishing her.