Copyright forbes
Hurricane Melissa is expected to be the most powerful storm to hit Jamaica in recorded history. Category 5 Hurricane Melissa has landed in Jamaica, and the country is now bracing for impact. The hurricane is said to be the most powerful of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season with winds of 185 mph when the hurricane made landfall in Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa is expected to be the most powerful storm to hit Jamaica in recorded history. The hurricane is also expected to hit Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos. For many Jamaicans and those of Jamaican ancestry who are living outside of the island, this will be a very difficult time. Jamaican employees whose family members or friends are directly impacted by the storm will need our support in a multitude of ways. Jermaine L. Murray, who is of Jamaican heritage shared in a LinkedIn post, “If you have a Jamaican coworker, manager or friend and you notice them being distracted, give them space or identify how you can best support them.” Company leaders must recognize that employees are dealing with a lot right now and a natural disaster that could cause cataclysmic damage is another stressor to add to a growing list. When asked about specific and tangible ways to support Jamaican employees, Murray shared, “I would say right now, tangible support for people of the Jamaican diaspora would be a lot of understanding and flexibility, loosening deadlines, cancelling non-essential meetings and if possible, letting people work asynchronously. I think check-ins can be helpful but its better done in a one-on-one situation or giving the person the agency to share at their discretion.” Organizational leaders, especially those who lead and manage employees that are directly or indirectly impacted by Hurricane Melissa, should be understanding of the fact that this will be a trying time for many. "Tangible support for people of the Jamaican diaspora would be a lot of understanding and flexibility, loosening deadlines, cancelling non-essential meetings." “The best way for people to support their Jamaican colleagues right now is through empathy and flexibility. It’s difficult to stay present at work while worrying about loved ones, community, health, and safety,” shared Danica Nelson. Nelson is a Jamaican Canadian career break coach and the founder of Liberty Leave. When asked about tangible support, she went on to share, “Tangible support looks like offering paid leave, adjusted hours, or flexible time off so they can focus on what matters most like safety, care, and stability. It also means easing pressure by postponing non-essential deadlines, checking in privately, and reassigning tasks so the responsibility doesn’t fall on someone whose nervous system is already under stress.” MORE FOR YOU Murray, who is the founder of JupiterHR, also shared that tangible support through donations can go a long way. “Companies can offer or signify any donations towards Melissa relief funds like the one put on by GlobalGiving or even allowing employees to expense anything that may support family back home. It’s important that comms teams also acknowledge what happened as well. In this high-pressure environment we live in, with layoffs as a looming threat, support in the form of easing pressure is the way to go.” As the news unfolds regarding the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, companies should develop support systems in anticipation, especially if there is a Jamaican population of employees. As Nelson and Murray have elucidated, flexibility, paid leave, and monetary support can go a long way, as well as an acknowledgement of the devastation that has occurred. It is imperative for companies to develop systems of care designed to support employees navigating tragedy, loss, natural disasters and other forms of harm they may be experiencing. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) should integrate telehealth and virtual mental health support and trauma-informed counseling, if these are not already being offered and mutual aid support through meal trains and employee donations can be utilized for employees who are directly impacted. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
