Confidential help when something unexpected happens
Northstar Works is a fictional organization used in this example. If a sudden event is making it hard to cover essentials, get to work or keep your home stable, this page shows where to start, what to have ready, and who can explain which route applies to you. What is available depends on your location and the program approved there.
Start with the route that fits
You do not need to have everything worked out before you ask.
Ask which route applies
Prepare a short summary
Look at other trusted support
Examples of what support can cover
These are examples of the kinds of situations people raise. They are not promises. The categories actually offered, and who is eligible, are set by your local program.
- A sudden loss of income or an unexpected bill for food, utilities or medicine
- Costs that cannot wait until the next pay date
- Help that is a one-time need rather than an ongoing one
- A fire, flood or emergency move that affects where you live
- A cancelled bus route or a car repair that stops you reaching your shift
- A temporary need while a longer-term fix is arranged
- Something that fits none of the categories above but is serious and unexpected
- A situation you are unsure how to describe
- Ask the contact first. They can say whether the program, or another resource, is the right place
Privacy and who can see what
Share the sensitive details of your situation only through the authorized assistance channel that People Operations or your local program owner points you to. The details are not meant for a team chat, a shared inbox or a casual conversation.
- Managers and colleagues should not collect documents, receipts or case details from you. If you tell a manager you need help, they should point you to the contacts on this page.
- You choose what to share. Start with a short summary. Provide supporting information only if the authorized process asks for it.
- Ask before you submit. Ask who will see your request, how long records are kept and who you can contact about it. The answers depend on the approved process in your location.
Confidentiality, access and records handling are set by the approved local process, not by this page. If an answer is unclear, ask the contacts below before you share more.
Prepare before you reach out
A short, specific summary helps the right person respond quickly. It also keeps the details you share to what is needed.
- One or two sentences on what happened and roughly when
- How it affects you now, for example "I cannot reach the 6:00 shift"
- The kind of help you are asking about, or "I am not sure which kind"
- The date by which the situation becomes pressing
- Any supporting information the authorized process specifically asks for
- Full account, card or identity numbers
- Detailed accounts of other people's circumstances
- Medical, legal or family detail that does not change what help you need
- Send supporting documents only through the authorized assistance channel, never to a manager or colleague.
Worked example: a transport disruption
A fictional Northstar Works employee describes a cancelled bus route. The summary states the impact and the timing without personal detail that is not needed.
| Part of the request | Enough to share | More than is needed |
|---|---|---|
| What happened | "My regular bus route was cancelled this week." | A long history of past transport problems |
| How it affects me | "I cannot reach the Eastfield site for my 6:00 shift." | Names of colleagues who could give a lift |
| Help I am asking about | "Transport help for a few weeks, or advice on other options." | A fixed amount before anyone has described the options |
| Timing | "I need a solution by the start of next week." | Unrelated financial details |
Who can point you to the right route
Other trusted resources, and how they differ
These options sit alongside company assistance. They are not the same thing, and being pointed to one does not mean you are eligible for another.
Is an employee assistance service the same as company hardship support?
Not usually. An employee assistance service typically offers confidential counselling and practical guidance, while company assistance is the approved program that may provide help for specific situations. Ask People Operations which of these exist where you work and whether you can use both.
What if my situation is not on the list of examples?
Ask anyway. The categories above are examples. The contacts can tell you whether your situation fits the local program, or point you to community aid or public programs that may help.
Do community or public resources count as company endorsement?
No. A community or public resource is run by someone else, with its own rules and eligibility. Mentioning it on this page, or by a contact, is a pointer to somewhere you can ask, not a recommendation or a guarantee of help.
What should I do if I only need to talk to someone first?
Contact People Operations and say you are not ready to make a request. They can explain the options and the privacy practices first, and you decide whether to go further.
Will asking for information commit me to making a request?
No. Asking which route applies is a separate step from making a request, and you can stop at any point.