September 19, 2001—Employers should show high levels of sensitivity regarding the recent terrorist attacks, reports The Herman Group, a management consulting firm based in Greensboro, NC.
The firm also released some suggestions about how to handle this challenging situation with company personnel. They include:
- Gather employees together to demonstrate strength and solidarity. Have top executives, those respected for their vision and clear thinking, speak about the future and the need to unite to endure.
- Ask for volunteers to spearhead an effort to encourage blood donation and/or raise money for Red Cross or Salvation Army to help them provided needed services. Offer employees time off with pay to give blood.
- If any employees are activated into the National Guard or military reserves provide full support for the workers and their families.
- Give people an opportunity to vent their feelings. At difficult times like these, workers need times to express what they are feeling.
- When tragedy hits, we all need time to grieve. Consider bringing in mental health professionals to provide advice and counsel.
As soon as possible, return to normalcy—or something close to it. Returning to familiar routines, established procedures, existing plans will help people adjust. They’ll be more comfortable, and they’ll have constructive things to do. While we must grieve for our losses and honor those who are directly engaged in response to the terrorism, there are compelling reasons to keep the wheels of commerce moving.
Now is the time to build the bonds of community-being and feeling together, but also doing things together that keep the economy strong. Most people will be searching for some way they can do something in response to the events of September 11, 2001. Hastening a return to normalcy to demonstrate resilience will make a positive difference.
For more information, contact The Herman Group.
