Are you ready for 9/11/02?
Here's what you can do:
Be prepared for some employees to exhibit work performance problems such as absenteeism, emotional outbursts and a renewal of phobic reactions such as fear of travel, tall buildings, bridges, tunnels, subways, etc.
Be proactive - the time to come up with a plan is now, not the week before the anniversary.
Understand that recognizing the anniversary is vital. Involve employees in organizing your company's response.
Provide information to all of your employees acknowledging that many of them may have strong feelings and reactions to 9/11/02.
Provide handouts listing helpful resources including crisis counseling services, mental health providers and other community programs.
Organize an appropriate company ritual. The ritual should acknowledge where the majority of the employees are emotionally and be organized, limited and appropriate. Suggested rituals include a moment of silence, a company lunch, a corporate charity event to benefit victims of the tragedy, to name a few.
Source: Trauma response experts at Longview Associates, Inc., a national employee assistance program (EAP).
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