On the tenth anniversary of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, people in workplaces around the world will remember the day as a time of tragedy, sorrow, remembrance, honor, and celebration.
While tragedies on the scale of September 11 are, fortunately, unusual, people around the world experience tragedies that affect their workplace - every day. Countries are at war, many people live in fear and hunger, mass murders occur, and coworkers become ill and die. Or, coworkers lose a family member, have a life changing accident, and on a rare occasion, commit suicide.
I have experienced a number of these, as have you, and reflected on what employers can do When Tragedy Strikes Your Workplace I trust these ideas will help.
Commemorate September 11, 2001
Depending on your proximity to the tragedy, the affect of September 11 on your employees, and the needs of your particular workplace culture, you may want to remember September 11. And if you do, while there is much to mourn and memorialize about September 11, 2001, there is also much to honor and celebrate.
To appropriately honor the individuals, families, and workplaces affected, your remembrance must provide the opportunity for both mourning and for celebration. To address the needs of your own employees, your remembrance must provide the opportunity for both mourning and for celebration.
Perhaps a moment of silence, as has been deemed appropriate in many of my client workplaces, will work for yours. Here are additional ideas about how you might want to remember September 11, 2001 in your workplace.
Does your workplace commemorate September 11, 2001 in the ensuing years? Are there other events you commemorate? Please share in "comments" below.
Image © Barbara Henry
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I think you are correct in stating that each person has a unique viewpoint on different tragedies and how it personally impacted them. While we should never forget the events of Sept. 11th, it is much more beneficial to focus on the heroes who emerged during that tragedy and for all of us to move forward to a more positive future.