|
Besting
terror in the workplace
The employee fear factor has reached
new levels since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. To
help combat the negative effects terror has caused in
the workplace, Vienna-based Scendis, a human resources
consulting firm, has issued tips for employers to ensure
their employees won't be targeted because of race, religion
or ethnicity. "CEOs must be vigilant to prevent
subtle as well as overt attacks on certain groups of
people because of their racial or ethnic background,"
writes Lynne Revo-Cohen, co-CEO, in a recent press release.
Employers should:
1 . Acknowledge that people have a
right to be angry about the events and encourage employees
to talk about their feelings through structured dialogues
with skilled facilitators.
2 . State clearly that harassing or
discriminating behavior toward employees or customers
will not be tolerated.
3. Talk about diversity, cultural differences
and their impact on working and business relationships.
4 . Meet with your senior leadership
team to ensure that their actions demonstrate a respect
for diversity.
5 . Remind employees that targeting
groups for exclusion and/or discrimination based on
limited information is stereotyping and that this behavior
damages relationships, productivity and profitability.
6. Encourage employees to think about
the impact of stereotyping and negative behavior on
their colleagues, customers and the organization.
7 . Seek and disseminate information
for employees on topics including questions and answers
about Arab Americans. Include an overview and discussions
about origins, language, demographics, family, religions,
politics, terminology and stereotypes.
8 . Ensure that all employees are aware
of your internal complaint procedure and know where
to go for help should they be a victim of inappropriate
remarks or behavior.
9 . Remind employees that they can
receive grief counseling through your employee assistance
program.
1 0 . Encourage employees to volunteer
their time and contributions to community outreach programs
and local charities.
Return
to Virginia Business - November 2001
|
