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  Firms brace for anniversary effect
      Companies that lost workers on Sept 11, offer help for the grieving
      Time
      July 12, 2002
      By Julie Fishman

In mental health circles it’s called the “anniversary effect.”

The anniversary of a tragic event can reopen wounds that have healed and once again stimulate the grieving process. The range of emotions can vary from no impact to an emotional re-creation of the incident, said Grace Burley of Atlanta-based Crisis Management International Inc.

Her organization has assisted more than 200 companies in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and with the first anniversary just two months away, businesses across the country are grappling with how to help their employees cope with the horrible memories of that day.

At Cantor Fitzgerald, which has offices in Darien, 658 employees perished in the terrorist attacks. At New York-based Marsh Inc., which has offices in Stamford, 295 people were killed. Stamford-based Pitney Bowes lost four employees. All three companies plan to mark the day, but have yet to finalize details for memorials, according to their spokespeople.

That businesses are beginning to think about and plan for the anniversary is important. Sept. 11, 2002, will be a very difficult day to get through, and employers and managers must be prepared for that, said Burley, whose company helps businesses deal with the human side of crises.

It’s not just companies that have lost employees that need to think about the anniversary. The geographic proximity and the number of area residents who perished make the day difficult for all area employers and employees, she said.

Burley suggests chief executives send a letter or an email to employees at least a month before the anniversary telling them that something will be planned, even if plans are not yet finalized.

It’s a good idea to give employees a chance to be part of the planning process, she said.

At Xerox in Stamford, which lost two employees in the twin towers, the company is doing that.

“We want to take the lead from our New York-based employees and see how they want to mark the day,” Said spokeswoman Kara Choquette.

Not every business has to have a planned event, but it’s important that companies set aside time so their employees can remember the day, said Maud Purcell a Stamford psychotherapist and corporate consultant

It doesn’t have to be an organized thing,” Purcell said. “It can just be a few moments to reflect.”

“The most important thing for managers to remember is that Sept.11 is not going to be a typical, productive day,” Burley said.

Some employees in New York City, or close by in lower Fairfield County, New Jersey an Westchester County, N.Y., might want to stay home for the day, or even the whole week, she said.

Managers should understand that need, but also encourage people to come to work on Sept 11 so they don’t isolate themselves. Managers also should encourage workers who resist attending a memorial to take part in the event.

Many people don’t want to be forced to remember whether they are at an office gathering or alone. And it’s better to be with people than be isolated.

It’s also important to have trained mental health professional on site or available to employees, Purcell said. Many people will feed grief, depression or survivor’s guilt and need to talk about it.

Even if someone is not consciously aware of an anniversary, they will grieve, she said.

Whether it be the weather, the change in season of the smell of the air, “their brain knows it’s that time of year,” Purcell said.

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