On and after Sept. 11, HR rose to the occasion - From the President - human resources - Brief Article - Editorial

HR Magazine, Sept, 2002 by Susan Meisinger

I told someone in the office that I would be on vacation for the first week of September, returning the second week. My co-worker looked concerned and asked me when I was flying home. Somewhat surprised that she was interested in the details of my travel plans, I replied, "Sept. 10." "Good!" she responded. "I don't want you flying on Sept. 11!"

Truthfully, I had not even thought about the date when making my reservations, but instantly realized how grateful I was that my plans kept me in Virginia and at work on that day.

Each one of us has our unique memories of Sept. 11. Mine is sitting in my office in Alexandria, watching the tragedy in New York unfold on television, hearing the news report that the Pentagon was hit, and turning in my chair to see the smoke rising from the burning Pentagon, located only a few miles from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Thousands of people lost, including eight SHRM members, and millions left grieving, all in a few hours.

Just as I will always feel great sadness when I recall that day, I will also feel immense pride at how human resource professionals around the country rose to the occasion. I so admire the heroes who risked, and in some cases, gave their lives while protecting their co-workers.

SHRM's New York chapter responded immediately by providing a forum for HR professionals to share their experiences, and numerous members traveled from SHRM's Oklahoma City chapter to contribute knowledge gained from their experiences in rekindling employees' spirits after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Both of those chapters have my deepest gratitude and respect, and their efforts underscore the tremendous importance of the HR profession in the workplace.

And the HR professionals from all over who volunteered their time and efforts to help organizations and their employees get back on their feet are a great credit to the profession. Additionally, SHRM and several affiliated associations worked as a team to quickly help our members and their workforces cope with the aftermath of that day.

Worldwide, tens of thousands of HR professionals worked in all types of organizations to calm employee fears and help them come to grips with a changed world. As a profession, we are constantly reminded of our need to be strategic partners and to add value to our organizations. It seems to me that HR did all of that and more on and after Sept. 11.

So while I will pause this Sept. 11 to remember the victims and heroes of the tragedy, I also will be thankful to be at work, serving the HR community, one that truly values the "human" in human resources.