ExpatRepat Services
by Robert E. "", President
ExpatRepat Services
The unreal is difficult to process. Incessant television replays of those horrific scenes on 9-11 rudely intruded our tranquil lives. How could beautiful airliners become ghastly guided missiles? The entire world viewed an atrocity by evil men. Surely this could not occur! But it did. There were deplorable consequences. Life procedures for us all will hereafter be changed. Fortunately, we still live in a land that's free. Life goes on. But, "What now?"
Our President correctly asked us to resume our daily tasks. By united actions, we can demonstrate that we cherish freedom, seek justice, and express compassionate human responses to our fellow human beings, no matter what their origin. We shall not be defeated by the actions of evil men, covert networks, or twisted religious views.
"What now," for those at work in international business? Many of you reading this will screen, select, send, support, and hopefully bring home from expatriate assignments, valued employees and employee families. How will 9-11 impact your company's policies for expatriates? What should those policies be like to insure the greatest possible safety and security of individuals and families at work in host countries around the world?
Soon after 9-11 an inquiry came to me from a major U.S. company. "As they took steps to revise policies in respect to expatriate employees and expatriate families, how should they proceed?" My response was: "Had you called me prior to 9-11 my response would have been different than it will be now following the unspeakable acts on that terrifying day."
With more time to reflect, I find my responses of today are inadequate. There are more facets of an appropriate response than one could devise quickly, following 9-11. Three immediate points come to mind, however, upon which our response to "What now?" must be based:
This is not our first experience of terrorism, only the first inside the U.S. of such magnitude. Lest we forget, remember: the bombing in 1993 on the World Trade Center, the 1996 Kobar Towers bombing of U.S. soldiers in Saudi Arabia, the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Yemen. In fact, expatriates of all nations to some extent always have been in harms way. It is just now more apparent.
We must refuse to be paralyzed by the fear that could grip us. Rather, let us move forward daily with as much prudence and persistence as our current perspective will permit.
We must realize the learning curve after 9-11 will be steep. No longer can it be "business as usual." Rather, security and safety in host countries for expatriates demand that "thinking outside the box" must become a way of life, not merely a cliché.
All of us have much to learn. The leaders I know in International HR are equal to the challenge of providing resourceful and timely responses when asked: "What now?"
I consider it a privilege to have as friends, colleagues, and clients among leaders in companies of all sizes serving expatriates with competence and compassion. They are willing to network and share insights with others of similar commitment. Stay tuned, as all of us learn to deal more appropriately with safety and security issues, providing relevant responses to, "What now?"
You are invited to share your thoughts by contacting us.
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