|
Send this issue to a friend
PDF
You will need to install Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™ on your computer if you do not have it already.
Download Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™
|
|
|
Vol. 3. No. 5
|
September/October 2001 |
|
|
|
Insider Perspective:
A Reflection
by Nancy K. Belle and Judith A. Jaffe
The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon compels one to put life into perspective: What is important in life? Who is important in life? Is there time for everything, everyone?
In horrific events like these, what is important becomes clear: family - being close to children and loved ones - balanced with workplace responsibilities.
What do we want from the work we do? We want to work and we want to have a life. We want to find dignity in our work and in our existence. Paula Rayman states in her book, Beyond the Bottom Line: The Search for Dignity at Work, "...everyone, young and old, today is desperately seeking dignity at work, which provides time and energy for a good life.... [but] dignity at work stands on the pillars of gaining a livelihood for oneself and one's family, having self-respect, and making a difference through social responsibility.... The achievement of dignity rests on all three pillars; if any one is missing the structure wobbles or collapses. Yet, for too many of us something is missing [including] a lack of respect from superiors or options to use our skills; and no opportunity to make a contribution to society. What we want is to have time for work, time for family, and time for play."
This is a time of reflection, not judgment.
This is a time for peace and kindness, not continuous behaviors that cause strife and unrest in the world, in life and at work.
This is a time about loss and beginnings.
We remember our losses, people and times. We honor those losses, but also cherish the future. We reflect; we move forward. This is so true of our country, our health plans, our company and each other. For if we do not cherish the talents and skills of each other, if we do not work together, but choose to cherish ourselves, alone, as one and not all of us as a team with but one goal, we will all fail. This is a time to move forward, a time for all people together, and a time to reflect on our lives and our work, for that is much a part of our day-to-day lives.
As businesses react to the national tragedy of September 11, our lives will change. We recognize that this will have |
|
an impact on health care -- not just for those who need physical care, but also for those directly or indirectly involved in this event who will need much psychological support, and for those who, unfortunately, will be laid off from work and will have the potential to lose their healthcare coverage. No industry, no person, is immune from being affected.
We, at SMG, want you to know that we are available to share our resources and our people in helping others to deal with the impact of crisis on performance and people. Let us know your thoughts and suggestions, and we will be happy to print them here. Email us at insider@scheur.com
About the authors: Nancy K. Belle brings more than 20 years of clinical, managerial, marketing, and communications expertise to SMG, integrating nurse practitioner skills with business experience. An early advocate of electronic technology as a tool for world wide information sharing, she is well versed in implementing the Internet as a means of promoting, marketing, and advertising healthcare companies. As VP of Communications and Market Strategies, Ms. Belle works with communications in all forms to build consistent positive messages that build brand identities and promote the image and mission for SMG and its clients. In addition to coordinating the marketing/communications departments for SMG clients, acting as mentor, strategist and trainer to health plan staff, she creates corporate and plan communications and PR initiatives.
Judith A. Jaffe is Director of Corporate Intelligence & Information at VHPG and SMG, where she focuses on managed care research, competitive intelligence, industry trends, marketing strategy, e-commerce and health plan Web site information architecture design. Ms. Jaffe is editor of The Managed Care Insider print and e-newsletters. |
Back to The Insider Index
|
|
|
