![](\"https:\/\/assets.sitespeaker.link\/embed\/skins\/default\/play-icon.png\"\/){kind=icon}
Listen to this article<\/p>\n Listen to this article<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Jim-Priest-page-5.jpg\")
Jim Priesr<\/p>\n
Even though Oklahoma<\/a> is far from the conflict zone, and even though the White House says the war is \u201cover\u201d (perhaps) Oklahoma employers are being impacted by the war, some more than others.\n<\/p>\n \u2013 Oil<\/a> & gas companies may have employees traveling through the Middle East.\n<\/p>\n \u2013 Aerospace & defense firms must update risk<\/a> and security protocols.<\/p>\n \u2013 Universities have students and faculty who are from the region or have family there.\n<\/p>\n \u2013 Any employer may have workers from the region who can face bias or stress.\n<\/p>\n As a lawyer, I had a client company during the first Gulf War with a manager who thought he was harmlessly joking with an employee from the Middle East.\u00a0 He teasingly called the employee a \u201cCamel Jockey\u201d and laughingly told him to \u201cGo pound sand\u201d.\u00a0 It happened so much the employee contacted the EEOC and hired an attorney resulting in a lawsuit. So employers should stay alert.<\/p>\n Here are a few policy recommendations for employers:\n<\/p>\n Strengthen anti\u2011harassment and anti\u2011discrimination<\/a> enforcement<\/p>\n Re\u2011train managers on Title VII<\/a> obligations and remind employees national\u2011origin, race and color harassment are prohibited.\u00a0 Provide clear reporting channels and make sure employees know about them. This is explicitly recommended during the Iran<\/a> conflict.\n<\/p>\n Provide mental\u2011health and emotional\u2011support resources<\/p>\n Some employees may be monitoring news constantly, worrying about family, or dealing with pre-existing trauma. Employers should increase awareness of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and train supervisors to manage with empathy.\n<\/p>\n Update travel\u2011safety and evacuation protocols<\/p>\n Companies with employees traveling through the Middle East must:\n<\/p>\n Monitor airspace closures This has been necessary as firms like Citi and HSBC which evacuated staff from Dubai and Qatar due to the conflict.\n<\/p>\n Prepare managers to address morale and uncertainty<\/p>\n Studies show morale drops and job\u2011confidence declines during geopolitical instability. HR should train leaders in conflict de-escalation and be quick to provide support.\n<\/p>\n Let\u2019s hope the Iran conflict is truly winding down.\u00a0 But even if it is, the likelihood of other conflicts arising elsewhere is an ever present threat.\u00a0 This means all levels of management, not just HR, should be tuned in and trained up to spot and address these issues.\n<\/p>\n
\nMaintain evacuation plans
\nReview travel insurance exclusions<\/p>\n