I was on a Zoom happy hour with a women’s group I’m involved with a while ago and one of them — who is a recent(ish) grad from law school, but was working in Very High Places — noted how shocked she was that there has been no emotional support from her employer and boss during these crazy times. “So if you’re a boss,” she told the others on the call, “check in with your people! Because people are not ok!”
It was an interesting point, and I thought it might make an interesting discussion here — how is your employer (or immediate superior) supporting you during all of this, either in an emotional, physical, or business sense? Have they done things you’ve really appreciated (I’ve heard stories of office snacks being sent to people’s houses, or regular “mental health checkins” on Zoom calls)? Have they changed their expectations of you during this time period? (I can’t find the link right now but I keep thinking about that Ask a Manager question where a boss wondered if he should fire his formerly stellar employee since she “often seemed distracted” managing her 2 kids at home during the pandemic…)
On the flip side, have they done things you haven’t appreciated, either in an emotional, physical, or business sense? (Has inaction from your employer in some way exacerbated things?)
If you manage people, how are you supporting those under you? Are you taking more time to check in with people and connect 1:1, or doing anything else?
Stock photo via Deposit Photos / pressmaster.
