Show this to your manager who doesn't understand why you're not reachable 24/7.
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With offices and schools closed indefinitely throughout most of the US, working from home while homeschooling is the new norm for many parents. It's safe to say we’re not working in the same way we were pre-pandemic.
Some managers seem to think that our new virtual work world means we should be able to answer calls and emails immediately, at any hour. It's true we don't have in-person meetings, daycare pick-up or evening obligations right now, but parents aren't any more available than we otherwise would be. In fact, with our homeschooling and childcare duties, we’re less available than we’ve ever been.
Robynn Storey, CEO of Storeyline Resumes and mom of one, took to LinkedIn with a story of a boss’ unrealistic expectations and how that can affect a team.
“I just had a conversation with a new client...a frustrated professional who has a boss that thinks because his team is ‘working from home’ they should be available to answer his calls/emails day and night, and respond accordingly,” Robynn wrote. “My client is getting blasted with requests and his boss is getting pissed when he is not answering within five minutes.”
Robynn’s client isn’t just working from home, but he’s also homeschooling his kids, taking care of his parents and trying to split it all with his spouse. “His sole focus 24/7 is not on his job, nor should it be.”
She wrote that her client’s boss is piling on the complaints about the team’s lack of availability and preparedness, going so far as to threaten cuts. But the stressors of the pandemic should show managers there are more important things than their team members’ yields, Robynn added.
“True leaders know that most people want to do their best, and they need support and empathy at this time. No one does a good job when they are being screamed at…,” she wrote. “Everyone needs to chill out a bit.”
As stressful as these times are for companies struggling to stay afloat amidst a looming recession and skyrocketing unemployment rates, Robynn’s story reminds us that humanity must always come first. Showing your team you can acknowledge and accommodate their tricky new reality does wonders for team spirit. Show this to your manager who wants to know why you can’t work till 9 p.m. while you’re stretched thinner than you ever thought possible.