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When we return to the new normal of work.
A thread....
A thread....
I went into work yesterday, taking a turn as a Senior Management Member to be on site to offer support to those on site. After 3 weeks working from home, the contrast was both stark and impressive. Out of a cocoon and into an charity organisation specialising in end of life care.
As I’ve already tweeted, I’m super impressed with what the clinical team and other support teams I.e. housekeeping, facilities, IT support and the kitchen are doing to adapt and to prepare to do our but to support the whole healthcare system in this crisis
Daughter’s partner said he thinks when this is over, there’s going to be the biggest divide ever between groups of workers who had to do different things during the lockdown and possibly resentment between them. This is as their experiences will have been so different.
In our Zoom chat with daughter and her partner, yesterday eve we discussed this. He’s been in work all along and she’s been at home. In manufacturing, their employer have arranged for some to work from home and a skeleton staff to go in, with strong social distancing.
His work life is relatively normal- he gets social interaction at a distance with colleagues. Those of us at home are cocooned & only see people on a screen. It goes without saying what clinical and other key workers are doing - how they’ve adapted, stepped up and may be at risk
Equally, being at home is very challenging for many who may not be used to it or have young children, nowhere private to work etc. (I’m luck to have a home office set up already). I think those in work might see working from home as the east option?
Then there’s those who are furloughed and how they might be feeling. We have furloughed employees as we have charity shops and a few other roles that can’t be done at the moment. Try as I might, I can’t put myself fully in their shoes. I hope they don’t feel cast aside
All these different situations are so unique. At the moment the overwhelming attitude I’m seeing is of everyone doing their bit and and fully understanding the situation and what is necessary. But for how long? We may also have colleagues who lose people close to them...
This stream of consciousness isn’t ending with any answers or solutions. How can it? I’m just laying out, based on reflections from yesterday, that I think the return to the new normal is going to be the biggest organisational upheaval and workforce challenge of my lifetime.
The new normal is going to test all of us to the hilt, especially those who line manage others or who work in HR, OD, L&D, occupational psychology - indeed any profession responsible for supporting and developing people. Our professional networks will matter more than ever.
