Home and away

How are nonprofit employees handling the extended period away from an in-person work environment?  What are you noticing in your organization?

I recommend that we proceed with great caution and care when surveying our colleagues.

While some are thriving, more research is needed to paint a full picture.  Many of those folks who report they’re managing in the new work environment may be introverts with a strong support network.

Some employees are juggling family needs, crowded spaces and frequent interruptions, illness, incessant bad news, along with the difficulty of doing their job fully in a separate environment. There are so many variables at play.

Many workers are experiencing undiagnosed and diagnosed mental health conditions due to stress from separation, civil and racial inequities, financial concerns, feelings of hopelessness, and more.

Few people predicted the long duration of this ‘lockdown’ or semi-lockdown period, and the resulting isolation it entails.  Many are now re-evaluating and reckoning with institutional priorities, as well as personal priorities among staff.

I predict that calls for change in the structures associated with work environments, human resource policies, and benefits will continue to emerge and coalesce well beyond the pandemic.