Session Summary
In thinking about creating workplaces where people can thrive with equitable policies and practices, working arrangements for onsite, remote, and hybrid organizations can look (and feel) differently for everyone. COVID forced all industries to rethink not just office guidelines, but also a shift in how people work together and still nurture their roots to their local communities. Panelists underscore that there is no how-to playbook with all the correct answers, nor is there an easy fix that can be copy and pasted across the world. As Executive Director of Alternate Roots Dr. Michelle Ramos said, “the idea that one size fits all in the way of employment, for different people coming from different walks of life with different life experiences, is just ludicrous. That's not a thing.” What is a thing is however, are the insights the leaders and changemakers in this discussion share about how this period of time is a learning process for everyone, and context always matters. Conditions for staff, constituents, and the community are regularly changing given updates state-by-state, city-to-city, therefore placing a high level of importance on company leadership to remain amenable and receptive to change in order to support people.
Experimenting, iterating, and making mistakes is ok. In fact, it’s normal because the only thing we can do is be predictive and prepare for what reality might look like down the line. Addam Garrett, Operations Manager for the National Performance Network, asserts that when his company collaboratively envisioned what working in the future for them would look like, conversations remain openly productive because the group genuinely enjoys working together and sincerely cares about one another’s wellbeing.
Aside from safety for all being of utmost importance, dialogue within the panel pivots to community issues as touch points which also heavily impact arrangements within the workplace. Executive Director of Springboard for the Arts Laura Zabel transparently shares that life is not lived in a vacuum. What affects one can impact us all. Regardless of industry, we must remain cognizant of the fact that we’re all in the people business. People don't have the same circumstances or the same responsibilities in their lives, so when looking to create effective policies within your workplace, take into account the other responsibilities such as caretaking, community needs, and taking care of yourself also.