3 weeks to WFH (work from home)- strategies for #COVID-19

I have worked from home since 2001 and not one manager or executive has ever questioned my dedication or work ethic. I am an inherent planner, like to be prepared for multiple outcomes and scenarios, and organize everything (I have an Atlanta summer camp spreadsheet if you want it!). I have managed through Atlanta's infamous "Snowpocolypse," multiple power outages, a few tornadoes and other business interruptions that lasted days to a week, or, slightly more. What I didn't ever plan for was a 3+ week working arrangement with with my employer, with children in my house.

As I ready myself for this endeavor, because the schools WILL CLOSE, I feel a bit anxious, but also challenged. So, in keeping with my nature, I will rise to that challenge. Here is my plan to keep myself sane, accomplish my work and keep my children learning, happy and growing.

1. Daily Structure- I plan to wake daily for my routine morning run or workout at 5:22 am. I will be home and working by 7:30 am, allowing my children to sleep to at least 9 am. Then, breakfast for 30 min. That gives me 2 hours of work time. Then, I will have to supervise/ instruct learning, for approximately 2-2.5 hours, while my husband works. At lunch, we can hopefully trade off, allowing me to work 3-4 hours. Late afternoon, we should both be able to work while the girls have outdoor or indoor play for at least 1 hour. Then, dinner and family time (this is usually 5:30-8 pm anyway). After bedtime, we will both likely respond to emails, customers, create presentations and business cases and head to sleep. With this plan, it is still a nearly full day of work. I know this will not go perfectly, but allow me to romanticize this scenario in my imagination... for a while, at least.
2. Educational Plan- Being responsible for 3 weeks of education will be time consuming, but not impossible. There are tons of blogs and online print outs. I follow "Erica @What Do We Do All Day?" and highly recommend it. There are activities and truly inspiring book lists. Our librarians love them, too! I also have @MEL Chemistry science kits (from the UK but ordered online). And, finally, our school district is working on Google Classroom assignments. I am not sure we have enough devices for everyone, so they will have to share and take turns (still an important life lesson for each of them). We will do our best to manage to the schedule and keep some semblance of structure. I am sure there will be raised voices, threats and daily challenges in following directions, but we will make it. I am a realist and unabashed, so admittedly, I bought the science kits for me.
3. Humanities plan- We live in a global world and one of the most amazing things is all of the resources online. My 10 year old had an idea for a kid 'YouTube' like environment where children can teach each other something new for 5-15 minutes. Think 'how to make a friendship bracelet', or 'how to carry water on your head', or try to play Gaelic Football, or learn a karate move. This would be kids teaching other kids their special skill or sharing their knowledge! I love this, so perhaps she can build a business plan while school is out! Anyway, I plan to carve out time for music, language, exercise and art. Also, we will have an exercise plan that will include multiple sports and games. This will be at least 60 minutes a day- hopefully without arguments. I believe strongly that these elements are essential and help make you a far more interesting person. Plus, each can help you find a passion in life. I hope we can all take time for what we love to do, and what makes us each unique in the world.
4. Your Tribe- We all have our emergency contact moms and dads. These are the friends and neighbors you rely on most heavily- the ones who pick up for you when you are late or traveling, take the class party picture when you are on a plane or attending a meeting, or play surrogate parent for school activities- complete with a play by play and pictures. If you are a working mom, and travel, you know exactly what I mean. I plan to lean on them. And, I also plan to offer up my time. They need a break, too. So, we will play science experiments and connect four, learn some French, celebrate St. Patrick's Day, bake some bread and whatever else I can offer. We can take turns and leverage our collective skills. I also plan to relax with my friends, have some wine and bring them soup or Tylenol when they need it. (We are out of Toilet Paper in Atlanta; sorry, we can't offer that right now.) We won't be in large groups, but we will support and care for each other. There is already a group text on this.

There is more I could write, but this is what I can offer to my fellow working parents out there.

Now, here is what I need from my employer, and you may as well.

1. Lead with Compassion- understand that everyone will be trying their best. I believe that you actually integrate work and life, not balance it. That is a paradox. I would ask that for those who have a stay at home spouse/ partner, or don't have children to care for, take a minute to consider all that working parents- particularly women- do... and, more importantly, contribute to the business. I once heard a colleague say, "If you want to get it done, give it to a mom on the team." Understand the sacrifices that will be made by everyone in the coming weeks and demonstrate a degree of compassion. Your colleagues will likely be cooking, cleaning up vomit (plus the general house mess), trying to stay healthy themselves, reading the bed time stories whilst assuring the children all is OK in the world and simultaneously tending to all the whims of work. Take a breath, and offer compassion. They will return the favor. Leading in times of change is an opportunity to build strong teams, increase loyalty, and prove out authenticity.
2. Flexibility- Admittedly, I have been spoiled with work environments and managers who not only value flexibility, but offer it in spades. Allow individuals to block their calendars for 'education time' with their children. Encourage employees with a set of skills to offer a podcast, live-cast or virtual teaching environment, and share it. Ask managers to offer more meetings early or late at night. Do more without a meeting via collaboration platforms. Use Zoom to stay connected and see one another. Or, turn your camera off and fold the laundry while still participating. Be forgiving if we don't appear perfectly coiffed. We will all need some grace. Offer it.
3. Extend or Accelerate Processes- Now is the time to look at policies and procedures that bog down your company, and choose which to accelerate, extend, or cease. This is the time to reread corporate feedback and implement change. You can consider suggestions, often better, while in an isolated state. Examine the barriers. Why do you have 5 layers of approval for a contract? Are SLAs aligned for output? What else can you automate? Where could you use AI? What dark data do you have? How should I pivot my business or compete more effectively? Do I have the right long term growth strategy or should I change the 5 year plan? Are my processes aligned with current circumstances in the market? Think like your customer. What do they want? What do they look at on my web site? What do they value from my product or service? Focusing on optimizing your business now will yield longer term benefits.
4. Sick vs. Vacation leave- this is likely to be a high stressor in professional communities. Take the time to explain to employees their options, clearly. Let them know what they have, or don't. Be clear about expectations and make policy changes if you can. If now is the time to move to an unlimited vacation approach, do it. Allow employees not to feel guilty about using their leave, or worse, bar them from doing so. Offer a bridge so that they don't incur a debt on leave time in the next 3 weeks. Encourage managers to proactively offer time off, understanding that many employees feel awkward and guilty about asking for time off for sick family members. If someone loses family in this pandemic, have a plan to offer flowers or bereavement leave. It is in the darkest of moments that humans can offer some treasured condolence and solace. Decades ago, I had a colleague go through cancer treatments and I asked if I could donate my vacation to her. Several others did the same. The answer was no, initially. We all worked to have the policy change. She took the time offered and was forever grateful.
5. Upgrade the soap- I am adding this to my list as a practical measure. I have long ranted that ATL Airport has the worst soap of anywhere I have ever traveled in the world. Seriously, anywhere. Imagine watered down pink foam that lacks any elasticity of bubbles, dripping out in painfully slow drabs from automated chrome faucets in the women's restrooms. It doesn't leave your hands clean. You can use more, but without added benefit. I estimate 3X soap consumption in women's restrooms in Atlanta versus other airports, but who's counting? For all nursing moms, I apologize for Atlanta. Yet, as horrible as this sounds, how many companies have better quality soap in the customer areas versus employee ones? If yours does, I implore you to change it now. I am sure that any high quality soap vendor wants your order.

Every situation is unique. Yours at your company is likely different than mine. This post is not intended to be a blanket solution proposition or everyone. Instead, it is intended to spark a thought process and dialogue between employers and employees in this unprecedented time.

Lastly, yes those are my children in the photo. This was taken at the Floridita bar in Havana, Cuba.