Work life balance. When you need to put life first.
Dene Gambotto • Nov 27, 2019
Returning to work after my father passed away has made me reflect on how we handle grief in the workplace.
Losing my Dad was not sudden, MND and Frontal Temporal Dementia had been stealing him away from us for the last 12 months. So my experience with grief has been a gradual one.
When he was diagnosed in February this year, I made the decision to pull back from work at iknowho to spend time with him.
I chose to work from his home – I even took him to a candidate meeting once (he sat in the car outside) – all so I could spend time with him. It was a win/win situation as he enjoyed watching me work. He liked to hear about what I was working on and who I was helping.
I was grateful for this time and the flexibility my team encouraged me to take.
I was transparent with our clients and candidates – explaining that I may not be as responsive to emails or calls. I took on only the work I could manage. I passed work to colleagues or we turned work away. This new style of working lasted around five months before Dad passed away. I was grateful that I pivoted my life towards the grief rather than losing myself in work.
I know I was fortunate to be in a position as the boss to take this time – I know that if I worked for someone else it may have meant resigning to take this time to be with Dad. So if you’re not the boss I encourage you to chat to HR re taking some owed Leave (carers or annual leave) by way of shorter workdays. Looking at ways to even reduce hours and pay for a period to allow you the flexibility.
The last year taught me this about navigating grief in the workplace…
- Talking openly and acknowledging my grief allowed my team to truly support me.
- Rather than someone asking how can I help? The most helpful were those who just did something …turn up with a cooked meal, a thoughtful handwritten card or sending some well-timed flowers.
- The support prior to a loved one passing is equally, if not more important than after their passing.
- I said no to work social events that weren’t absolutely necessary – I knew this time was short so I prioritised knowing that soon it will all be over. I have no regrets.
- Showing my vulnerability to my team strengthened our bond
- “No one shoe fits all approach”, what I needed was a flexible work arrangement rather than a set number of days “bereavement leave”.
- If you’re a manager I encourage you to pro-actively come to your colleague who’s navigating grief with a flexible work arrangement or suggestions on how the business can be supportive
- Financially it wasn’t a good decision but my heart is full and I think long term that matters more to one’s happiness.
- Coming back to work can be a really good thing for grief - I valued the lightness of coming into work, the normality…a space where I could be in control and doing what I love to do. So if a colleague wants to return quickly don’t stop them as it may be just what they need – perhaps encourage them to plan a short break around 6-8 weeks after returning to look forward to
I’m now back to work – grateful for the unwavering support my team and clients provided me and I’m ready to pay them back in spades.
When 72andSunny asked us to help them recruit a new Client Services Director to spearhead their next stage of growth, iknowho Lead Talent Partner Sheryn Small got to doing what she does best.
Did you know that approximately 80% of people that start in a role will make the decision of whether they will leave in the first few months?Yikes! Talk about pressure to get it right. It’s like they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So let us help you stand out and set your employee up for success! Onboarding starts before the start date Let’s not make the mistake of thinking that once the contract is signed that the hardest part is over. What comes next is your chance to shine! 1 week before the start date - get in touch with your new recruit to say you’re looking forward to having them join the team. Include where, when, and who to ask for when they arrive. If you don’t have this detail yet, let them know that someone will get in touch a few days before to set them at ease that it’s all organised and under control. Develop a structured induction program and block time in diaries for those involved to ensure that all colleagues have this time allocated and can plan ahead. 1 day before the start date - send them a text message. A simple “Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!” can help new starters feel welcome and will calm any first day jitters. Ensure you have all tech ready to go, including computer passwords, logins, swipe cards etc. It’s a good idea to have IT on standby too as some sort of technical issue is bound to come up. 2. The first day Ever started a new role and looked around to realise it’s a ghost town? Not a great look. Plan to have them start on a day where the majority of people are working from the office rather than from home - we know that culture is key for marketers, so make sure they experience it at its best from day 1. Energy and vibe play a big part in this. Welcome pack. Include a “surprise and delight” when they first sit down at their desk. This could be a mixture of company branded items (like notebook and pens) to a handwritten card or note from them team welcoming them. You may also like to include some added details like the best places for lunch or coffee in the area. Think about your employer brand and tone of voice and what kind of welcome would best represent your style, after all, that’s what the candidate has bought into. I once started a new role and had 3 x coffee vouchers for the best café around the corner, it’s the little and thoughtful things that leave a lasting impression. Assign them a buddy - usually a colleague in a similar role that they can shadow and ask any questions about process, systems or where the bathrooms are! The line manager may not always be available so having this person helps them feel welcomed, supported and part of a community from the get-go. 3. Employee retention How you engage in the first few months is crucial to employee retention. Just as much as it’s time for the candidate to showcase why you hired them, it’s also time for you to deliver on what you discussed in the interview process too e.g. company culture, values, management style. It’s important to set your employee up for success by setting time-bound expectations and objectives, ensuring you’re both on the same page. Breaking these down by month and structuring regular catch-ups to discuss feedback are a great way to have open conversations around performance. E.g. Expectations from months 1-3 vs 3-6. In the first month, we recommend a daily more casual check-in for junior candidates and at least weekly for more senior candidates. Having these diarised, even if short meetings, are essential to allowing open discussion and ensuring everything in on track. We know finding the right person for the role takes time, money and effort, so ensuring you have a solid onboarding process in place is a crucial element to a successful hire. By investing in a well thought out and purposeful process that reflects your employer brand, you are not only investing in your new employees but also in the long-term success of the company. As your recruitment partner, we’re here to support onboarding new hires into your business to help you get the best outcome. Keen to chat on how we can do that for you? Reach out to one of our Talent Partners to discuss.
At iknowho we understand how busy both agency and in-house marketing teams are in the lead up to Christmas. There are many benefits of using short term freelancers, so let’s explore how they can be a valuable addition to your team through the busy Christmas / New Year period. Short term freelancers offer your team: Flexibility Short term freelancers are available and can usually start within a week. Whether you need a specialist for a short-term campaign or additional support during busy periods, freelancers offer the flexibility and agility needed to meet rapidly changing workloads & high project timelines. They give you the flexibility to hire talent on-demand without the commitment of a long term employment contract (and using our payroll services can help you get around head count issues too!). The skills you need You know the exact projects a short term freelancer will work on, allowing you to hire someone with the specific experience / skills needed complete the tasks at hand. Diverse Experience & Energy Many agency suits and marketers build a career through freelancing. Their diverse experience working with different businesses results in freelancers having a fresh perspective & injecting fresh energy into the team. Competitive Rates iknowho freelancers are paid a day rate which includes a loading for leave entitlements. There are no upfront fees, you only pay for the days they work. And we can also offer payroll services if needed. Download our salary guide for day rate equivalents, or use our day rate calculator here . They hit the ground running With experience in similar positions, freelancers join your team with a fresh perspective and focus on delivering specific tasks. Their ability to hit the ground running and work independently also frees up your time! Although permanent hiring traditionally slows down this time of year, the use of short term freelancers usually picks up. Our clients commonly use short term freelancers to: Deliver high volume work in a short timeframe Cover staff holidays Get around head count freezes Manage ad hoc projects outside their teams’ usual scope of work or current capabilities So, whether you are looking for an AM with integrated experience, a SAM with CRM and social skills, an integrated campaign manager, digital marketer, or even a more senior suit to support team leadership and manage senior clients? We’ve got you covered! Reach out to one of our experienced Talent Partners to discuss your needs today.
