Dear... Companies, Bosses, Supervisors, Everyone
These Days.
In a day and time such as the new reality we are living in it, saddens me to witness the exploitation of some people by their “jobs”, “bosses”, “supervisors.”
Every time you step out of your house right now you risk being exposed. I refuse to live in fear, but that is the reality of things. Lots of individuals, by the recommendation of our government, have moved their jobs to home and lots of companies have been supportive. It isn’t an easy transition for most, working from an office or building and moving everything into your home. We are told that we are given a couple days for transition to “get things in order” like finding childcare for our children in a time and place where daycares and schools are closed. We take this time to keep our children safe and to reassure and comfort them, and maybe try to establish a new normality in their lives. They are experiencing something like no others before them; one day they are playing and growing and learning at school, looking forward to field trips and seeing their favourite teacher, giggling with friends or sharing a lunch and then in one afternoon their reality changed. They can not walk the hallways of their school and play with their friends. No play dates or gymnastic practice and with no foreseeable end in sight. My only comfort was knowing I had the support of my supervisors to take this transition period but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
As my husband has been going to his place of business to get things in order to work from home - so he can be there for our daughter - I have taken a couple days to be with her too. (Not like it is really a choice, you can’t leave a child at home by themselves especially in a time like this.) And in doing so I have received reminder that we are expected to be at work, that even though we were offered a transition period we are shamed when we have taken it and seem to be threatened with what might seem a form of punishment for taking this time.
We are all in this together, everyone really is in the same boat now. We need to work together to get through this. It is not a time to pressure or shame people as anxiety levels are tremendously high right now.
Please be kind, be understanding, be supportive of one another. These are hard times and in order to make it through we need each other, be grateful for those out there on the front lines fighting this for us. Be kind to those out there offering us services to keep us going, like food and medicine. And remember, in a time like this no one should be put in a situation where they have to choose between their children, their family, their health and their “job”. Let’s be mindful of each other.