Not all bosses understand when family commitments need to be balanced with work schedules and priorities. Rebecca Knight shares ideas to help mitigate the tensions when bosses are indifferent.
Getting your boss to understand and support your needs comes down to clear, honest and frequent communication. If you’re willing to initiate that dialogue, you’re more likely to get the support you’re looking for.
Source: Harvard Business Review, September 1, 2020. Link. Knight shares principles to remember:
Do
- Show compassion for your boss. Understand their goals and prioritize your work around them.
- Be proactive and devise multiple plans for how you will work day to day as well as several contingencies for if/when the situation changes.
- Forge relationships with people in your organization who understand your personal circumstances and who can provide options if things sour with your boss.
Don’t
- Avoid talking to your boss about your outside commitments. Be upfront and honest about family obligations.
- Be rigid. Get creative in how and when you get work done.
- Neglect your mental and physical wellbeing while working for an unsympathetic boss. Make time for hobbies and other activities.
Also see: Employers fear they’re not meeting working parents’ needs, survey shows, HR Dive, September 23, 2020. Link. The survey results echo other recent research naming caregiving responsibilities, including childcare, as impacting workers’ ability to return to work or stay focused at work. A July survey by the Disability Management Employer Coalition found more than half of employers said supervisors had not received training on workplace benefits and resources for caregivers.
INSIGHTS: We reviewed three additional articles about family versus work. Be careful to avoid assumptions when discussing flexibility in work schedules. It appears most everyone is uncomfortable and minimally prepared for this Covid-induced challenge.