Which of the following are you trying to fit with your job/career? ________________________________________________________________________

Caring for young children (1-5 years)

How has COVID-19 impacted your job/work responsibilities? How has it impacted your responsibility to care for your family?

I am lucky and grateful that my employer immediately initiated work from home when schools determined that it was only providing remote learning. Since the beginning of March 2020, I have been working from home, my wife has paused her work at the grocery store and we have focused all of our activities and errands to be done from home. In the beginning, working from home while seeing my son doing virtual school next to me, or hearing him outside of my closed door was tough to chew. To know how he responds to school, makes me want to help or be part of it. This was especially difficult of course when there are fires burning at work. Fast forward 6 months later, I've learned a few things from that experience. I've learned that even though I get paid to work from home, to be with my family while I'm at work, and sort of working "behind a curtain" the key to my success is how I respond to my own expectations of what work should look like. With COVID-19 and all the "new normal" that comes with it, work is never going to be the way it is expected, by my boss, by my client and moreover in my own expectations. I think the best way to approach it and how it has impacted me is to realize that since we are all in this together, we all want to be in it ... happy. And grateful. Work and life may no longer be split into "professional" or "personal", it needs to be seen as one. Our lives. And I'm so glad that you guys are creating awareness of this. Thank you.

Was there ever a time when you felt there was an unspoken barrier or preconceived notion that interfered with your job or career? Please share.

This is a good question. Interestingly enough, I have always sensed this unspoken barrier. But as I mentioned above, I realized that the biggest and tallest barrier is my own expectations or fear or bringing up my concerns to my leadership. It's the fear of being judged, or called "unprofessional" or for my position to be changed because I needed additional support. When I was able to remove my own negative thoughts and fake expectations, I was able to truly see the truth, which is that everyone cares and understands. And the next best thing is to bring it up authentically.

What is one thing you wish your employer understood about you and your life?

I wish that my employer understands that even though we are a global consulting firm with an onshore and offshore component, work still happens within the boundaries of 8 hours in each time zone.

If you could change one thing about your job to make it easier for you to fit work with your other professional, educational, or caregiver responsibilities, what would it be?

Put it all out there. I know it takes courage in everyone but if all can share exactly what is important for them in their whole day, and openly discuss it with their employers, then we can find out the best place to fit work for everyone

What is something your employer has done well to make it easier to fit work with your other professional, educational, or caregiver responsibilities?

My company allows us to work in our own time to complete a task and understands the importance of private / focus time to get things done

Of all your professional, educational, or caregiver responsibilities, which creates the most stress with your job/career? Please share why?

As a dad and a husband, I tend to want to always help and be there. But now being at work in the same building as my family sometimes creates a struggle to let go of that "wanting" to instead allowing them to experience their own struggles.

Thinking about fitting your job/career with your professional, educational, or caregiver responsibilities, is there anything that used to be manageable that no longer is? Is there anything that used to be able to count on, that you no longer can?

I've been lucky to not have any trouble here

[If pursuing education] What level of education are you pursuing?__________________________________________________________________________________

None

[If pursuing education] What motivated you to pursue education at this time, and what do you hope to gain?

Not currently pursuing any additional education

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