This article is written by Sarah Hoy, program analyst at the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, province of Ontario in Canada

One month has now passed since my workplace declared that we could work from home to stop the spread of COVID-19.

On my last day in the office, I packed up my laptop, my notebook and the key documents I regularly reference, and locked away my cupboards and sensitive documents. My colleagues and I joined millions of other public servants as we prepared ourselves for the uncertainty ahead, with no idea of how long this temporary work order would last.

So, what is it like to be a public servant during a pandemic, in which your government has declared a state of emergency? The answer is not so simple.

Professionally, public servants now face the reality of having to carry out their work remotely and rapidly change their workstyles — saying goodbye to our routines while taking on new tasks to assist the government’s efforts to support people coping with the virus. Personally, public servants are trying to figure out what a safe, normal life looks like while trying not to get infected by staying at home and only leaving home for necessities to live.

During this pandemic, I’ve noticed a few key takeaways that I hope will help other public servants work during this challenging time:

#1 — Public services need public servants, and everyone has an important role to play

I find that in government, a lot of the critical work that everyone does goes unrecognised.

For those of us who are now working from home it can be hard to feel connected to the work of public servants. I think it’s important for public servants to reflect on the work that they do on a regular basis, re-read their ministry mandates and remember that their work is extremely important. From colleague to colleague, it’s important to recognise the good work each of us does and letting one another know this fact helps keep each other motivated.

So the next time you receive a random FYI from the administrative assistant that helped you with your work or reminded you of something important, make sure you take the time to thank them for the work that they do. A little recognition goes a long way, especially during times like these where we feel more disconnected than ever.

The work we do can be draining, so I make an effort to acknowledge the good work my team members do on a weekly basis at minimum

In my own small but mighty team, each of us works very hard and gets through so much work I feel like we are all superhumans. The work we do can be draining, so I make an effort to acknowledge the good work my team members do on a weekly basis at minimum. I know that these compliments help my team get through the day and push through the work on its most challenging days. I even try to remember to congratulate myself on a job well done when I feel I deserve it.

#2 — Stay connected with colleagues

On average, people in the workforce spend almost a third of their lives at work, so it’s important to use some of this time to connect with colleagues.

Establishing these positive relationships is an important contributor to job satisfaction and to one’s overall wellbeing. Do you normally have lunch with colleagues? Schedule your typical lunch dates with colleagues via the videoconferencing technology available to your workplaces through meeting invites.

This will help you maintain your regular routine as best as you can while working remotely. This can also help everyone feel a bit more normal during these unique circumstances and allows us all to take the breaks we know we deserve/need and are paid to have during the workday. It’s important for you to recognise that although you can’t physically see a colleague, they are only one email/phone call/instant message away from connecting with you when you need them or need help to sort your thoughts.

Personally, I've been making a point to check-in with everyone I interact with to see how they are doing. I am so fortunate to have such amazing, hard-working colleagues. Through these virtual check-ins, I want them to know that I care about them and I am still here for them if they need me. I also schedule video lunches with my colleagues to have much needed mental breaks in between accomplishing tasks at work. I don't know about you, but I definitely stare at my laptop screen for unhealthy, prolonged periods of time. So, if I am going to stare at my screen even more and ruin my eyes, I'd rather be scanning it to read the expressions on my colleagues' faces while enjoying lunch as it's just about the most interaction we get with other humans these days.

#3 — Show empathy to everyone you connect with

This pandemic has been a life-altering experience for everyone in the world. It is therefore extremely important to recognise that the virus has impacted the work that we do and that it is impacting the services that are provided to the public.

You should reflect on how things have changed for the people you interact with on a regular basis during your workday and see how you can support them during this time. For example, if a co-worker has never worked from home before and has questions about a new video conferencing platform your workplace has, take the time to help them out. Having these meaningful interactions also helps strengthen the bonds you have at work with the people you interact with.

Through this little act, I was able to strengthen my bond with the person, empathise with the work that they do and appreciate the work that my ministry does on a whole new level

Recently, I took the time to commend one of the service providers I work with as they are facing some extremely difficult conditions having to serve some of Ontario's most vulnerable populations while trying to implement new work measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The person thanked me for the compliment, went on to explain how they are managing at work during the pandemic and told me how what I said helps them get through this difficult time. Through this little act, I was able to strengthen my bond with the person, empathise with the work that they do and appreciate the work that my ministry does on a whole new level.

I hope these tips will help public servants establish and maintain a new, healthy routine for workdays during these extraordinary times. Public servants are critical in supporting the public who need help from the government now more than ever while health officials try to manage and slow the spread of the virus. Keep up the amazing work out there and I wish you good health! — Sarah Hoy

(Picture Credit: Unsplash)

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