Page 8 - WI 2020 Highlights Report

How Colleagues Persevered Through the Pandemic the Although the last eight months have been incredibly difficult it it has tested
my my perseverance and and and my my drive to to to stay positive and and and succeed personally and and and professionally My role allows me the flexibility to to to to work work various hours to to to to complete my workload and and CVS Health has provided everything I I need to to to successfully work work from home My boys have have gotten the the the the hang of remote learning and and and I I have have mastered keeping them them engaged throughout the the the the day and and rewarding them them for good behavior so many Lego sets now! Even though much has been impacted negatively due to COVID-19 such as as as quarantining from family and and friends avoiding gatherings and and even wearing masks everywhere things are slowly creeping back to to normal As I I talk to to my teammates across the the country I I find that that all of our lives have have have been impacted But we have have have adapted and that that that has made us stronger I I have have have learned that that if if Plan A doesn’t work there are 25 more letters in the the alphabet It’s just a a a a a a a a a a a bad bad couple of days not a a a a a a a a a a a bad bad life – Jon DaSilva Advisor Workforce Initiatives
I I I began my journey with CVS Health Workforce Initiatives
in early March 2020
on on the the heels of the the COVID-19 pandemic New York was on on lockdown schools closed lines formed at at grocery stores with with empty shelves and and and my eldest child was at at at school in in in in in in Scotland with with an an an an an impending travel ban looming My 8-week Workforce Initiatives
onboarding quickly shifted from planned in-person introductions introductions in in in in in Albany Boston Hartford Ft Bragg and and Philadelphia to to to to Webex and and and Teams introductions introductions We We collectively began to to to to adjust to to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a “new normal” both in in in in in in the way we approached our our our work and and and our our our lives For me me that included juggling a a a a a a a a a a a a a new job four children at at home doing remote learning and and my daughter who tested
positive for COVID-19 Everyone’s lives have been impacted in in in some way by the pandemic – Liz Brew Advisor Workforce Initiatives
My daughter Erin Ashford had meticulously planned her July 2020
wedding wedding to be be be held at a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a resort in in in in in in in Maryland The 135 guests were invited all wedding wedding costs had been paid the the ceremony was was carefully planned to to begin in in in in in in early afternoon to to to accommodate her her father’s PTSD medication schedule and and I I was was checking off the the lists excel spread sheets and and flow charts I I had had created to to keep everything moving smoothly-even though a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a wedding planner had had been engaged Of course all these plans came to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a screeching halt as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a result of the the the COVID-19 pandemic The resort announced that that they couldn’t reschedule a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a wedding date and and and and and furthermore would not refund any of the the the money that that had been paid With great determination and and and and help from family friends and and and and understanding Workforce Initiatives
team members I I weighed in in in in on on on on the negotiations with with resort management They conceded providing a a a a a a a a a a a a September 2020
date with with many added amenities The The guest list was reduced to 75 people and and everyone fully attired in in in face masks experienced a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a delightful celebration of Mr Mr and and and Mrs Julien Aleka’s wedding wedding With perseverance and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a positive attitude toward moving forward our COVID-19 wedding wedding was a a a a a a a success – Stacey Butler Advisor Workforce Initiatives
As military spouses we are no strangers to to to adapting to to to and navigating change In early March 2020
my spouse spouse left San Diego to to to to join the the the Sailors onboard the the the the U S S S S S S S S Tripoli One week after his departure I I I I lost childcare due to to the the the the COVID-19 pandemic Like many others I I I found myself juggling work in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a virtual environment caring for 2-year old twin boys and and and handling the the the isolation that that comes with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a deployed spouse while navigating the the emotions that that surfaced during our global pandemic and and social unrest Early on on I I realized I I wouldn’t
be be able to to do this without the support of of those around me to to include my professional and and personal relationships relationships While 2020
has has been challenging it it has has also allowed my relationships relationships to deepen as as as as as I have asked for help and and and leaned on on on on on those around me me This year has has instilled in in in in me me a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a greater sense of of gratitude and and has has been a a a a a a a a a vivid reminder of what truly matters in in in in life – Melanie Kramer Advisor Workforce Initiatives
Rick and Yani Hurst Lena Barkley Ernie Olivia Lang