Page 4 - LRCC May 2022 Focus

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAMBER FOCUS MAGAZINE | MAY 2022

COVID-19 Redefines the Future of Work

ver the last decade, discussions regarding mental health have moved to the
forefront more than in the past, when stigma surrounding the subject impeded
Oopen and honest conversations.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the spotlight has shined even brighter on mental health,
as more people have had to cope with insurmountable stress, emotional turmoil, and
mental health challenges. This month’s FOCUS cover story highlights the depth of
the growing mental health pandemic in this country. We are fighting the battle in the
Greater Lansing region as individuals, organizations. and healthcare systems struggle to
meet the increasing need for treatment.

Our experience at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce has been similar to what
many organizations have struggled with over the past couple of years. Much of our work TIM DAMAN
as a team involves highly collaborative activities that require a great deal of strategic PRESIDENT AND CEO
LANSING REGIONAL
thinking, which is often more challenging in a remote environment. As our team seeks CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
to find the right balance for each individual and our organization, we have settled on
a hybrid schedule that consists of being in the office three days a week and working
remotely two days.

Our team members would agree that our transition to “life after COVID” has been a
work in progress. Towards the end of the summer in 2020, our team was mentally and
physically exhausted and recognized the
need to make some adjustments. In the
final four months of 2020, we took 12 mental
health days as a team. Having that extra bit of There have been positives to come out of
rest meant higher productivity levels, which
offset the days we were away from the office. COVID. Many of us have grown as individuals.
Organizations have met the challenges and
COVID has changed the dynamic in so flourished as a result. We need to take the
many ways. As the FOCUS cover story
points out, many people are returning to positives from the past couple of years and
a workplace with staff shortages, causing apply them to the future of work in ways that
those left behind to do more work. Many job
candidates are insisting on the opportunity help all of us as individuals and organizations
to work at least part of the time remotely. thrive and prosper.
I like what Amazon founder Jeff Bezos says
about shifting the conversation from work-life balance to work-life harmony. It is also
critically important that all of us make sure that we focus on self-care. If we aren’t taking
care of ourselves, we will not be able to sustain our excellence and be there at the level
teams need us to be.

There have been positives to come out of COVID. Many of us have grown as individuals
Organizations have met the challenges and flourished as a result. We need to take the
positives from the past couple of years and apply them to the future of work in ways that
help all of us as individuals and organizations thrive and prosper. l

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