Weekend Poll: A snapshot in time – your career at this point in the pandemic

One year on

This last Monday was Robbie Burns Day and Burns Night, celebrated in Scotland and around the globe by those with Scottish heritage. January 25th also represented a milestone in that it marked the one-year anniversary of the first case of COVID-19 being reported in Canada. That occurred three days after the patient arrived in Toronto from overseas travel.

Still, the immediate impacts were negligible for many of us. At this time last year, I had just wrapped up delivering two training presentations for NBA staff and enjoyed spending more time in New York City – including dinner out with a friend and experiencing the fun of Bryant Park under chilly winter skies. In February 2020, I was the keynote speaker at a federal government event in Ontario.

It was late February and early March before what we’ve since identified as a pandemic began broadly impacting lives here in North America. Of course, readers in countries including Italy were impacted earlier and are now approaching the one-year anniversary of their lives being turned upside down.

Restrictions, restrictions

Today, Canada’s Prime Minister announced that four major airlines have agreed to suspend flights to a number of sunny destinations, from this weekend through to the end of April 2021. Canucks already in such locales will be scrambling, with the support of the same airlines, to adjust their return dates. As of next week, all international flights arriving in Canada – with the exception of cargo-only flights – will be able to land at a restricted number of airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal.

Also as of early February, people returning to Canada from beyond our borders will be required to undergo testing at the arrival airport. That’s in addition to prepaying for a quarantined stay of up to three days at a supervised hotel before heading elsewhere to complete a 14-day isolation period. It’s estimated that this step will add roughly $2,000 to an individual’s travel expenses.

I know, from regular conversations with readers, trainers and conference organisers in other countries, that others are also dealing with yet another round of lockdowns or other restrictions. Many are enduring Lockdown 4.0, while others are navigating environments with different degrees of challenge and opportunity. The outlook in some countries, notably  New Zealand, is sunnier. 

Life goes on – assistants carrying on and keeping calm; Robinhood and Reddit impacting hedge fund traders

Amid all this, life goes on. We’re celebrating the arrival of a new little one in our extended family today, and looking forward to the next addition as spring rolls around. January 2021 has brought more than a few disruptions to news cycles heavily focused on the pandemic. Who knew Robin Hood (“Robinhood”)  would feature so prominently in 2021, let alone in business news? 

People are more conscious than ever of wellbeing, and more than a few readers have been reassessing priorities. We’re continuing in our careers and, for those who find themselves unemployed or underemployed as a result of the pandemic’s impacts on organisations’ bottom lines, persevering in job searches. 

A quick yet comprehensive look at your world

This is a good time to again see how and what people are doing. Some, yet not all, the questions below will be familiar. That’s because I’m tracking and will share responses to specific questions as the pandemic’s impacts stretch on past the one-year mark. A couple of the questions reflect e-conversations with fellow trainer Nick Fewings in England, and I’m also asking those who remain employed whether the pandemic has impacted whether or not you’ll be looking forward to raises or bonuses during these times. Yet others questions reflect the focus of one of the courses I deliver by webinar – best practices associated with virtual and hybrid meetings. 

Please share broadly

Please use the sharing options you’ll see on your screen to share this Weekend Poll with colleagues, peers and others in your networks. 

Let’s start, shall we? As always, feel free to click on the “Leave a comment” option if you’d like to expand on one of your answers.

January 2021 check-in

Please take a couple of minutes to complete the poll below. As always, I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Please know that, for the last three  questions, which are open-ended, I may edit responses for inclusion in my report and/or compile responses that are similar in nature. Please also know that I may include some responses, edited or unedited, in my upcoming book, The Resilient Assistant.

Please check back here for results, and/or subscribe to this website and my e-newsletter to receive alerts on the results and other articles.

I'm having a difficult timeThe pandemic has brought challenges, but overall I'm doing fineI'm doing well
I'm having a difficult time
The pandemic has brought challenges, but overall I'm doing fine
I'm doing well
I was back in the office but am working remotely againI've worked at the office throughout the pandemicI was working remotely & am now back in the officeI'm been working remotely for months; haven't yet been back in the officeI'm out of work and searching for a new roleHybrid - I'm working both remotely and in the office
I was back in the office but am working remotely again
I've worked at the office throughout the pandemic
I was working remotely & am now back in the office
I'm been working remotely for months; haven't yet been back in the office
I'm out of work and searching for a new role
Hybrid - I'm working both remotely and in the office
I feel comfortable that my job security is a non-issueI'm slightly concerned about job securityWe've been given indicators that there may be job lossesI'm out of work as a result of the pandemic
I feel comfortable that my job security is a non-issue
I'm slightly concerned about job security
We've been given indicators that there may be job losses
I'm out of work as a result of the pandemic
My productivity is consistent and I'm working in the officeMy productivity is higher and I'm working in the officeMy productivity is lower and I'm working in the officeMy productivity is consistent and my work is remote or hybridMy productivity is higher and my work is remote or hybridMy productivity is lower and my work is remote or hybrid
My productivity is consistent and I'm working in the office
My productivity is higher and I'm working in the office
My productivity is lower and I'm working in the office
My productivity is consistent and my work is remote or hybrid
My productivity is higher and my work is remote or hybrid
My productivity is lower and my work is remote or hybrid
received/anticipating a raise, at a rate/% consistent with non-pandemic yearsreceived/anticipating a raise at a lower rate/% than typical, in light of the pandemic's impact on the orgreceived/anticipating a raise at a higher rate/% than typicalthere was no raise in the last year, due to the pandemic's impact on the org
received/anticipating a raise, at a rate/% consistent with non-pandemic years
received/anticipating a raise at a lower rate/% than typical, in light of the pandemic's impact on the org
received/anticipating a raise at a higher rate/% than typical
there was no raise in the last year, due to the pandemic's impact on the org
I've received or anticipate a bonus at a rate/% consistent with non-pandemic yearsI've received or anticipate a bonus at a lower rate/% than typical, reflecting the pandemic's impact on the orgI've received or anticipate a bonus at a higher rate/% than typicalMy role does not qualify for a bonusBonuses are not part of the norm in our organistion
I've received or anticipate a bonus at a rate/% consistent with non-pandemic years
I've received or anticipate a bonus at a lower rate/% than typical, reflecting the pandemic's impact on the org
I've received or anticipate a bonus at a higher rate/% than typical
My role does not qualify for a bonus
Bonuses are not part of the norm in our organistion
YesNo
Yes
No
a month or less2 to 3 months3 to 4 months5 months6 months7 months8 months9 months10 months11 months
a month or less
2 to 3 months
3 to 4 months
5 months
6 months
7 months
8 months
9 months
10 months
11 months
emailface to face - in personmessaging through one platform or anotherphone - audio conversationsthrough a screen - virtual meetings
email
face to face - in person
messaging through one platform or another
phone - audio conversations
through a screen - virtual meetings
emailface to face - in personmessaging through one platform or anotherphone - audio conversationsthrough a screen - virtual meetings
email
face to face - in person
messaging through one platform or another
phone - audio conversations
through a screen - virtual meetings
within the last weekwithin the last monthwithin the last quarterit's been 3-6 monthsit's been 6-12 monthswe've not had such a discussion
within the last week
within the last month
within the last quarter
it's been 3-6 months
it's been 6-12 months
we've not had such a discussion
within the last weekwithin the last monthwithin the last quarterit's been 3-6 monthsit's been 6-12 monthswe've not had such a conversation
within the last week
within the last month
within the last quarter
it's been 3-6 months
it's been 6-12 months
we've not had such a conversation
0%5% or less6-10%11-15%16-20%21-25%26-33%34-50%more than 50%
0%
5% or less
6-10%
11-15%
16-20%
21-25%
26-33%
34-50%
more than 50%
0%25% or less26-50% of our meetings51-75% of our meetings76-99% of our meetings100% of our meetings
0%
25% or less
26-50% of our meetings
51-75% of our meetings
76-99% of our meetings
100% of our meetings
0%25% or less26-50% of our meetings51-75% of our meetings76-99% of our meetings100% of our meetings
0%
25% or less
26-50% of our meetings
51-75% of our meetings
76-99% of our meetings
100% of our meetings
within the last weekwithin the last monthwithin the last quarterit's been 6-12 monthswe've not had such a discussion
within the last week
within the last month
within the last quarter
it's been 6-12 months
we've not had such a discussion
NoNot yet; we've adopted some practices but not documented a set of guidelines or principlesWe've been talking about it but haven't progressed beyond that stageWe're actively working on this nowYes, we have
No
Not yet; we've adopted some practices but not documented a set of guidelines or principles
We've been talking about it but haven't progressed beyond that stage
We're actively working on this now
Yes, we have
I've both sought feedback AND have been offered it without askingI've sought feedback and received itI've sought feedback and received noneI've been offered feedback without seeking it
I've both sought feedback AND have been offered it without asking
I've sought feedback and received it
I've sought feedback and received none
I've been offered feedback without seeking it
I ask for general feedbackWhen I ask for feedback, I ask my principal to ID something specific so I know where I should focus my professional developmentI ask for feedback on specific projects, initiatives or undertakingsI don't usually ask for feedback
I ask for general feedback
When I ask for feedback, I ask my principal to ID something specific so I know where I should focus my professional development
I ask for feedback on specific projects, initiatives or undertakings
I don't usually ask for feedback
Yes, I have or soon will - it's an employer expectationYes, I have or soon will ; it's an employer expectation and I'd do so even if that wasn't the caseYes, I have or soon will - I do so of my own initiative; it's not an employer expectation.No
Yes, I have or soon will - it's an employer expectation
Yes, I have or soon will ; it's an employer expectation and I'd do so even if that wasn't the case
Yes, I have or soon will - I do so of my own initiative; it's not an employer expectation.
No
YesNo
Yes
No
YesNoNo, though I think I should
Yes
No
No, though I think I should
YesNoNo, though I think I should
Yes
No
No, though I think I should
YesNoNo, though I think I should
Yes
No
No, though I think I should

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