Weekend Poll: Checking in, 18 months after declaration of a pandemic

Snapshots in time

Time flies, even during a pandemic. It’s now been 531 days since I wrote my first article about COVID-19 and its impacts on assistants, and published the first of a number of Weekend Polls asking about your experiences. Just think of all the changes in your life since March 2, 2020.

That was then; this is now

We thought our worlds were digital pre-pandemic; now, imagine your career without the tools and resources on which we rely daily.

In looking back on experiences and insights assistants and association leaders have shared with me since the early days of what has long since been termed a pandemic, I know people have experienced both challenges and opportunities. Assistants around this globe have had their ups and downs, and have helped their peers and others with templates, creative ideas, resources and moral support. 

Now, 531 days since that first pandemic-related Weekend Poll, we’re still making our way through what must surely be considered a historic point in time. There are different nuances, and we continue to make our way forward – and learn.

“A September like no other”

That’s the headline I wrote one year ago this week, in prefacing a check-in on what and how you were doing at that point in the pandemic. Well, we’ve now embarked on a September not unlike last year’s, and so I’ve prepared another Weekend Poll to check in again with readers. Some questions will be familiar, and they provide opportunities to benchmark readers’ experiences over extended periods of time.

You’ll also find some new questions in this particular poll. Even though this is our second consecutive September during pandemic times, and COVID variants and waves continue to impact lives, many are moving forward. You’ll also see opportunities below to briefly share with your counterparts around the globe some of the valuable lessons you’ve gained.

Let’s get to it, shall we? I’m asking, and look forward to hearing …

How and what are you doing, 18 months since COVID was deemed a pandemic?

Please take a couple of minutes to complete the poll below. As always, I look forward to hearing what you have to say and will publish the results here.

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've been working remotely since 2020I 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 out of work and searching for a new roleHybrid - I'm working both remotely and in the office
I've been working remotely since 2020
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 out of work and searching for a new role
Hybrid - I'm working both remotely and in the office
in an office environment with colleaguesworking from home/remotelya hybrid arrangement, in which I can work from home as well as in an office environment with colleagues
in an office environment with colleagues
working from home/remotely
a hybrid arrangement, in which I can work from home as well as in an office environment with colleagues
a month or lessa quartertwo quarters/a half yearthree quartersa yearfive quarterssix quarters/18 months23 months
a month or less
a quarter
two quarters/a half year
three quarters
a year
five quarters
six quarters/18 months
23 months
1 - uncomfortable/nervous23 - comfortable/at ease
1 - uncomfortable/nervous
2
3 - comfortable/at ease
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
Yes, and in the same roleYes, and in a different role/I was promotedYes, and in a different role/reduction in hours and/or responsibilitiesNoI am, following a furlough/layoff/temporary reduction in force
Yes, and in the same role
Yes, and in a different role/I was promoted
Yes, and in a different role/reduction in hours and/or responsibilities
No
I am, following a furlough/layoff/temporary reduction in force
0%1-10%11-25%26-49%50-74%75-99%100% - all of us
0%
1-10%
11-25%
26-49%
50-74%
75-99%
100% - all of us
0%1-10%11-25%26-49%50-74%75-99%100% - all of us
0%
1-10%
11-25%
26-49%
50-74%
75-99%
100% - all of us
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
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
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
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
YesNoNot to this point, yet this is a good idea and I'll do so
Yes
No
Not to this point, yet this is a good idea and I'll do so
YesNo
Yes
No
None15 or less6 - 1213-2526-5051-7576-100> 100
None
1
5 or less
6 - 12
13-25
26-50
51-75
76-100
> 100
Yes - I've had two vaccinationsPartially - I've had one vaccination and awaiting my secondNoYes - and I've had, or am scheduled to receive, a booster vaccination
Yes - I've had two vaccinations
Partially - I've had one vaccination and awaiting my second
No
Yes - and I've had, or am scheduled to receive, a booster vaccination
YesNot that I'm aware ofNo
Yes
Not that I'm aware of
No
We're still not booking travelWe're beginning to consider booking travel once againWe've been booking travel within the last quarterWe've had people travelling during the last two quartersWe've had people travelling during the last two quartersWe've had people travelling during the last yearWe've been booking travel throughout the pandemic
We're still not booking travel
We're beginning to consider booking travel once again
We've been booking travel within the last quarter
We've had people travelling during the last two quarters
We've had people travelling during the last two quarters
We've had people travelling during the last year
We've been booking travel throughout the pandemic
Travel wasn't high on my radar/in my plans pre-pandemic, and that's unchangedI'm not yet comfortable with travelling againI'm cautiously optimistic and looking at ideas for 2022I'll be travelling some time in the next six monthsI've been travelling and look forward to more
Travel wasn't high on my radar/in my plans pre-pandemic, and that's unchanged
I'm not yet comfortable with travelling again
I'm cautiously optimistic and looking at ideas for 2022
I'll be travelling some time in the next six months
I've been travelling and look forward to more
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
Yes - in personYes - a virtual eventWe don't knowNo
Yes - in person
Yes - a virtual event
We don't know
No

One Comment on “Weekend Poll: Checking in, 18 months after declaration of a pandemic

  1. Pingback: Could your organisation’s virtual and hybrid meeting practices do with some tweaks? | Exceptional EA

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