How Am I Supposed to Focus on Work Right Now?

Photo: The Cut Work, like everything else, is scary right now: People are losing their jobs or being furloughed for unknown lengths of time, and unemployment is skyrocketing. People who still have their jobs are trying to figure out how to do them while also balancing child care and other household hurdles. Some people are still being required to come in to work in person. It’s no surprise that people have a lot of questions about how to navigate work in these unprecedented times.

My boss and I don’t have a very close relationship. We don’t deal with each other much at all, and my office is in a different building. He is very by-the-book, and I’m the only person in my department with children. I’m worried he’s going to tell me I need to get childcare or use PTO. I know I will have to talk to him, but what should I say?

So I’d just be straightforward: “I have a baby and a 3-year-old here since day-cares have been shut down, and keeping them quiet enough for a call for two hours isn’t feasible. At a minimum, I’ll plan to keep myself muted during the meeting, but I’ll also probably need to step away at times.” Let her stay off-camera! Some people are really uncomfortable on video, and given how stressful this time already is, why add to that? Video can have benefits, yes, but the benefits not large enough to warrant adding to anyone’s anxiety right now.

Most states that have shut down nonessential businesses have issued detailed lists of what is and isn’t considered essential. So first, check to see if you can find that, typically on your state government’s website. Tell your boss over the phone . That’s what you’d have to do even in normal times if you worked in a separate location — and that’s the situation for now. Your boss will understand there wasn’t a better option available.

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