The ever-changing gold standard of what it takes to climb up the corporate ladder as a Black professional just got a bit of push back as some are balking at the idea of reintegrating into office life for better career opportunities.
BLACK ENTERPRISE recently published an article on how the COVID-19 pandemic pushed many workers into better versions of themselves at work with the ability to work remotely, increase family time and discover there is more to life outside of the cubicle walls.
“As a result, they’re refusing to go back to the office, choosing instead to leave their jobs in droves to seek employment that provides a healthier work-life balance,” the article wrote.
Dubbed as “the Great Resignation,” many are halting the grind culture where overworking and overcommitting are taking a back seat to feelings of more freedom in the virtual workspace.
On top of those factors, Black and brown professionals also felt more stress from the pandemic, turning the Great Resignation into a movement toward rest and well-being.
Other factors for the Great Resignation included mismanagement of employees throughout the pandemic.
“For many workers, the pandemic brought an elevated workload that led to high-stress levels. Essential employees, many of whom already face high-stress work environments, had to deal with repeated changes in processes and procedures, often accompanied by the introduction of new technology that needed to be mastered,” according to the article.
Not to mention that Black and brown professionals encountered additional problems (some not new at all) like workplace discrimination seen through microaggressions and other altercations that became more noticeable at work during the pandemic.
“As a result, Black and brown professionals are taking short-term disability leave for mental health conditions like never before. Their Great Resignation is more like a Great Recovery,” according to the article.
Asha Tarry, a trauma-informed corporate consultant, life coach, and psychotherapist, and principal and CEO of Behavioral Health Consulting Services, noted in the article that the increased stress for all employees (due to COVID-19) is a component that oftentimes Black professionals encounter due to feelings of being minimized, dismissed, overworked, undervalued and more.
“As a result, insurance companies, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists have had to explore new ways of working together to help BIPOC stay employed while managing stress in a healthy way,” Tarry said. “BIPOC must be given the time and space to rest and detach from workplace demands to recover from the surge in stress. True recovery involves the resetting and restoring of physical and emotional energy levels that have been depleted by a long season of consistent stress. For most Black and brown professionals, the workplace is not a place that is conducive to recovery.
“Until more workplaces commit to creating an environment that is safe and healthy for all employees, BIPOC is left with the challenging task of re-evaluating their careers, recovering from stress, and securing a space in which they can contribute and thrive.” For more information visit www.LifeCoachAsha.com.