A CEO and divorced Dad with 2 kids has the internet’s attention after posting an open letter to employees on the social media site LinkedIn.
Sohn begins with, “I never need to know you’ll be back online after dinner.”
He continues with a long list of “never need to knows”, which are:
– I never need to know why you chose to watch season 1 of “Arrested Development” (for the 4th time) on your flight to LA instead of answering emails.
– I never need to know you’ll be in late because of a dentist appointment. Or that you’re leaving early for your kid’s soccer game.
– I never need to know why you can’t travel on a Sunday.
– I never need to know why you don’t want to have dinner with me when I’m in your town on a Tuesday night.
– I never need to know that you’re working from home today because you simply need the silence.
He goes on describe his resentment for how workplaces treat employees who are parents:
I deeply resent how we’ve infantilized the workplace. How we feel we have to apologize for having lives. That we don’t trust adults to make the right decisions. How constant connectivity/availability (or even the perception of it) has become a valued skill.”
I’m equally grateful for the trust/respect my peers, bosses and teams show me every day.
Years ago a very senior colleague reacted with incredulity that I couldn’t fly on 12 hours notice because I had my kids that night (and I’m a single dad. edit: divorced). I didn’t feel the least bit guilty, which I could tell really bothered said colleague. But it still felt horrible.
I never want you to feel horrible for being a human being.
He – and his employees – were apparently not the only ones who needed to hear this considering the post has had over 25,000 likes on LinkedIn.
Oh, and a favor, if he could write the next open letter on family/maternity leave, it would be greatly appreciated… that is also a workplace phenomena that makes you feel horrible for being a human being.
See the post here:
(Amy Iler is a talk-show host at 790 AM KF
GO in Fargo-Moorhead. She can be heard weekdays 11am-2pm during “It Takes 2 with Amy & JJ”. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKFGO.)
