Charlie. The new hire.

The morning of April 1, Charlie woke up, put on jeans and a button-up shirt and sat down at the desk in his living room inside his Chicago apartment. 

He wasn't just preparing for another day working at home, like millions of us have for the last month or more. He was officially starting his new job as an events manager for an HIV services nonprofit. 

As you could imagine, Day 1 of a new job looks quite different during a pandemic. The onboarding experience would be completely remote, happening mostly over video conference calls with his supervisor. There are some surprising benefits to it. For instance, there is an unexpected intensity to Charlie’s new employee training. There are no office distractions at home, no incoming phone calls or coworkers interrupting training sessions. Charlie is also getting direct, one-on-one time with his boss. 

“Because we have to allocate a certain meeting time, I get his undivided attention,” Charlie said. “When we budget an hour, we get an hour.” 

Three weeks in, though, and Charlie still does not have a grasp on his future office’s layout or where his desk will be. He doesn’t have a feel for the office culture and has not been able to meet any of his coworkers in person.

“I don't know anyone,” he said. “I don't know the ins and outs of the office. So those are the drawbacks.” 

For those not used to working at home regularly, the remote work environment may have been appealing. Charlie certainly felt so at first. After weeks or months, however, it loses a bit of its luster. 

 “Who knew going back to the office would be so appealing,” Charlie joked. “Two months ago, I don't think anyone would have said that.”

A LEAP OF FAITH
Many of us have experienced first-day jitters — that nervousness of walking into something new. For Charlie, his first day brought a sense of relief. 

Between mid-March when Charlie accepted the new position and his start day on April 1, Charlie was nervous nonstop. Given the economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus, Charlie feared his new organization would decide it was not the best time to take on a new employee. Luckily, his employer continued to reassure Charlie their original offer still stood and they were looking forward to him joining the team. 

“I don’t think I calmed down until I started my first day,” he admitted.

Still, Charlie wonders if he made the right decision. Walking away from a stable, comfortable job at any time — let along during a pandemic — takes a leap of faith. You have to weigh the risk of leaving something you know and understand for something you hope will be better. Charlie liked his former job, too, and he believed in the organization’s mission he was helping carry out. But this new role seemed like a natural progression for him professionally. 

“It was a better position, better money,” Charlie said. “It was a step up, a step forward in my career.”

Charlie also left one nonprofit to work for another. He knows organizations that depend on the generosity of others are never guaranteed to survive even when the economy is thriving. Nonprofits are already feeling the pinch of diminishing revenues due to the Coronavirus,.Charlie’s new organization has also had to postpone major events that bring in funding. 

Yet Charlie finds some comfort in the fact that nonprofits are all experiencing this uncertainty together. He also understands the beginning of this new professional chapter is going to be a bit different than normal. And that is okay. 

“It is still a step in the right direction,” he said. “This year is going to be a bit weird, and it’s weird for everyone. The events I was hired on to do are going to be postponed but every organization is in the same boat.” 

KEEPING THINGS AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE EVEN IF IT MEANS WEARING...JEANS?
Charlie has good coping mechanisms. He even said so himself when I spoke to him last week. As one of my best friends for the last 16 years, and I can attest to that characteristic as well. 

He has found that during shelter-in-place orders, it is important for him to keep a fairly normal schedule. This involves treating most days as if he was going into the office, even if he is just walking a few steps from his bedroom to his living room desk. He wakes up at a reasonable morning hour, combs his hair, even puts on jeans (I don’t remember what those feel like) before sitting down to begin his workday. 

He also stays active by going for walks around the neighborhood or taking long runs. He will take breaks during the day to do push ups, squats or other physical activity, as well. Honestly, though, Charlie does this sort of stuff during “normal times,” and has for as long as I have known him. His physical fitness does come in handy even more so now. It keeps him active and healthy and serves as a nice reset during days that can tend to blend together. 

Charlie also loves being in the city at the moment. He has always loved Chicago, but during this time of crisis, he feels an extra sense of community. 

“I really appreciate being in the city because I feel connected to people,” he said. 

He has a favorite small corner store near his North Side apartment that typically has in-demand items like toilet paper and cleaning supplies that so often are out of stock at larger retailers. Charlie also says people seem to be nicer during this time of crisis. 

A global crisis may not be the best time to start a job. Charlie knows that. However, he also knows how incredibly lucky he is. When 22 million of his fellow Americans are filing for unemployment after losing their jobs, Charlie is grateful to still have one. 

“This is the weirdest time to start a job,” Charlie said. “But I know I am lucky. I am lucky to be able to work from home. I am very fortunate. I have food, I have an apartment. So I am grateful.” 

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHARLIE…

WHAT IS YOUR INSPIRATION TO KEEP GOING?
“This is only temporary. It is true for any struggle — you are in a dark tunnel, surrounded by black and you don't see the light at the end but you know it is there. During it, it is shitty and not fun. But I remember it is temporary and it will end.”

WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR AT THIS MOMENT?
“I am grateful for so much, I really am. I am grateful I am working and able to work from home. I am grateful I was able to afford extra food and pay my bills. Beside working from home, life didn't change that much. I am grateful for my health. I am able bodied and able to run and walk, and I don't take that for granted.”

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THINGS “GET BACK TO NORMAL”?
“I am looking forward to being out with people and hugs — that human connection and interaction.”