I definitely think there are going to be things that are permanently changed,” … “Our psyches are going to be permanently changed.
Melinda Gates[i]
COVID has generated physical as well as debilitating psychological symptoms. New York Magazine each week captured the angst and frustration of New York City workers and residents. The stories are heart wrenching. Broken dreams. Work ending. Anxiety.
- “I feel stuck – can’t make any plans at all.”
- “I just graduated college, I’m anxious I’m now stuck in this constant job search, and that I’ll be stuck living at home for the rest of my life.”
- “We were supposed to get married next year. Our plans for that are suddenly postponed.”
- “I’m an American expat who, after receiving a 40% pay cut six weeks ago, was then laid off four weeks ago.”
- “I’m concerned about the future of work and my livelihood (on top of everything else, like my health and the safety/health of my parents/family). I’m furloughed and not confident I’ll be brought back on staff.”
- “Most of the people I know here (myself included) are self employed in creative fields (acting, musicians, hair and makeup artists, stylists, production) with a side job in hospitality.”
- “The pandemic has made it almost impossible to gauge what the next step in my career should be. With Trump locking down immigration even further, it’s going to make my life (as an immigrant) that much harder, especially if a full-time job actually opens up. “
- “I am on maternity leave and may not have a job to return to. The future is uncertain. We have reduced our loan payments and started to cut spending.”
- “My partner of three years is here on a work visa, and he was unfortunately let go from his job. (He worked at a large tech company, and his entire team was laid off.)” [ii]
Work Lesson Earned: COVID is a work/career/job paradigm buster.
[i] Melinda Gates on our new normal after the coronavirus: ‘Our psyches are going to be permanently changed’ Business Insider, April 10, 2020
[ii] 743 New York Readers on How the Pandemic Is Upending Their Future Plans’, New York Magazine Intelligencer, April 25, 2020.