By Marie Bowen,
Business Analyst, Statistical Research
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An employee shares a fun moment
with the newest addition to her family. |
On March 23, 2020, when Governor Whitmer issued a statewide
stay-at-home order, State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) employees were
unsure about what to expect over the next several months.
Some of us were excited to work from home,
some of us were nervous, but all of us needed one thing: to maintain employee
interaction and human connection.
Research
shows that loneliness can be as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
As Jennifer Warner, then-SCAO Court
Services Division Director, stated, “Working remotely, especially during a pandemic,
is difficult. It is hard for people.
They have to change the way they work.
Even if they are grateful for it, it is still
difficult.
They have kids, partners, and
pets at home. They have issues with Internet and a lack of privacy.
They are worried about a lot – some family
members are sick, some have lost jobs, and some are struggling to keep a family
business afloat. People need support and connection.
We all need to take steps to intentionally
connect to each other during this time.”
The
Court Services Recreation Committee quickly got together to come up with new
ways to stay connected virtually. Employees
got together every few weeks to de-stress through lunchtime yoga. We tested our knowledge of pop culture through
trivia night and discovered new household items with scavenger hunts. We even met a few times to unwind and laugh
with virtual happy hours.
Many other teams throughout SCAO also focused on staying connected throughout the pandemic. Jodi Latuszek, Senior Director of Administration, stays connected through stand-up meetings twice every week with her team. They also take time to celebrate wins, whether it is doing something great in the courts or celebrating family moments.
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Another employee shares before and after photos
from his pandemic home remodeling projects. |
Celebrating wins and family moments is one way all teams throughout SCAO seem to stay connected. Every quarter, Court Services gets together for a staff meeting. At the beginning of each meeting, we share team accomplishments and personal wins. These can include things such as successfully holding a virtual training for courts to sharing news about a new family member, completing household projects, or time spent with Mother Nature on a recent getaway up north.
By sharing these moments, big and small, we feel connected. When we see each other at the next Zoom meeting, we are prompted to ask how the puppy is adapting to her new environment or how it feels to have a new family member. Although these steps may seem small at times, staying connected builds employee well-being and gives us the strength to get through this pandemic together.
Marie Bowen has her
Master of Education degree in Research and Measurement from The University of
Toledo. Marie has nearly 10 years of
data analysis experience and recently joined the Statistical Research team
within SCAO.
