Nothing left to burn

Well, this week turned out to be a rollercoaster. So today I’m feeling rather like Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band. You know, “Runnin’ Against the Wind”.

Dunno about you, but I’m cranking the volume up.

Stormy weather

For the past few days, we in the environs of the District They Call Columbia have been treated to late afternoon/evening thunderstorms.

That’s not really so unusual—it is summer, after all. (I don't understand why the absolute gullywashers we get around here don't seem to wash any of the dirt off my car, though.) But these have been fairly consistently skies-open-up-and-dump-all-the-water-in-the-universe-on-you jobbers. (I’m glad I drilled holes in the bases of my plastic planters; else my dwarf citrus, Norfolk Island Pine and gardenia would have to take up swimming.)

Yesterday at 1500, the sky got so dark here in the People’s Republic that some fireflies came out. They ordinarily appear right around dusk, so they must have been pretty confused.

Just like the rest of us.

Herbal therapy

A couple of years ago I saw a single chipmunk around the patio; never more than the one. Then—nada. This year, however, I’ve got two, who occasionally appear at the same time and chase each other around the garden.

But last week there was just this guy, making him/herself at home in my basil:

So much cuter than squirrels.

Neither friendly nor safe

Well, it’s July, so we’re on track for another round of emails from CEOs who want to remind us that they need our money. Yesterday it was from United Airlines’ “Chief Customer Officer”, Toby Enqvist. He’s pushing the same old nonsense as CEO Oscar Muñoz did in March.

  

“We’re not filthy, honest.”

Oh, poop—your flights are so predictably late that you allow the ground crew maybe ten minutes to sweep through the aircraft before you start cramming the passengers for the next flight.

Also, speaking of cramming, I see Toby doesn’t mention that UAL are back to filling every seat on the plane; none of this unprofitable social distancing for their vict, uh, passengers.

I bet they water down the solution in the alleged misters, just to stretch their cleaning budget.

Toby closes out this way, to my major hilarity:

Their “best possible travel experience” has been pathetic since at least the '90s. This pandemic brings out the best and the worst in people and corporations. I know which side UAL lands on.

Gratitude Monday: the company you keep

Since before the covid-19 pandemic began to alter the global landscape, the company I work for has been adjusting to the new realities (which you will have no doubt noticed change on a weekly basis). We’ve been entirely WFH since 13 March, and managers at all levels have been extremely conscientious about making sure we have what we need and that we make whatever provisions we need to stay safe and healthy. After those considerations are met, then we can talk productivity.

(Keep in mind that I work in cyber security, and that there are always bad actors out there, both state actors and criminals, trying to disrupt, destroy and disseminate confusion. Since the rise of the pandemic, these douchebags have shifted into overdrive, and our challenges never let up.)

A few weeks ago, they rolled out their plan to gradually reopen offices around the world, but made it quite clear that no one would be forced to return to the office. If we want to WFH going forward, fine. If we want to go back to the office, fine. If we want to WFH most days and in the office a few days, fine. Up to each one of us.

As it happens, the reopening plan is one of the things that’s had to be adjusted, given the spike in cases around the country. So, again—they’re making sure that we’re safe and healthy.

The killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests brought out another facet in our leadership character. I don’t know what—if any—statement the CEO made publicly, but to us, he announced that not only is equality a basic human right, but that the company is upping its diversity, inclusion and belonging game by taking concrete, measurable steps to improve our own community. This was followed by rolling out plans for executing on the goals.

My own business unit SVP followed through at one of her town halls, talking about what she’s doing (with our participation) to make those changes. And when one of my colleagues—who became a US citizen about six months ago—asked what kind of support the company would give employees who want to join protests—would they have our backs—she answered, “I can tell you that many e-staff (executive leadership) were out over the weekend, with their families, with signs and protesting. We have your back.”

They also made Juneteenth a company holiday for US employees.

During our weekly corporate update from our CEO last Thursday, senior leadership announced that the entire company will get two “self-care” days PTO, one in August and one in October. These are days for all of us to step away from the screen and do whatever it might be that recharges us.

Thus I am reminded again how happy I am to have found this place. Even during this bizarre michegoss of a product launch, I am deeply grateful to be working for a company whose mission is so important, whose leadership view me and my colleagues as more than “human capital”. This is a very big Gratitude Monday.