My take on "we're like a family"
This phrase isn’t an immediate red flag to me like others say it is.
In a past role, my boss asked me on a Monday to present to the leadership team that Thursday. I had a doctor’s appointment at that time. I decided the presentation was important, and I rescheduled my appointment. The next available slot was four months later. I was laid off before the appointment rolled around.
There’s a lot of chatter on LinkedIn on what it means when recruiters and hiring managers say their workplace is “like a family.” This phrase isn’t an immediate red flag to me like others say it is. Rather, it reminds me of a lecture in journalism school. My professor put some copy on the board, and it included the adjective “grandmotherly.” She went around the room and asked people to describe their grandmothers. The descriptions were different, which was the point. Everyone has a different picture of what grandmotherly means, and everyone has a different understanding of what being a family means.
When hiring managers use this phrase, they are trying to convey warmth, compassion, and enjoyment. In interviews, I like to ask what I consider softball questions to get at how this plays out. I almost always ask, “When it comes to flexibility, how do you handle a staffer who has a doctor’s appointment on a Thursday afternoon?” This is almost always met immediately with assurances this is no big deal, but I did have one recruiter say that they ask everyone to only make appointments on Mondays or Fridays. That told me a lot.
My takeaway: I love being a journalist, and my work is very important to me. I’m happy to work hard and put in the hours. But I'll never put my health second again. I’ll hold boundaries to make sure my body, my mental health, and my family is taken care of. When it comes time to make cuts, no one is going to remember or care you moved your schedule around to make a meeting.
What I’m reading
Reason: This Bill Would Give the Treasury Nearly Unlimited Power To Destroy Nonprofits
Columbia Journalism Review: To truly represent the US, national news organizations need to collaborate with local partners
American Press Institute: Want to build better politics and policy coverage? Think about people as voters beyond election season.
Reynolds Journalism Institute: Scheduling rest is crucial for good journalism
Harvard Business Review: How to Spot a Bad Boss During an Interview
Fast Company: How maturity impacts your decision-making process at work
And a bonus link: The best thing I made this week were these brownies. I seriously cannot stop thinking about how good they were.
One more thing
If you didn’t have a chance last week, I’d love for you to take my survey. It will take less than 3 minutes.
See you next week,
Rachel
If you’re enjoying this newsletter, I’d love for you to recommend it to a friend. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, subscribe to receive future editions in your inbox every Tuesday.