{"id":3229,"date":"2023-08-07T05:22:13","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T05:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/?page_id=3229"},"modified":"2023-08-19T10:21:27","modified_gmt":"2023-08-19T10:21:27","slug":"a-hidden-well-being-challenge","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/odibles\/a-hidden-well-being-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"A Hidden Well-Being Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"i-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3229\" class=\"elementor elementor-3229\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c71e21 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"6c71e21\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;motion_fx_motion_fx_scrolling&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;motion_fx_translateY_effect&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;,&quot;motion_fx_translateY_speed&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:4,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;motion_fx_translateY_affectedRange&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:{&quot;start&quot;:0,&quot;end&quot;:100}},&quot;motion_fx_devices&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3f1b70 e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"d3f1b70\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7888e90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7888e90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Hidden Well-Being Challenge<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2922e46 e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"2922e46\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-279d1a0 imagefloat elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"279d1a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/icontent\/uploads\/2023\/07\/o-wellbeing-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large i-image-1333\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/icontent\/uploads\/2023\/07\/o-wellbeing-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/icontent\/uploads\/2023\/07\/o-wellbeing-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/icontent\/uploads\/2023\/07\/o-wellbeing-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/icontent\/uploads\/2023\/07\/o-wellbeing-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/icontent\/uploads\/2023\/07\/o-wellbeing-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c58e5e e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"7c58e5e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-710dcd4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"710dcd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>In this episode, we hear from Cass. She is dealing with the impact of the pandemic on her family, particularly a family member with mental well-being concerns, while also navigating the transition into the hybrid work arrangement. She is grappling with doubts about her role, and whether she can sustain this balancing act.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69ce2be elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"69ce2be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#0c0d0e;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 var(--divider-element-spacing);flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-icon{font-size:var(--divider-icon-size)}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider-separator{display:flex;margin:0;direction:ltr}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator{align-items:center}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:before{display:block;content:\"\";border-bottom:0;flex-grow:1;border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider__element{margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider__element{margin-right:0}.elementor-widget-divider:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text):not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon) .elementor-divider-separator{border-top:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern{--divider-border-style:none}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern.elementor-widget-divider--view-line .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1cc48f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d1cc48f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I sat there, staring at my laptop screen, reading the email over and over again. It hit me like a tonne of bricks. I felt upset, angry, shocked. I couldn\u2019t believe this was happening.\u00a0I\u2019ve had a feeling for a while that things are changing for me at work. And now this email from my supervisor confirms everything I have been worried about.<\/p><p>My importance on this team\u2014the space I worked so hard to create\u2014is fading. How did this happen?! The last year or two are a complete blur.<\/p><p>The pandemic was hard on my family. One of my loved ones, who has a history of mental health concerns, had low motivation and fell into a deep depression. The anxieties and confinement of the pandemic made it challenging for her to cope, and for me to support her. I don\u2019t want to talk more about it, but I\u2019ll just say it wasn\u2019t easy.<\/p><p>Don\u2019t get me wrong &#8211; working from home was a blessing in disguise. I could keep an eye on things. But it also made things worse for me personally. Being at home meant I was putting out fires all day long. I just couldn\u2019t focus on work. There was always some worry at the back of my head. Or something was going on. And my mind was divided between the issues at home and those at work. There were days I could barely hold it together\u2014it\u2019s like a sinkhole opened and swallowed me whole.<\/p><p>I tried my best to muddle through all these distractions and put on a strong front for my family, and at work. I think it worked because no one ever asked me anything. To be honest, I panicked when I found out we were going into hybrid work mode. I\u2019d have to work some days from the office. I needed a break from being in the house, but I also didn\u2019t know how I would manage the situation at home.<\/p><p>I tried to put it off for a bit\u2014I saved all the days I was allowed to work remotely and used them up in one go. But beyond that, there really wasn\u2019t much else I could do. I just had to go back and try to make it work. Once I was back, it felt like all too much. Maybe we all forgot how to work in an office because everything felt hard at first. I was barely keeping up\u2014it took a while just to get used to being around everyone again. And everyone else was getting used to it too.<\/p><p>I thought I\u2019d be able to strike a better balance, but I\u2019ve been feeling a bit like a hamster on a wheel\u2014constantly running, but not making much progress! On top of everything, I also had to readjust and figure out how to provide care for my family member while at the office or on a mission. It\u2019s not just about me, it affects their quality of life too. And all of this takes a real toll on me, physically and emotionally.<\/p><p>I\u2019m grateful for the hybrid arrangement, though. It does give me some flexibility, and I\u2019m holding on to that with dear life! I was so preoccupied with all these things on my mind that I barely noticed the moods shifting in my team. At first, I thought it was the pressure of organizational changes or the new operating model looming over us.<\/p><p>But it suddenly hit me at the last meeting: \u00a0my team seemed to be resentful of me!<\/p><p>No one ever said anything to me, but the air was thick with tension. I realized they took my constant preoccupation as slacking off\u2026 they didn\u2019t think to ask if something might be wrong. And our supervisor, Jay, who is too stressed about deadlines at the moment, also didn\u2019t ever check in with me to see if I needed support. Everyone has been focused on their own tasks. I can\u2019t blame anyone, but I would have appreciated some support.<\/p><p>Just after that meeting, Jay sent me a discouraging email, telling me he is reducing my role on a significant new project I was looking forward to working on. Since then, I\u2019ve been thinking hard about what comes next for me on this team.<\/p><p>And what will the new operating model mean for me? Will my role change? Will I be drowning in even more work? Can I continue balancing my work and my family\u2019s needs? Should I find another job? That\u2019s crossed my mind more than once. What should I do? All I know is that I can\u2019t keep going on like this. I deserve a life where I can take care of myself too.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0592ec4 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0592ec4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-597bc57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"597bc57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is important to recognize that the situation in this case study goes beyond work-related concerns. It delves into deeply private and personal challenges that can affect anyone within the ADB community, both at home and at work. We must address it with sensitivity and understanding.<\/p><p>It is not an easy topic to discuss. The individuals grappling with these challenges often go unnoticed. On the outside, they put on a strong and competent front. But internally, they feel emotionally fragile and physically drained.<\/p><p>They feel isolated because so many people rely on their strength and competence to solve complex problems in their personal and professional lives. The weight of everyone\u2019s reliance on them can take a toll. It\u2019s a heavy burden to bear.<\/p><p>Moreover, while battling their internal struggles, these individuals agonize over the tough decisions they must make and the large responsibilities they have to shoulder at work. Many of them have always excelled professionally, so any missteps or irregularities in their performance can appear out of character for them and are damaging to their self-confidence at work.<\/p><p>Those who have approached the Ombuds office about this issue expressed their hesitation in seeking help. They admitted to brooding about whether to approach our team for quite some time. In the end, they decided to open up about their struggles with us.<\/p><p>These individuals have carried the burden of their struggles alone. They often feel isolated because they don\u2019t receive the support they desperately need, especially those who are separated from their extended families while living and working in their duty stations. Some staff members feel that adequate support networks or systems are lacking in their duty station. That becomes a major factor in deciding whether to stay with ADB or return home.<\/p><p>Interestingly, for some individuals, the catalyst for seeking help from the Ombuds office, was the prospect of returning to the duty station, along with uncertainties and anxieties surrounding the organizational review and discussions about the new operating model. It became a turning point for others who approached our office when exploring their options, seeking guidance on how to navigate the hybrid policy, or find exceptions to the rules. In all fairness, there are staff members, and their families, who are genuinely experiencing various personal difficulties\u2014quietly suffering.<\/p><p>Some of those who spoke with us felt frustrated, because their situation did not qualify as a medical exemption for the work-from-home outside of duty station policy. They contemplated applying for an exception because they believed specialized medical or therapeutic care in their home country would best serve the needs of their family members. However, ultimately, they decided not to appeal. Some thought the threshold of applicants was too high, while others thought it might not be worth the effort.<\/p><p>The situation in this case study highlights how well-being concerns lie at the core of many other issues that the Ombuds office encounters in its cases. Staff members facing these challenges question their ability to manage the stress at home while maintaining their performance at work. The dilemmas and their perceived lack of support can have significant implications for ADB as we move forward into a new operating model.<\/p><p>To conclude, it is imperative that we recognize and address the holistic wellbeing of our staff members as we navigate the future together.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8820b3 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"b8820b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-xs\" href=\"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/odibles\/#wellbeing\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"icon icon-arrow-left-circle\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Odibles<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Hidden Well-Being Challenge In this episode, we hear from Cass. She is dealing with the impact of the pandemic on her family, particularly a family member with mental well-being concerns, while also navigating the transition into the hybrid work arrangement. She is grappling with doubts about her role, and whether she can sustain this &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/odibles\/a-hidden-well-being-challenge\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">A Hidden Well-Being Challenge<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1300,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"plain-container","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/ijson\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3229"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/ijson\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/ijson\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/ijson\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/ijson\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3229"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/ijson\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5245,"href":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/ijson\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3229\/revisions\/5245"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/ijson\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edzelle.com\/ombuds-2022-annual-report\/ijson\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}