Year this, It’s Personal – Reflecting on 2020
#WeAreCisco is a lot more than just the hashtag. It certainly means something, and for all of us – the human beings behind the tech – it’s the 77,000+ unique stories and encounters that are the heartbeat of Cisco. I knew this is true since my first day time as a Cisconian, nonetheless it became abundantly clear if you ask me during 2020, per year that none folks could have predicted – per year that, Personally i think, has brought us even nearer together. 
Since the social business lead for Cisco’s Employee/Company Brand name and the @WeAreCisco interpersonal channels, I’m simply no stranger to amplifying the voices that sharesCisconian’s tales of about bringing bringing our authentic selves to function, work/lifestyle integration, and ‘end up being you, with all of us’. But, year this, we went further even. Year this, it got a lot more personal.
I returned from maternity leave inside January 2020, yr and admittedly anxious regarding being aside from my child excited to start the new. The transition was simple, thanks not merely to my group, but to all or any Cisconians. Time was moving in the break room from the co-employee asking how my, time of daycare was heading another colleague visiting my desk to observe how the first, or my very own global team trying – these interactions mattered, for a fresh mom especially.
Then, March 2020 strike. My child’s daycare shut, and we transitioned to totally working from home. Cue the questions – “How am i going to work and look after him?”, “Exactly what will my fellow workers think if this individual starts crying through the middle of a gathering?”, “How will I function as best employee I could be and the very best mother?” We concluded that I actually couldn’t do that. At minimum, that has been my mentality initially.
This didn’t stay this way for long because Cisco stepped up – big style. Here is a little bit of what I encountered this season at Cisco:
1. Cisco really cares about its workers. From initiatives like “Well-being for Children” to “Understand Your Feelings – How Are You Feeling?” Cisco ensured we had been channeling what we had been coping with. Team fun meetings & digital happy hours (that had nothing in connection with work) were furthermore highly encouraged. Cheers for you, Chuck!
2. This year new? Cisco gave employees Juneteenth and Election Day off, along with providing us with several opportunities for “A Day time for Me,” that was not charged as PTO, but instead, just a free day time off to recharge ourselves.
3. We have been heard by leadership. No matter your position, struggles or experience – Cisco had our backs. Emphasis was placed on caregivers, both parents and kids, and those who have been living (and working) only.
4. Personally, i won’t forget when our amazing CEO Chuck Robbins thought to all supervisors on a worldwide meeting, “That is an unprecedented circumstance. Children don’t realize why we go inside our offices and close up the hinged door. They would like to know aren’t we playing ‘why?’ Our leaders have to understand and become flexible. It’s a period where people are have to incredible flexibility within their schedules – where if you’re on a contact, and your child requirements you – you should step from the decision away, and go care for your son or daughter, and that’s simply the planet we live in at this time.”
5. When Cisconians sensed that working at home meant “always on,” leadership motivated us to take the time off – stepping from the computer, going for a walk with your doggy, or prioritizing self-treatment were ways a lot of us re-charged.
6. Giving is inside our DNA back. One way some of my associates and We helped in the first spring and summertime, was by way of a virtual giving back again event held about Webex where all of us offered resume advice. Cisco provides workers with five days (40 hrs) to give back again to any organization they desire. In 2020, our leadership made a decision to give five extra days to give back. That speaks volumes.
“We’re inside this together” might have become the motto of 2020, but it wasn’t not used to Cisco. If anything, season has made us much better at what we carry out and how exactly we do it this. We have always acquired each other’s backs – now, as part of your.
And, yeah, it’s personal.
We mean, inside the entire year 2020, my colleagues have observed my unfolded laundry in my own Webex backgrounds. They experienced tours around the house as I make an effort to ensure my kid doesn’t scream throughout a meeting. We’ve seen spouses stroll by. Puppies and kittens are usually constantly welcome. We met the plant one particular person in my team was pleased with and attended another’s wedding ceremony.
We laughed, and we cried whilst we embraced each other’s lifestyles outside of the workplace and beyond the Webex display screen. Now, it’s uncommon for a gathering to dive immediately in to the work – rather, we’re going for a few occasions to really check in with one another and listen to each other. Which is something I’m thankful 2020 gave people.
2021 is really a new year, y’all. Sufficient reason for that, Year provides we’m super pumped in what a new. Cheers to all or any that we have before us!
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