Workers Meaningful Memos How to help your people with family obligations

Six years ago when Joe Biden was Vice President he wrote the following to his “Wonderful Staff”:

“I would like to take a moment to make something clear to everyone,” the memo begins. “I do not expect nor do I want any of you to miss or sacrifice important family obligations for work.”

“Family obligations include but are not limited to family birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, any religious ceremonies such as first communions and bar mitzvahs, graduations, and times of need such as illness or a loss in the family,”

Full article including a photo of the memo in the Independent here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/joe-biden-letter-vice-president-staff-family-b1719753.html​

If you're reading this you probably agree with Biden. But when was the last time you reminded your team? I found it interesting that he added: “This has been an unwritten rule since my days in the senate.” Maybe something reminded him that this was too important to be unwritten.

There are so many things leaders assume their people are aware of. But if you've not written it down and reminded them of it recently they might be assuming the opposite.