You Don’t Have To Leave It At The Door

“Leave it at the door” was a common expression exclaimed by management in my early restaurant days. It was implied that once in uniform, any personal problems should be bottled up in preparation for a stressful, fast-paced shift. These words were even posted on the staff bulletin board, next to the schedule and daily specials. It was understood you were to keep quiet about your personal issues and get to work. 

I immersed myself in coursework and went after a professional designation in HR. Only one week before the exam, I received a life-changing medical diagnosis. My sickness and the resulting treatment left me highly anxious and severely depressed. Not wanting to look weak, I kept showing up to work….but as a shell of my former self. For over a year, my body was recovering but my mind was not. 

As a newly certified HR professional, I couldn’t understand why organizations like mine had no mental health supports in place. Past employees who had gone on stress leave were openly mocked. The stigma of asking for help was too much to bear. I worked with a HR team, and yet didn’t feel safe to share my personal struggles. So, I left it at the door. 

For the most part, the HR landscape has changed for the better. Wellness is less of a buzzword and more of a strategic imperative. Organizations are committing resources to ensuring employees are supported in all areas of their lives. Associations like Mind the Bar and Shift Change are diving deep into conversations about mental health.  Work Mental Health BC has just announced a resource hub for tourism and hospitality, knowing almost everyone in this sector has suffered this year. If you’re going through a hard time, I encourage you to look into these organizations and seek support. 

Speaking of Shift Change, I’m excited to be a Speaker for Change on June 7th at 3pm. I’ll be addressing how the pandemic has impacted women in our industries and what we need to do as a collective to ensure a feminist recovery. Watch our Instagram @worth.association for more details. 

You never know who might be going through a difficult time. After a year of a pandemic that has eviscerated the industry, it is safe to say you know someone who is going through a hard time. Please make it ok for your friends and colleagues to not “leave it at the door”.

Thanks for reading,

Joanna Jagger