Recently, Lot Sixteen co-founder Josh Lahey sent an email informing a client that I would be filling in for him during a webinar event we were helping to moderate: “I have an unavoidable conflict with one of my children and a doctor's appointment. Sorry I can’t be with you this week, but parenting duties call.”
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I’m not sure the 10 other people on that email gave his message a second thought. But to me, a working mom of three young kids, it meant a great deal. And I think it says something important about the company culture here at Lot Sixteen.
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As founders who both also happen to have school-aged children themselves, Josh and co-founder Colin Hayes are keenly attuned to the pressures facing working parents during the pandemic. It’s not uncommon to see one of their kids wander into the background of a video conference call. I’ve seen them both mute a call to quickly address a child who needed help with something on more than one occasion. And they are always open and honest anytime they need to reschedule a meeting due to obligations like doctor’s appointments, driving carpool, joining a parent-teacher conference or attending a kid’s ballgame.
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At a time when women are being forced out of our nation’s workforce in droves (at four times the rate of men, according to the most recent Department of Labor numbers), and when working mothers, in particular, are reporting record levels of stress driven by virtual schooling and lack of affordable childcare options, the example set by leaders at the top of organizations like ours matters more than ever before.
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The Lot Sixteen team likes to say “we work harder than any team out there.” And when it comes to serving our clients, we most certainly do.
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But our leadership has given all of us permission to be flexible in terms of how, when and where that work gets done, acknowledging that sometimes — especially during a pandemic — family obligations have to come first. Their example demonstrates that juggling parental duties with a demanding work schedule is not something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about — and it’s certainly not any indication of a lack of commitment to our clients. In fact, many of our clients are facing the very same challenges themselves.
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By creating a culture where discussing family obligations isn’t taboo, Lot Sixteen is sending an important signal to all of the parents who work here — and also to the clients that hire us. That openness and acceptance enables all of us to do our jobs more effectively. It not only makes us happier and more productive employees, but it ultimately means better results for our clients. And that’s a win for everyone.