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Important questions for PI/labs
1. If schools and day-care don't open or don't open full-time in the fall->are you coming up with a plan which takes this fully into consideration (flex hours, people working as teams>before, technician support, realistic expectations)
1. If schools and day-care don't open or don't open full-time in the fall->are you coming up with a plan which takes this fully into consideration (flex hours, people working as teams>before, technician support, realistic expectations)
2. Funders->are there consideration for funding mechanisms to provide support to those who cannot be in lab, or working from home, as much as they could? Are there ways to provide funding for supplements which would support inc use of technicians, use of core/CRO facilities?
3. Without talking about these issues, science will increase inequity between those who cannot sustain the unsustainable balance between work and family responsibilities, and those who have a more sustainable balance. We ALL have home/outside work demands but they are not EQUAL
4. I don't have the answers, only realize the issues and am working with my lab to ensure everyone has the support they need. It will continue to be put together with bubble gum and string, no other way.
5. We are blessed with great technicians who work with the postdocs/students (we realize this is due to our funding situation and the great techs in the lab and is not to be taken for granted)->their flexibility and can-do approach is helping us support the science best we can
6. Everyone in my lab has shown tremendous flexibility and willingness to help each other. Does not work without that.
7. We have seen work hours move to a much more flexible model. Who is in what day, who is working from home vs. lab, and who has responsibilities at home outside is based on each person's needs/assessment and not subject to top-down supervision.
8. I am sure we are not doing this as well as we can, and will try to get better over time as a PI/mentor and as a lab. The important thing is that with COVID-19 not going anywhere, we need to be prepared for current limited educational/child-care support to continue for a while
9. Share your ideas, challenges, and solutions with us and each other.
