Leading During Times of National Strife

In September 1966, a San Francisco police officer shot an unarmed Black teenager in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood.  Riots and unrest broke out in the area for several days, leading the governor to declare a state of emergency and the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to support the San Francisco Police Department.

The troops were stationed two blocks from our house. As they marched past our school armed with bayonets, tanks, and other menacing equipment, I asked a man standing next to me, “Who are they here to fight?” He said, “Us.” I was terrified, so for days I only left the house to go to school.

Currently, many immigrants and people of color are experiencing terror regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol agents. Personally, I have a great amount of empathy and concern for what is happening to them. These individuals account for a majority of the cleaning department staff in schools, hospitals, hotels, universities, and other commercial institutions. The stress that their communities are enduring is likely spilling over into the workplace. So, what can leaders do during these unusual times to support them?

First and foremost, it’s essential to reinforce a workplace culture of open communication and respect between leaders and subordinates. Leaders must maintain strong relationships with staff and recognize personal stress levels.

Pay attention to how staff members are getting along and address any conflicts or issues immediately. Reassure workers that they will be supported within the institution’s rules and policies. Ensure you understand and offer any additional resources available to them, such as grief counseling, employee assistance programs, and community and legal resources. Be lenient on granting leaves, time off, and flexible work schedules.

Supervisors need to understand their institution’s protocols and seek guidance from Human Resources and the legal department. Moreover, remain up to date on topics like confidentiality, staff rights, proper record retention protocols, and both the institutions and supervisor’s responsibilities if ICE or Border Patrol appear.

The National Guard was only present in my neighborhood for about a week, and I still experienced trauma. At present, ICE has been in towns and cities across the entire country for months. The cleaning workers you lead may need some time to recover and for their lives to return to a sense of normalcy. For now, you have the power to make the workplace a safe haven.

Gene Woodard, R.E.H., spent more than 45 years in the cleaning industry, retiring as the director of building services at the University of Washington, before which he spent almost a decade at Emanual Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Gene was also a founding member of the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Steering Committee and served for many years as an advisory board member of Facility Cleaning Decisions magazine.