Preparing to write this I looked back to see what I’d written about previously. I found a piece from last year describing some of the pressures we experience and their potential effects. I started my article for the March 2020 issue:

The pressures I explored last year (2019) now are now insignificant in comparison to those we are currently experiencing, but these day to day pressures are still there. Covid -19 has added an incomprehensibly large additional layer. We all know the consequences of adding  pressure to pressure, physical and mental illness, relationship problems, money difficulties, uncertainty, job insecurity, companies failing etc.  It is no wonder we are finding current times extremely stressful.

Who would have thought I would be saying the same a year later. We are certainly finding current times extremely stressful, nearly everyone - my social contacts and those I speak to in my business life are finding it tougher than previously. I know I am... the day to day problems of living seem much harder to manage, even the day to day things which we wouldn’t think about ordinarily.

We’re hearing, and rightfully so, a lot about the effects on our mental health. I know this personally as depression is never far distant. It’s always perched on my shoulder waiting to catch me, which this time last year it successfully achieved more often than typically, if there is typical. One good thing, we now feel a little more relaxed about feeling able to openly talk about our mental health which is a good and significant change. 

What about the workplace? For everyone, it has changed. You may go to the same place, do the same work, but how you manage your ordinary day to day activities is different. Among many other changes, your interactions with others are limited and different, you can’t socialise during breaks and there may be underlying concerns that colleagues or you could unknowingly infect, in comparison any changes are added and significant.

Working from home sounds easy, the transition often is, but for many it has been and still is difficult. Some of the identified problems include:

• Technology might not be available, devices may be slow and unreliable, demands from multiple users cause problems
• Managers may not understand how to manage home working
• Many of us are finding it a strange environment in which to work and the home itself may not feel like a home anymore

And Chaplaincy in the Workplace? This has changed. Effective chaplaincy is based on identifying needs and building relationships. These relationships have always been developed and maintained by face to face interactions. The relationships often become longstanding and very important to the individual who needs support and to the Chaplain too and now suddenly this can’t happen. Chaplains, in every discipline, know they are missing occasions where they are needed. This is extremely challenging and stressful for Chaplains.

What are we doing?

1. Supporting chaplains is of absolute importance
2. Finding ways to keep chaplaincy effective
3. Engaging in the vital work of supporting everyone in work, furloughed, redundant including self employed, directors and partners. 

CWC has had to change. We know that workplaces value chaplaincy, therefore we are spending significant amounts of time and resource to design and implement revised ways of working to ensure we are as effective in the three areas above as possible. 

The business life of the country and the World has changed. Some sectors will be much smaller, some will grow and there will be entirely new business ideas. Working practices have changed. Home working is now established, there are a significant majority who do not want to return to a place of work, others who would prefer a ‘hybrid’ arrangement and a minority who wish to work full time in a place of work.

Many aspects and attitudes of life are changed, many for the better. Let’s hope we don’t revert completely to what we’ve known as normal. Looking forward we could see a realignment of priorities, recognition that we can’t and don’t control everything and the importance of family and community life. Remaining positive, where possible, is vital.

Keep in touch with us, find things to enjoy and call someone you know who you haven’t spoken to for an age.

Thank you again to all our chaplains and supporters.