Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of asking about a company's response to the pandemic during job interviews to gauge their commitment to employee well-being.

Abstract

In the midst of a global pandemic that has significantly impacted employment, the article advises job seekers to ask potential employers about their pandemic response as a litmus test for their employee care. It suggests that companies that have taken measures to support their workers, such as continuing pay, encouraging remote work, and offering additional compensation for on-site work, are likely to be more considerate employers. Conversely, employers that avoid the question, lie, or focus on marketing rather than tangible support may be indicative of a toxic work environment. The article underscores the necessity for job seekers to align themselves with employers whose values align with their own and to be wary of those that prioritize profits over people.

Opinions

The author believes that the pandemic has created a job market where employers who don't value their employees will exploit the high demand for jobs.
Companies that have taken proactive steps to support employees during the pandemic are seen as decent and worthy of praise.
Employers that evade questions about their pandemic response, lie, or prioritize marketing over direct support to workers are viewed as abusive or neglectful.
The article suggests that job seekers should reject offers from employers that demonstrate a lack of care for their employees and should share this information with other applicants.
A particularly negative response is when an employer redirects to a marketing campaign thanking essential workers instead of providing direct support, which is seen as a red flag.

Ask This Question At Every Single Job Interview

It takes only seven words to instantly figure out if your prospective employer cares about its workers.

One in four Americans has already filed for unemployment. We know certain industries will bounce back, but several will suffer the long-term effects of what we are experiencing while they try to adapt to the consequences of a new version of normality.

I live in New York City and still haven’t heard back from anyone after filing for unemployment over a month ago. If you worked in hospitality or tourism like me, your company is flatlining by now.

My job as a walking tour-guide involved leading crowds of travelers through the once-bustling streets of Manhattan. The opposite of social distancing.

I used to shake hands dozens of times a day and share foods and drinks with strangers. Nowadays, the thought of it almost feels like a criminal record.

Although we are still learning of the effects this collective trauma will have on the capitalist class and the working class, we know one thing is certain:

Millions are desperately scrambling for new jobs, if not entirely new careers.

I’m one of them. I probably wouldn’t be writing on Medium if I had a job.

Employers who don’t care about the well-being of their workers will take advantage of their precious jobs being in high demand.

They will make us race each other to the bottom to land the opportunity to work for them as we increasingly struggle to pay the bills.

It’s more important than ever to have an efficient way of filtering abusive employers.

The way I’m doing it involves one simple, fair, and relevant question.

What was your response to the pandemic?

That’s it.

Now you get to sit back and categorize your interviewer’s response into two possible outcomes.

They Care

Any prospective employer that takes care of its workers will have no problem bragging about how they:

Kept paying their employees.
Encouraged them to work from home (before and after government orders forced them to).
Implemented pay cuts to executives or management to keep worker’s wages stable.
Created or donated to a relief fund.
Offered early retirement packages for vulnerable senior employees.
Gave raises, bonuses, hazard pay, or overtime to anyone required to go to work during the pandemic.
Asked their employees how they could help them survive the pandemic.
Did something genuinely altruistic that I haven’t listed.

If they answered any of these, lucky you!

Now you are in the comfortable position of being able to talk about how you both share the same values. You can praise them for their decency, and you can assure them you will be even more productive, motivated, and fulfilled knowing you’ll be working for good people.

They Don’t Care

A prospective employer that doesn’t care about its workers' will most likely:

Lie (ask around just in case).
Dodge or derail the conversation (ask again).
Shamelessly state the amount of suffering they felt they were entitled to make their workers go through or attempt to explain the number of sacrifices they expect their workers to make to protect their bottom line (run for your life).

It’s good we shame employers for their abusive or neglectful behavior, their employees might not be able to. If you are in the position to do so, let them know you are rejecting the job because of it and share that information with other applicants.

Warning!

I feel obliged to inform you of a third possible outcome because it’s the worst response I’ve encountered.

If your interviewer directs you to an advertisement the employer’s marketing team put out to let everyone know how grateful they are for essential workers instead of donating that same money directly to those workers (or the employers own workers) I must congratulate you.

You have found the flaming cauldron of toxic sludge at the end of the dystopian late-capitalist rainbow.

Tell them they have nice windows and should be glad they don’t have a branch in Minneapolis.

Proceed to the next interview.

Good luck with your interviews everybody!