Every time our friend Richard Hawk sends in his monthly “All About You” column, I’m curious to learn what topic he’s chosen to write about.
This month, it’s the importance of camaraderie at work.
I’m grateful to say it’s a subject I can relate to. I’m a little more than six months away from my 25th anniversary at the National Safety Council. One of the biggest reasons I still enjoy logging on in the morning is that I get to see and talk with my amazing co-workers.
Some of us, like Senior Managing Editor Jen Yario and I, have worked together for more than 15 years. Others haven’t been part of the group quite that long. But I can say confidently that we all like each other, know each other’s quirks, and have a mutual respect that allows us to disagree and debate without creating lingering hard feelings.
I know I’m very fortunate to work in this type of environment. And I know that safety professionals may not have it so easy. In his column, Richard discusses the extra effort it takes for safety pros to build camaraderie with people whose well-being they’re responsible for – and who they may not see every day. He shares things he’s done to help make it work. That includes a gesture that, based on workers’ reactions, he’s come to realize is “not a typical move for a safety pro who’s inspecting a jobsite,” but one that “shows that I care about people – not just that they’re doing the job safely.”
I hope you’ll check it out and leave a comment on our website to let us and Richard know what you think – and share your own experiences.
The opinions expressed in “Editor’s Note” do not necessarily reflect those of the National Safety Council or affiliated local Chapters.
