My “little boy” is going to be 21 tomorrow. 

He’s graduating college in less than four months.  He’s not planning on living at home.  I didn’t throw him out of the nest, the baby bird figured out how to jump out on his own.  When he was 17 he started going east a few hundred miles to Denison University and for the last four years has graced us with his presence during bi-monthly migrations back to our nest. 

Soon he’ll be flying to one of the coasts, that’s my bet anyway.  His migrations back home will be fewer, he’ll be moving around trying to find his own way.

It’s funny how things change so slowly, but happen so quickly. 

Defining moments occur over a lifetime.  The choice of college. Marriage, the birth of a first child, the death of a parent or sibling.  Moving for a new job opportunity while leaving friends behind.  Being laid off after a merger.  Starting your own business.  Losing it, and starting again. Going back to school at 50.

Times like these make folks look at themselves, their families, their work, all the different relationships they have.  And no matter what we might think we would do when one of these moments occurs, no matter how mapped out our plans of action, you don’t know how you’ll react and what you’ll do until something like this happens to you.

As family, friends, or business associates, there may be little we can do to assist people during these times.  In terms of the workplace, we’ll be as flexible as we can be, given whatever business constraints we are under. 

Based on the priorities of the employee (how much they value their participation in the workforce) and the employees’ attitudes about the organization, their job, and their relationships at work, workers will do what is in their best interest. 

This does not mean employers are helpless, nor is the situation hopeless.  When you and your employee are faced with this kind of situation you have to act fast just to keep up.   Think of your own situation, those of your family and your friends.  What did you do? 

Would you expect your employees to do anything differently?