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FIELD GUIDE TO
CARING FOR A DEVELOPER
WORDCAMP HALIFAX 2017
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TODAY’S JOURNEY
◇ The Stats
◇ The Why(s)
◇ How we can work towards change as a
community
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I’M ALLISON.
@allisonplus
Feminist. Writer. Mental health advocate.
Front-end dev at WebDevStudios
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CONTENT DISCLAIMER
aka “You Do You”
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WHY THIS
MATTERS TO ME
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HULA HOOPER.
CANADIAN.
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE.
FEMINIST.
FRONT-END DEVELOPER.
ASPIRING BANJO PLAYER.
DAUGHTER. WRITER.
TRANSPLANTED CALIFORNIAN.
VEGETARIAN.
AVID READER.
DOLLY PARTON FAN.
INFJ.
INTROVERT.
PARTNER.
SISTER.
AUNT.
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THE STATS
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1 in 5
Canadians living with a mental
health issue
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Over 500,000
Canadians miss work each week
due to mental health issues.
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$50+ billion
estimated annual cost of
absenteeism + lost productivity
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WHY DON’T WE TALK ABOUT IT?
...being treated differently
...exclusion
...judgement
...being labelled
...being viewed as less competent
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{AWKWARD
AUDIENCE
PARTICIPATION
SECTION}
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Has your employer ever formally discussed mental health
(for example as part of a wellness campaign or other official
communication)?
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...discussing a mental health disorder
with your employer would have
negative consequences?
...discussing a physical health disorder
with your employer would have
negative consequences?
DO YOU THINK THAT...
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WHY THIS
APPLIES TO TECH
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THE TECH INDUSTRY AS A WORKPLACE
◇ Compressed deadlines
◇ Ambitious goal setting
◇ Constant review and approvals
◇ Communicational chaos
◇ Independent work
◇ Expectations of being available outside
of hours
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I totally understand all the latest
technologies, systems and
workflows within my industry.
—No One
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WHAT IS BURNOUT?
Physical, mental or emotional exhaustion caused by
long-term stress.
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TECH INDUSTRY
can make this seem like the status quo.
THE
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THERE ARE WAYS OF KEEPING
UP THAT DON’T INVOLVE
BURNOUT.
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STRATEGY
SUGGESTIONS
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PUT ON YOUR OXYGEN MASK FIRST
◇ Setting boundaries
◇ Know the perks + benefits available to
you and your rights as an employee.
◇ Take your vacation
◇ Communicate empathy.
◇ Improve your self care strategies
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7 HABITS OF HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE GIVING*
1. Prioritize the help requests that come your way — say yes when it
matters most and no when you need to.
2. Give in ways that play to your interests and strengths to preserve your
energy and provide greater value.
3. Distribute the giving load more evenly — refer requests to others
when you don’t have the time or skills, & be careful not to reinforce
gender biases and who helps and how.
4. Secure your oxygen mask first —you’ll help others more effective if you
don’t neglect your own needs.
5. Amplify your impact by looking for ways to help multiple people with a
single act of generosity.
6. Chunk your giving into dedicated days or blocks of time rather than
sprinkling it throughout the week. You’ll be more effective — and more
focused.
7. Learn to spot takers, and steer clear of them. They’re a drain on your
energy, not to mention a performance hazard.
*Adam Grant & Reb Rebele, Harvard Business Review
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FREELANCE STRATEGIES
◇ Setting aside time for learning (½ a
day every Friday, etc.)
◇ Client boundaries re: communication
◇ Join a biz support group or ‘power
pod’
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EMPLOYED STRATEGIES
◇ #5ftf
◇ Lunch n’ Learns or ongoing training
sessions
◇ Create a dialogue with HR + bosses
◇ Extracurricular activities not revolving
around work or drinking
◇ Enforcing reasonable work hours
◇ Providing clear expectations
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WHAT CAN WE DO AS A
COMMUNITY?
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EMBRACE NEURODIVERSITY
CHALLENGE THE STIGMA AGAINST TALKING ABOUT
FEELINGS
REDUCE STIGMA BY EDUCATION AND
DISCLOSURE
SUPPORT OTHERS IN A SUSTAINABLE
FASHION
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https://osmihelp.org
Open Sourcing Mental Illness
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DON’T ACCEPT THINGS
IF THEY’RE NOT
WORKING FOR YOU.
YOU DESERVE TO BE
HAPPY AND HEALTHY.
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WE’RE NOT JUST CODE,
WE’RE COMMUNITY.
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◇ Open Source Mental Illness: osmihelp.org
◇ WPHugs: https://wphugs.org/
◇ Canadian Mental Health Association: http://www.cmha.ca/
◇ Mental Health Commission of Canada:
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/national-standard
◇ Mental Health First Aid: http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca/
RESOURCES
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ANY QUESTIONS?
@allisonplus
[email protected]
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