Americans are working longer hours and more days than we did in the recent past. We are working more than our counterparts in Europe.
We all fight the losing battle with internet connectivity, too, meaning that many of us feel like we are working all day and night, seven days a week. The phone and the laptop are always charged, and always within easy reach.
The push to work more, work longer, and be more productive is probably felt most strongly in the lives of young professionals.
Add in the pressure of working in Washington, D.C, for a very, very high profile political figure, and you can imagine that White House and Congressional staffers must feel guilty every time they have to leave work to take a child to the doctor.
Enter Vice President Joe Biden (D-De), sweet boss extraordinaire.
Mediate reports that “Uncle Joe,” as some staffers call him, has sent a memo to his people. Not unusual.
It looks pretty official at the top, with capitalized letters stating:
“MEMORANDUM TO STAFFERS OF THE VICE PRESIDENT”
Well, that looks kind of intimidating. If it came to me, I’d think I was about to be warned of a terror attack.
This is Joe Biden, though. The former Delaware Senator and current Vice President is well known for his easy going, warm, folksy nature. He isn’t always the height of refinement, but he is the height of emotional openness.
This is the memo he sent to his staff:
Biden with some lead-by-example advice for bosses everywhere.
(From this month's @esquire)#Fatherhood #Parenting pic.twitter.com/z6ZOrFIYgp— Scott Smith (@ourmaninchicago) August 5, 2016
Way back in 1972, when he was newly elected to the Senate, young Joe Biden took the phone call that would change him forever. His wife and 13 month old daughter had been killed in a car accident on their way to buy a Christmas tree. Their sons Beau and Hunter were only 4 and 3 and were both badly injured.
Such a huge loss impacted Joe Biden in ways that he still finds hard to describe.
One of those impacts, though, was his understanding of the value of family. He clearly understands the fragility of life, and of happiness. He understands, it seems, to have regrets about time not spent with those we love the most.
This is the most wonderful boss memo ever.
My affection and admiration for Vice President Joe Biden have never been higher.
Just look at how sweet this guy is. I want to have him over for dinner.
Featured image by www.GlynLow.com via Flickr. Available through Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
