Early in my career, work and life were separate. It was considered unprofessional to be vulnerable or personal at the office. Relationship drama? Family problems? Health issues? Check them all at the office door, focus on the bottom line, and bring maximum value to your employer, no distractions.
But as I’ve switched roles and companies over the years, I’ve noticed a shifting ethos in corporate culture, especially when I’ve taken jobs at startups. Employees are increasingly encouraged to “bring their whole selves to work,” but this got me thinking: What does that mean, exactly? Who defines “whole self”? And what type of an employee might prefer to keep things separate and private?
That’s the setup for my newest short story, Backstroke, published in the Summer 2022 issue of The Under Review.
Thank you to Meghan Maloney-Vinz and The Under Review editors for publishing my work, and to my SWIG workshop readers and Andrew Wagner for always-thoughtful feedback.
Read Backstroke in The Under Review >
Photo courtesy Ryan Fleischer via Unsplash
Sarah Pascarella | Writer 