It hasn’t felt like there have been many good news stories lately.
But the decision by the chief executive of the Co-op to take time out to help her children with their exams has won the company plenty of praise.
Jo Whitfield announced last week she would take a four-month unpaid break from May as her sons prepare for their GCSEs and A-Levels.
“I always knew that this year would be a big year with my boys undertaking key exams,” she said.
“We decided as a family that in order to prepare for the inevitable pressure and emotional turmoil that would involve, that when the time came, I would look to spend more time with them to ease the challenge.”
On the face of it, the story paints the Co-op in a glowing light. Here we have a progressive employer enabling workers to take time off to help their families at crucial times.
A company willing to help parents prepare their children for exams when education has been severely disrupted by lockdown restrictions over the past couple of years.
And, don’t forget this comes at a time when people are quitting their jobs in record numbers. The ‘Great Resignation’ is making companies work harder than ever to retain existing staff and ensure they are attractive to new talent.
Higher wages, more flexible terms and hybrid working are all being used to try and overcome staffing issues.
So, while some commentators like Talk Radio’s Mike Graham have used the story to complain about too many people “not doing any bleeding work”, there has been plenty of positive coverage of the announcement in the media and support in social media posts.
As a parent with kids taking A Levels and GCSE this year I can confirm it’s a very stressful and pressured time for families. This is hardly ever mentioned or highlighted, so all power to Jo Whitfield for this 🙌 https://t.co/XgMSCUObFl
— James Bielby (@jamesbielby) February 9, 2022
Good for @JoWhitfield_ whether her boys appreciate her taking time out or not....I'm sure she won't regret it. Last year one of my sons took his #GCSE exams. She will need lots of patience and #EmotionalIntelligence -I'm sure she is well aware :)https://t.co/8nZXNLq3HN
— Sally Bundock (@SallyBundockBBC) February 10, 2022
But could there be a sting in this particular tale?
While the supermarket has said this unpaid leave option is available to all staff, there are questions about whether it is a realistic option for the majority of the workforce.
A few months without pay for someone like Ms Whitfield with a seven-figure salary is unlikely to cause too much financial hardship.
But could a shelf-stacker, on something around the minimum wage, be able to take a large part of the year off with no income? How about someone working on the checkout?
And, let’s not forget that as the cost-of-living crisis grips, the idea of being able to take unpaid leave for some may have never been more distant as they choose between eating and heating.
This could leave the store facing tricky questions in future media interviews. On our media training courses, we always stress the importance of anticipating and planning for negative questions. Even if you have a positive story to tell.
If I was working for the Co-op, I would be planning to answer questions on whether most Co-op workers can afford to take advantage of this unpaid leave option. And if there is additional help offered to those who would like to support their families in ways like this but who cannot afford to go without pay.
Without some good answers - and examples of where lower paid employees have benefitted - the risk is this will be seen as a privilege that only benefits those at the top of the organisation. A token gesture beyond the reach of the vast majority of the workforce.
Compare the situation at Co-op to what digital bank Monzo announced last week. Its staff can now take three months of paid leave for every four years they work – a policy that seems much more inclusive.
So, future interview preparation may also want to consider how to manage questions about why it cannot adopt a policy along the lines of what Monzo has introduced.
If I was planning to interview someone from the Co-op on one of our media training courses, that would be a comparison I would be likely to explore with a ‘while you are here’ or an ‘and finally’ style question.
The Co-op, however, is not the only organisation facing potentially uncomfortable questions.
The Met Police, albeit for very different reasons, remains firmly in the spotlight.
And while the resignation of commissioner Cressida Dick was not unexpected, it leaves the force with many questions to answer.
The biggest, and most difficult, will be how public trust can be restored in a service so tainted by failure and scandal.
But whoever eventually takes the role – and those who make the appointment decision – will also face awkward questions about suitability.
When Dame Cressida’s contract was extended for another two years last September, reports suggested the decision was at least partly made because those likely to replace her were not yet suitable – hardly a ringing endorsement of those now lined up for the job.
So, just a few months on, how can any of them now be right for the role?
Preparation on how best to answer that question might need to start soon otherwise, whoever becomes the new commissioner could be starting on the back foot.
Media First are media and communications training specialists with over 35 years of experience. We have a team of trainers, each with decades of experience working as journalists, presenters, communications coaches and media trainers.
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