In 2020, I had an accident that resulted in a completely fractured elbow that needed a full replacement. The break was severe, and the surgery was complicated. I was left with limited mobility in my arm, set at a 45-degree angle, and I needed to have another surgery in three months. I was working as an hourly contract recruiter when this incident completely upended my life. My time off was unpaid, so I returned to work as soon as possible after each surgery. Trying to balance work and rehabilitate an injury was incredibly challenging.
Following my second surgery, the chaos subsided. I was in physical therapy and felt I was finally on track to resume my normal life. I had a terrific opportunity to work at SingleStone, the perfect next step for my career. It was the light at the end of a dark and difficult tunnel.
When I started at SingleStone, I immediately sensed that something was different. I felt supported by the people and encouraged by the company culture and attitude of authenticity. I loved my new teammates and was expanding my skills in different realms of HR that I had not yet experienced.
Things were going well in my professional life when my progress in physical therapy was stunted. I was yet again hit with another hurdle. There were complications with my first implant, and I was told that I would need another surgery in a few months.
I was gutted. Things were finally turning up and I had only been in this new role for a few months. The doctor recommended that I take four weeks off to recover—a stark contrast to the week and a half that I had previously taken. I thought back to my first surgery and how difficult it was trying to balance work, finances, and healing an injury—I was nervous to tell SingleStone.
I anxiously broke the news to my manager that I would need to take a leave of absence for one month. I expected this to be a difficult conversation met with some resistance, but I was overwhelmed by the amount of support and understanding she showed me. There was no hesitation. She assured me that life happens, and she cared more about how this challenge was impacting ME rather than what this would mean for my work coverage. This meant so much.
The gift of grace
My team came together and took responsibility for a portion of my day-to-day tasks without complaint. This grace was so reassuring as I went into my third major surgery. It was such a gift to know that my team was behind me, allowing me time to fully heal. My recovery was painful but much more manageable than previous surgeries because I was patient with the healing process. I was able to rest and recover until I was at a point in physical therapy where I could comfortably return to using a computer without further stressing my body.
What was most valuable was the space this time allowed me to heal emotionally as well. I had been pushing through this trauma without taking time to process it. Once the four weeks were over, I felt renewed. I was not only able to return to work in a comfortable position, but I could now show up in all other areas of my life with a better mindset.
The silver lining
The culture of support at SingleStone was instrumental to my healing during one of the most difficult seasons of my life. I was able to experience first-hand how closely SingleStone stands by its human-first approach. This happened early in my time here, but I have since watched others lifted up by their teams during similar difficult moments.
When it comes to trying times, many companies claim to have a culture that supports employees, few fully stand with them every step of the way. Compassion is the essence of everything we do at SingleStone. With our employees, our clients, and our community—we have empathy because we care. It is ingrained in each of us and it's why I'm so proud to work here.
While navigating through a traumatic injury, it’s hard to accept that “everything happens for a reason,” but amid this journey I found SingleStone. And for that silver lining, I am incredibly grateful.