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| Bad Manners and Brimstone | |
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| #Post#: 54785-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Sorry, Can't, COVID And All | |
| By: DaDancingPsych Date: July 21, 2020, 1:34 pm | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| What is a polite and professional way to say, "Umm... we are in | |
| the midst of a pandemic, I don't want to take this job because | |
| we have to be up in each other's personal space!" | |
| I'll keep it simple, as there is some backstory, but I don't | |
| think that it really changes the fact that I'm trying to say the | |
| previous sentiment. Anyways, a potential client contacted me | |
| wanting to know if my schedule has changed and if I could take | |
| them on. (I was too swamped last summer and fall.) I do have the | |
| time, but not really the need or desire... with a major | |
| component being that I would need to be closer to this person | |
| (her spouse and kids, too) then the recommended six feet. I | |
| would basically need to hug them for an hour each week. ::) It | |
| seems like when I react with caution that everyone's response is | |
| "Don't worry, I won't give you the virus." When I want to scream | |
| "I am more worried that I will give YOU the virus." (I don't | |
| think I have or have had it, but could very well be | |
| asymptomatic.) This has all become such a political issue in the | |
| United States that I feel like I need to tread carefully. | |
| Thoughts? | |
| #Post#: 54786-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Re: Sorry, Can't, COVID And All | |
| By: lowspark Date: July 21, 2020, 1:46 pm | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Unfortunately, my schedule is such that it still does not permit | |
| me to accept this job. | |
| Or, more simply, | |
| I'm still not available at this time. | |
| If you're trying to avoid conflict/argument/political clash, I | |
| don't think you have to say why, or even mention covid. | |
| You're unable to take the job, and that's that. | |
| #Post#: 54789-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Re: Sorry, Can't, COVID And All | |
| By: Jem Date: July 21, 2020, 2:16 pm | |
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| I agree with lowspark. Don't mention COVID at all. Just | |
| pleasantly decline the job. | |
| #Post#: 54790-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Re: Sorry, Can't, COVID And All | |
| By: Hmmm Date: July 21, 2020, 2:23 pm | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| I agree. I don't think there is any reason to share why you | |
| don't want more clients. | |
| I'd go with a fully honest statement. "Hi, thank you so much for | |
| contacting me. Unfortunately, I am still not able to accept any | |
| additional clients at this time. Things may change next quarter. | |
| Would it be ok to reach out to you in September (or whenever you | |
| thinks appropriate) to see if you still have an interest?" | |
| #Post#: 54797-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Re: Sorry, Can't, COVID And All | |
| By: mime Date: July 21, 2020, 2:44 pm | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| I agree with lowspark. You'll avoid trouble if you don't open | |
| that door. Frame your answer as a temporary situation with no | |
| details. | |
| I'm personally not as anxious as many people around me when it | |
| comes to the virus. I take reasonable precautions because they | |
| make sense, and extra precautions to ease the minds of others. | |
| As long as people don't yell at me (lookin' at you, SIL) or call | |
| me an idiot (... ahem, coworker who I otherwise adore...) we're | |
| good. I'd totally understand if someone turned me down for their | |
| peace of mind in this time, even if I was more comfortable with | |
| the situation. I don't think in our current culture, though, | |
| that you can count on others to respect a different-from-theirs | |
| point of view. And that kind of sucks. | |
| #Post#: 54798-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Re: Sorry, Can't, COVID And All | |
| By: Winterlight Date: July 21, 2020, 4:53 pm | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| I agree that sticking to telling them you are unable to take | |
| them on now is the safest response. You don't want to have to | |
| debate this, especially with someone you do potentially want as | |
| a client down the line. There's no point. | |
| #Post#: 54812-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Re: Sorry, Can't, COVID And All | |
| By: NFPwife Date: July 21, 2020, 9:13 pm | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| [quote author=Winterlight link=topic=1787.msg54798#msg54798 | |
| date=1595368428] | |
| I agree that sticking to telling them you are unable to take | |
| them on now is the safest response. You don't want to have to | |
| debate this, especially with someone you do potentially want as | |
| a client down the line. There's no point. | |
| [/quote] | |
| Agree! We're in the same area I think and, given this climate, | |
| I'd stick with "Sorry, I can't take on new clients right now. | |
| I'd love to work with you, can I get your contact information | |
| and update you when I'm taking new clients?" | |
| #Post#: 54825-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Re: Sorry, Can't, COVID And All | |
| By: DaDancingPsych Date: July 22, 2020, 11:29 am | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Thanks everyone! I'm not sure why I was over thinking this one. | |
| [quote author=PVZFan link=topic=1787.msg54812#msg54812 | |
| date=1595384029] | |
| [quote author=Winterlight link=topic=1787.msg54798#msg54798 | |
| date=1595368428] | |
| I agree that sticking to telling them you are unable to take | |
| them on now is the safest response. You don't want to have to | |
| debate this, especially with someone you do potentially want as | |
| a client down the line. There's no point. | |
| [/quote] | |
| Agree! We're in the same area I think and, given this climate, | |
| I'd stick with "Sorry, I can't take on new clients right now. | |
| I'd love to work with you, can I get your contact information | |
| and update you when I'm taking new clients?" | |
| [/quote] | |
| Yes, from what we've put together, I do believe that we are | |
| neighbors! ;D It's one of the reasons I appreciate your | |
| advice. It is typically great thoughts and you have an | |
| understanding of the culture. | |
| Thanks everyone! | |
| #Post#: 54863-------------------------------------------------- | |
| Re: Sorry, Can't, COVID And All | |
| By: Luci Date: July 22, 2020, 8:52 pm | |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | |
| It�s just like an invitation. One does not have to give a reason | |
| or JADE. | |
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