Pandemic has changed how people view professionalism
UC professor encourages workers to find their comfort level when deciding what to share
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted workplaces and changed how people view professionalism in the workforce, a University of Cincinnati professor said.
Nadia Ibrahim-Taney
Nadia Ibrahim-Taney, whose research focuses on workplace professionalism, told Molly Longman one of the benefits of the pandemic was it allowed people to open up more dialogue about their personal lives and even mental health.
“COVID has challenged our belief system about what ‘professionalism’ is and how it works in the modern workforce, given that many of us are working from home,” Ibrahim-Taney said. “It’s empowered people to think about how they show up — in general, and for other people — and to speak their own truths as employees.”
How much people share about themselves should depend on how confident, comfortable and safe they feel, Ibrahim-Taney said.
“Being your ‘authentic self’ at work is something you have to come to on your own terms,” she said. “Should I come out at work? Tell my colleagues I’m a mom? The answer to this has to do with whether you feel safe in doing so.”
Featured image at top courtesy of Unsplash.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
CCM Hollywood alumna reminisces on her Cincinnati roots over Skyline
July 28, 2026
Hollywood actress Diana Maria Riva recently sat down with the Cincinnati Enquirer to discuss her career over a Cincinnati staple — Skyline chili. The CCM Acting alumna has worked in Hollywood since the '90s, but she grew up on Cincinnati's West Side.
UC doctoral student shares his journey with Spectrum News
July 27, 2026
UC doctoral student Amota Ataneka spoke with Spectrum News about his educational journey. Ataneka, a native of the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, is one of 35 emerging scholars across the United States to win the National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship.
How scammers can persuade you with AI
July 27, 2026
Spectrum News recently dove into how cloning voices with artificial intelligence is making it easier to scam people over the phone. The news outlet spoke with Kimberly Hyun, assistant professor of marketing at UC’s Lindner College of Business, to examine why AI is making it so much easier to trick people.