BY: MADELINE SMOLARZ
Sitting here writing this piece almost a year after the pandemic began, I could have never imagined how COVID-19 would alter our lives one year on. As this grim anniversary looms, I’m sure many museum workers, volunteers, and students are feeling much the same.
In spring 2020, the GOEMP Committee answered the question “What can we do to help our EMP community?” with the announcement of our first COVID-19 Survey. We received a whopping 122 responses during the three weeks the survey ran (you can check out the results here). We worked hard to answer the community’s calls for advocacy and professional development with concerted outreach efforts and programs such as the “Ask A Museum Professional Anything” series (in partnership with the Ontario Museum Association), our popular COVID-19 Resources page, taking a concerted stance on wage transparency, and more.
By the time fall began, the world was coming to terms with the ongoing nature and continued impacts of the pandemic. The GOEMP Committee realized that we needed to re-examine where EMPs were at, so we could continue to do our best work for the community. Even among the Committee, many of us were in a much different place than we were six months ago, and we knew this wasn’t an isolated experience. This is why we announced our second follow-up survey at the beginning of November 2020.
You all turned out for this second survey like we knew you would. We received 83 responses over the nearly four weeks the survey was open — a strong response given many people were probably feeling pandemic and digital engagement fatigue by last autumn. Some of our key findings in this second survey were:
- 44.6% of respondents were working from home
- 50.6% of respondents’ employment status returned to its pre-pandemic status
- 59% of respondents said they had received some sort of financial aid since March 15, 2020
- 15% of respondents said they were planning on pursuing further education due to the impact of COVID-19
You can download the one-page report (PDF) or check out the findings below for more important details.
We hope to pull together a comprehensive report that compiles the findings from both the first and second surveys. We have realized that all of this data would make a stronger statement brought together, rather than presented separately like we considered last year.
Like the last survey, because this second survey was open for approximately a month, respondents’ experiences may have changed as time progressed. For example, I was working in my workplace full time for the first while, but then worked from home for two weeks. I know of some folx who were unfortunately laid off, and others who then began new jobs. It’s all good. Like before, we know these results are a snapshot of the the bigger picture of EMP experiences.
Do you have an idea or would like to get more involved? Please don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re always happy to connect with us via email at ontariogoemp@gmail.com or through our Contact page.
We continue to be here for Ontario’s EMPs to the best of our ability; this community is so powerful, vibrant, and resilient. You are not alone. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – there is strength in solidarity.
Thank you. Be safe. Take care.
Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals 