Pros
One of Neo4j's core values, as expressed in the Cypher graph query language, is (we)-[:VALUE]->(relationships). A surprise cancer diagnosis has allowed me to see that this value is more than a slogan. Since my diagnosis, people from across the company reached out with sincere expressions of support and concern. Our US team is mostly remote. We don't see each other face-to-face often, but the relationships we have established are standing up to this test. Our data science team is not large, so my absence will result in extra work for several colleagues. They have been gracious and willing to pick up the slack. I had never given our short-term disability benefits much thought, but fortunately hour people team had. Our benefits are solid, and they have made the process of taking leave smooth for me. Working in professional services involves establishing trusting relationships with each of our customers. My customers have been supportive and flexible as we transition to new team members to support their projects. The kind of cancer I have is extremely sensitive to chemotherapy. There's every reason to believe I will be back at work and full strength in a few months. When I return, it will be gratifying to know that I work for a company that lives its values.
Cons
Our data science team is lean. There is not much redundancy when a member is unexpectedly unavailable for an extended period.
