Helping Beyond the Job Description

Over the weekend, something happened that reminded me why we do what we do—why so many of us in IT spend nights and weekends solving problems that aren't technically ours to solve.

A former coworker of mine, recently and unexpectedly let go from our company, reached out to me. She wasn’t reaching out to talk shop or reconnect socially—she simply needed help. She had a new personal computer but was overwhelmed by the process of setting it up to handle important things like medical insurance forms. For years, I was her go-to person for any tech-related issue—both professional and personal—and I guess old habits die hard. She trusted me. And I was honored to be the one she reached out to.

This isn’t just any coworker. We shared nearly a decade working side-by-side. She had supported me when I was still a contractor, even advocating for my permanent hire. So, when she asked for help, it wasn’t a question of if I would assist—it was a question of how soon.

I promised to call her after work, and I did. We got her connected via TeamViewer Quick Support—thankfully, she was already familiar with remote assistance from our time in the office. I helped her get Adobe Reader installed so she could fill and sign PDF documents, like the medical forms that were stressing her out. I also restored her family photos and personal files I had backed up before her company laptop was taken away. She had been quietly worried about those photos for weeks.

We worked through everything together while on the phone—walking through email setup, filling out forms, sending them off. When we were done, she told me she could finally breathe again. She said the weight of everything had been lifted. And before hanging up, she insisted on paying me. I refused.

Because here’s the truth: we don’t always help people because it’s our job. Sometimes, we help because it’s the right thing to do. Because someone once stood up for us. Because people matter more than invoices. And because in a world that often feels transactional, simple acts of generosity still carry weight.

This isn’t a story about tech—it’s about trust, gratitude, and the small things we can do to make someone else's day just a little better.

So here’s to helping when we can—not for money, not for recognition, but because we can. Especially for those who’ve been part of our journey.