Social Limits of Permissible Behavior

I’ve recently been promoted into an acting management position. During the Covid Outbreak, our business continued to carry on with modified duties in the workplace, with many of the other managers working from home. In June, I was charged with the task of interviewing new hires that will begin work in September. I conducted the interviews for two positions online via Skype. In my tenure as an acting manager, I’ve only conducted one interview before and I was over the selection process for Candidates. I participated in the selection process of this round as well – but because there were way more applicants, I had help from my reporting Manager. Day of, I meet all the candidates one by one and proceed with the interviews. The experience was a lot of fun (for me) and I was told a lot of fun for many of the applicants I interviewed. I was told the same by the first round of Interview Candidates for the previous job.

In a way, I felt like I developed a report with some of the applicants. Now, outside of delusions here – I don’t believe I’ll be invited to their weddings – but enough of a report that the candidates felt comfortable enough to be candid rather than ‘professional’ – which is the place I wanted to arrive at. Out of the dozen or so candidates I spoke with that day – I met four candidates I really enjoyed talking with and felt they would fit the role and workplace culture amiably. One of the applicants wrote me a few weeks later asking more about the job placement. They had learned that they were not the successful candidate – I informed them that I advocated for them because of their energy, attitude and personality would be something that would add a great deal to the workplace culture and felt they interviewed really well and were beat out by a candidate with more qualifications and experience than what they could demonstrate. I was happy to learn that they found a job somewhere else and everything worked out for them. I was later contacted by a second candidate – one this time that was successful in securing the second role. During our interview – they had plenty questions about the job, the workplace culture and future possibilities as a contributor to the workplace. They asked a handful of great questions. I learned that they are a Chinese Migrant who moved to the Caribbean. They came to Canada alone to pursue their education and their family remains in the Caribbean and that there remains a language barrier for them – on which the parents rely on their dependent to act as intermediary.

Covid lockdown happens – and everyone is isolated. Months have passed and this candidate remains here in Canada on their own… I’m sure they have a robust support network – but I’m concerned (for no good reason) and want to contact them to see if they are holding up. Now that the lockdown is easing here in my Province, they may have more freedom than in June when I conducted the interview – but I’m still a little concerned and unsure if it is appropriate to contact them to see ‘how are things.’

What would be socially permissible behavior in this situation?