Essential Personnel: Keeping Your Distance 2

My old stapler broke, and they were kind enough to give me a new, state of the art stapler to use at my workplace - the one that I am still going to.

Even in a crisis such as this, where social distancing has become crucial to our mitigating the effects of the spread of COVID-19, we have essential personnel who must continue to function as best they can.

There are people we cannot do without - medical personnel, police, firefighters - all the brave first responders that have to stay at the forefront of this dangerous epidemic.  We respect their service and encourage their employers to use whatever safety measures and equipment that can be deployed to protect them.

Others serve roles that are less prominent but also important.  Those who help staff the grocery stores and other establishments that provide the goods and services we need.  This includes those who are manning restaurants and fast food places, even as they turn into carryout only places.

Many others are no longer going into work.  Some of those are still being compensated, at least for now.  Others may have limited sick leave.  But another large group have no sick leave and nothing to fall back on.

Some may be working from home. If they are fortunate enough to have a position that allows them to work that way.  That is probably more common in the large urban areas than it is where I live.

Benjamin is one that will be adopting to online work.  His college is now closed for the semester.  It is a shame because he was really getting to love college life, getting excellent grades, and socializing, participating in more extra-curriculars than he did in high school.

The school system that Alison works for is out for the next few weeks (minimum), and that includes teachers and most school board personnel.  But not Alison.  She will be helping with the feeding program (her job is in school nutrition).  Many students only get the meals they need because the school provides them.  And that has to continue.  So she is part of a plan to keep these children fed.

Some she worked with were skeptical that they would get the help they need to do this, because right now, many will be paid whether they come to work or not.

They were wrong.

As of yesterday, they already had 42 volunteers.

My own work?

It marches on.  People are still turning in tax and accounting work, and it must be done.  We are a small firm, and not set up for work from home.  Although I suspect, if this continues, that may be coming.

The important lesson of this?

We may or not be working right now, but we all need to help each other through this dark time, as best we can.

There are no exceptions.

We are all essential.