Some Never Left Work

Three vaccines.  Fewer masks.  More smiles.  Less fear.

All in all, it seems that the world, in general, is trying its best to move past what could be viewed as the worst parts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  It doesn't hurt that the weather is warming up in areas where many were stuck inside for the duration of the colder winter season.  Events are starting to fill our calendars, as many postponed celebrations are finally allowed to go forward.  And, many employees are staring down the potential for an impending return to the workplace.

When this pandemic all started, we were shocked.  We didn't know what to do.  We sheltered in place, we sanitized, we masked up, we avoided gatherings and many of us were sent home from work until further notice.  That further notice, for some, has been made permanent.  Some companies have announced that they will allow employees to stay remote indefinitely.  A few companies have even decided to get rid of any physical headquarters and make all of their employees remote.  For the most part, however, typical workplaces are adopting a hybrid working structure that puts the choice to work remotely in the hands of its employees.

As many individuals are feeling anxious about returning to the workplace, most haven't considered the essential workers that never even had an opportunity to stay home and protect themselves.  I think that it is important that their experiences be recognized and that those that are returning to the workplace remember that being able to work remotely during the height of the pandemic was a blessing.

I've now read many articles surrounding this topic and do feel blessed that I didn't need to be on the frontlines like many of those essential workers.  As an empath, I normally might have had an easier time imagining the perspectives and feelings of others, but this pandemic clouded that view.  While reading the experiences of many, I found myself saddened.  There was fear, confusion and anger in their words.  As one author wrote, essential workers 'haven’t been stuck at home baking bread or going stir crazy from being cooped up with family members; they’re out risking their lives working with the public and/or in close quarters with colleagues every day, and they feel invisible in much of the conversation about pandemic life. More than anything, they’re deeply, deeply exhausted.’  I'd like to highlight a few below:

• ‘The entire pandemic I’ve gotten to hear about co-workers WFH who would quarantine for two weeks, go visit family, the quarantine for two weeks when they got back. I never had that option. I haven’t gotten to hug my mom in over a year, and while I don’t want to make this the suffering Olympics I do want some acknowledgment that the people who were able to take advantage of working from home were able to do so because I made that sacrifice.’ 
• ‘After work, I change my shoes before getting in the car. I undress in the garage and put my scrubs right into a hot wash cycle. I also shower immediately. It's mentally exhausting. I've cried in my car on the way to work. I've cried on the way home. I see my coworkers exhausted and on the verge of tears. It's so heart-wrenching talking to families on the phone and trying to explain that there are no visitors allowed. I can't imagine sitting at home and having no idea what was happening with a loved one. We are their only support and that takes a toll on us.’ 
• 'For those of us that keep your lights on, your furnace running and your water hot (energy workers) there was no such thing as work from home. We had as many safety measures that could be managed and still do the job. But when your co-workers had to isolate/quarantine, were sick, or in one case died, there was/is no relief for those left working. This country has asked the absolute limit of essential workers. We have forgone time off in the last year because you need to have enough people working to cover those that cannot work. We are burned out: physically, emotionally, mentally.'
• I get that it’s not easy, but I don’t feel that my experiences as an essential worker are even remotely comparable to someone who has been able to work from home, and there is often an element of self-awareness that is badly lacking when nonessential workers talk about their experiences and anxieties.

So while I start a new job, one that will likely always be remote, I am trying to be grateful that I was able to take the time to find this current role.  For a good portion of the pandemic, I nannied three kindergarten kids through remote school, but other than exposure to a few of the same new people (while wearing masks), I wasn't in a space where my risk of COVID-19 were any higher.  I would urge others to pause when they feel frustrated with slower food service or delivery times.  The people on the other side of your meal or package are those that never got a chance to leave work and as you can see from their quotes, they are incredibly exhausted.

-Vicky

P.S - For those that may not know the sleeping character in the image at the start of this post, his name is Baymax and he comes from the animated movie Big Hero 6.  He is a personal healthcare assistant and it makes total sense that someone in healthcare would be absolutely wiped out right now. If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend you change that!  It was incredibly heartwarming.