Journal logo

Essentially Courageous

A Open Letter To All Essential Worker's

By Misha AlslebenPublished 4 years ago 9 min read
2

Essential.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I don't know how many people would define that word.

What is essential to you?

For Myself and my family, it's a home to keep us safe and warm. Food to keep us fed and healthy and medication/healthcare if needed.

Nearly eight years ago, a week after Black Friday, a few dozen workers walked off their New York City fast-food jobs to demonstrate for higher pay. The median wage for fast-food workers was $9 an hour.

People laughed, people got angry and employers lashed out.

I was one of the people who eight years ago scoffed at the idea of a $15 minimum wage. At the time I was putting myself through nursing school and didn't understand why on earth someone who was working in the food industry at a fast-food restaurant needed $15 an hour when after I graduated I would be making the same or maybe $1 - $2 less.

Within that same year, I quickly warmed up to a $15 minimum wage idea. If we could somehow adjust other wages to help those who had student loans looming for a career that demanded more than what minimum wage jobs do.

Now the current day I don't think many people are paid enough.

During this pandemic? Now I REALLY don't think they are paid enough.

Not just that though I don't think they are appreciated enough.

It's honestly kind of sad that we needed a global awakening in the form of a Pandemic to notice what really would make our communities come to a screeching halt.

We as shoppers and consumers have panic bought shelves until they are empty and while we are frustrated with empty shelves, the cashiers, shelf stockers, managers and suppliers get to deal with crabby customers, immense stress, and get to put on their uniform and grab their keys every day they are scheduled to work and show up to risk getting sick while those who shop get to return home safely. Now, of course not every shopper is someone who gets to stay home and a lot of us as a population at equal risk during the outbreak. However, those who are in sanitation, handling money daily, stocking shelves, in the stores, clinics, hospitals, and truck stops breathing and touching surfaces all day.

They are the people taking and being exposed to the largest risk of contraction.

While the U.S Faces a shortage of medical supplies such as much needed PPE gear and Ventilators. Nurses, CNAs, Carehome workers, Doctors, and Surgeons are all still putting on their scrubs, coats and protective gear and dealing with the risk of the exposure.

Many medical professionals are having to stay at the hospitals they work at, they are self quarantining in their garages, or sending their kids and spouses to stay with family. Some have even resorted to renting AirBnBs with their own money to keep their own loved ones safe.

Recently going through the unimaginable. The outbreak is exposed around you every day and yet you have continued your promise to protect and help your patients and life in general. NYC quickly became the epicenter of the outbreak and was one of the many cities to run out of PPE gear. Still, you stayed and helped. Being extremely brave and strong you choose and courageously walk into your clinics, urgent care, and hospitals ready for a new day and a new fight on the same enemy. Many clinics and hospitals have been stuck in a bidding war leading to trouble with supplies and ventilator availability putting Drs and nurses in situations of choosing life or death for some patients. That is emotional, tough and downright grueling for anyone let alone someone who has promised and dedicated their lives and career to save lives.

Thank you for risking not only your own health and safety but your families and loved ones to show a sacrifice most don't ever have to make to keep other people alive and healthy even in the most difficult times.

Pharmacists and techs come in contact with people daily to ensure they have medications that they need from prescription Ibuprofen to blood pressure medications, antibiotics, and insulin.

Truck Drivers are driving across state lines and even long haul through multiple states. Stopping at truck stops that I'm fairly certain are rarely cleaned. Not saying anything about truckers being dirty just saying I don't think many truck stops have people who care enough to clean them well, especially during a Pandemic.

Sanitation workers are at a risk larger than most probably consider. After all, they are dealing with the trash and recycling touched by hundreds and thousands of people.

Postal workers are still working diligently to ship packages and deliver mail in a timely matter.

Something that is somewhat shocking but also helpful is that most states still have restaurants and food industry places open for business. This is great because in the days that stores ran out of items during the first wave of "panic buying " or stocking up I'm sure many people and families depended on being able to get take out. However, people that are doing direct contact deliveries are at as much of a risk of contracting COVID as other essential workers.

This has been a scary and unnerving time for everyone.

Schools are closed.

Parks are closed.

Beaches are closed.

Everything that we are used too is mostly gone and while it's scary for us I can't imagine how scary it is for the workers who show up every day to do their job. As well as how scary it is for the family members of those working essential jobs.

My husband is a delivery driver and my mom is a produce manager at a grocery store chain and I think about them every single day and hope that both of them make it out of this time without contracting it and because I think that I'm sure there is a minimum of 1000 other people thinking something along the same lines.

And I'm positive the people who are actually going have thought worse or worried about bringing it home to their loved ones.

I wish I could personally thank every single essential worker showing up and doing their job so others can be safe at home when they can't be. Which is exactly why I wrote this open letter.

Going back to the beginning of the article. Not only do these essential workers deserve the biggest thanks in the world. They deserve better pay. Not just through this pandemic but after it as well. Some states have passed laws making their way up to a $15 dollar minimum wage however many states haven't and the ones that have won't reach that amount until 2022 or 2025 and by then the cost of living will have rose again and it will be a pointless increase that did little to help.

If grocery store workers, food industry employees, postal workers, sanitation workers, nurses and more are essential why are they consistently treated and paid as though they aren't?

Pretty sure even the richest people in America or many countries would be Screwed if essential workers all quit on the same day and never came back to work. Yes even if you have a lot of money good luck getting anything if production employees at factories, truck drivers, grocery store employees, and food employees decide they want to be safe vs underpaid and unappreciated you wouldn't have much of anything.

Don't forget your fellow lineworkers, tow truck drivers, mechanics and other essential workers who while are often in the shadows of things like this are equally as important.

What would you do if the power went out and the power company didn't answer or said their linemen are in self-isolation until COVID is over?

Freak out a little? I'm sure a lot of people would.

Also, did you know per year there are about 50-80 operator deaths from cars hitting tow truck drivers on the side of the road? It is already a hazardous job and now with a pandemic even more so. Touching a car door handle could leave them fighting for their lives in a hospital.

In legal states, budtenders aka legal marijuana were deemed essential as well as liquor. This is probably a good thing since society has been turned upside down and a nice cold drink or a good bowl of mary jane probably keeps quite a few people sane during these times. The workers manning these stores are also at risk of infection and that has to be just as scary as it is for truck drivers, linemen or postal workers.

I'm sure even though I tried to do my best research I have left something and someone out as an essential worker but please know I didn't do so on purpose and if I did comment on this and let me and the readers of this article know what you do and how your day, week or month has been for you.

Hopefully as good as it can be. For any essential worker.

I hope that all essential workers understand that not everyone is angry or blames them for the empty shelves, policy changes, long wait times, or just feeling like your job isn't appreciated.

I hope every essential worker goes to bed tonight feeling safe, appreciated, loved and cared for.

I hope the families of essential workers know one day just how much they are appreciated and deserve thanks. For time given up because while some people like myself are home safe with my kid's others aren't or they have to worry about hugging them when they get home or they still have a 2 week or 1-month stint of time of not seeing them in order to keep them safe.

The

Hardwork

Selflessness

Compassion

And

Sacrifice while needed and deemed essential is also apperciated.

I am very greatful and thankful for every essential worker risking their lives daily to take care of others and ensure we have what we need to survive and also the things that just keep us comfortable as humans.

I can't think of how to say thank you enough. How to express amazing these people and their families are.

I encourage everyone to stop in this hectic whirlwind and find the time to say a quick thank you to the people around us who make a difference in our lives. Yes even to a complete stranger.

Thank You Healthcare Superheroes

Thank You Food Industry Worker's

Thank You Truck Driver's

Thank You Supplier's

Thank You, Doctors, Nurses, Specialists

Thank You Pharmacist's & Pharmacy Tech's

Thank You Stocker's

Thank You Budtender's & Liquor Store Attendant's

Thank You Sanitation Worker's

Thank You Postal Worker's

Thank You Amazon Warehouse and Fresh Worker's

Instacart, Grubhub and Delivery Shoppers / Worker's

Thank You to anyone out there working on a daily basis for the good of their community and people around them. Thank you to anyone risking their life or loved ones' lives to do their job and keep others taken care of.

Thank You for being here.

Thank You for being there.

Thank You For Being You.

From the bottom of my heart, from my family and I'm sure from the 1000's of people.

Thank you for being Essentially Courageous.

humanity
2

About the Creator

Misha Alsleben

Wife & Mom Fueled by ;

Caffeine & Gratitude, when I’m not writing you’ll find me raising awareness about our planet’s needs , in the kitchen ,outside with the family, taking photos or in a bookstore.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.