Adding insult to isolation? No shame in being dubbed a ‘non-essential’ worker

Most everyone would probably like to believe they are essential in at least some small way or another to the endeavors to which they devote themselves — and therefore essential to the larger society.

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Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, a man wearing a face mask has the sidewalk nearly to himself on Michigan Avenue last week.

Amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic, a man wearing a face mask has the sidewalk nearly to himself on Michigan Avenue last week.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

Are you essential or non-essential?

Actually, it’s only your job that has been placed into one of those two categories by the stay-at-home orders issued by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in response to the coronavirus. 

But in a society in which we derive so much of our personal identity and self-worth from our work and how we earn a living, that can feel like a distinction without a difference. 

Opinion bug

Opinion

Most everyone would probably like to believe they are essential in at least some small way or another to the endeavors to which they devote themselves — and therefore essential to the larger society.

With that in mind, I asked my Facebook friends if their jobs have been deemed essential or non-essential — and how they are feeling about that.

Many of them reminded me that even though they are “non-essential,” they are working at home and happy to be doing so.

And many of those with “essential jobs” are of a mixed mind about it, glad to be working and continuing to make a contribution but concerned about their personal safety. 

Joseph E. Faulisi Jr. is among the city workers judged essential: “Streets and Sanitation still picking up the garbage. Doing our part to help the city we live in. Some co-workers are nervous about being out dealing with material that may be contaminated.” 

Hairdresser Terrence Burns is non-essential, but notes, “I’m sure your wife thinks it’s essential as well as many clients I’ve heard from!” 

Still, he doesn’t seem to be complaining: “Hard to do hair from six feet away.” 

Paul Barile is a tour guide: “I’m absolutely non-essential except to the bill collectors.” 

High school teacher David Narter is teaching remotely: “No, my students do not find me essential.”

Several lawyer friends noted with varying degrees of bemusement that they are considered essential. 

“I actually agree as we have some clients that are in the truly essential category and have asked for help,” Jack Lydon said. “Thing is, we can mostly work remote so we are doing that as best we can. We only need an occasional visit to the office.” 

Michael Scianna, a retired Chicago firefighter now selling real estate in Florida, thinks he’s non-essential.

But I had to tell him real estate services are still considered essential in Illinois, if you can find a buyer. 

PACE bus driver Anthony Napolillo is happy to be essential: “I love my job, and I need the money.” 

But over at the CTA, John Rodriguez has concerns: “We’re working with no mask, no gloves, no protection.” 

Jeffrey Littleton said he got laid off from his job as a trim carpenter but found a new one delivering restaurant food. 

“It feels essential and appreciated,” he said. “I’m taking all precautions and protocols necessary to protect myself and the patrons.” 

Mark Janu worked in the machine shop for a major automotive supplier until he and his fellow workers were told Monday to stay home. What bothers him is that the company’s office workers were sent home two weeks ago to work from home.

“I thought it was unfair that there seemed to be a distinction between the classes. We are a nonessential industry,” Janu said. 

Being a forklift mechanic qualifies Mark Madej as essential, but he’s also a village trustee in Schamburg. 

“Thought of calling in but most of the other board members have opted to physically show,” Madej said. “I’d feel better if it were a Zombie Apocalypse, at least you’d know the difference between the bad and good.” 

Yeah, that might solve the problem of everyone giving each other the fish eye, but from my limited knowledge of the zombie shows, that doesn’t solve the problem of which of the healthy humans you can trust. 

A lot of my Facebook friends are journalists. They note, of course, that we have been determined to be essential, this being actually true of some more than others. 

Most of us are working from home, and still trying to tell you what is going on in the world around you. As always, you can help with that.

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