Pandemic Employment: Are You Essential

tempo_n_groove

Still working - considered essential

rgambs said:

Optometry is considered essential, but opticianry is not... So my wife, the OD, is available for emergencies, but not performing routine eye exams.  One of us goes in for 4 hours every day to take phone calls and do what little administrative work is left (mostly it's been dealing with unemployment and trying to secure a piece of the small business relief.  The doors are locked and no money is coming in, but little is going out...the small business loan is supposed to cover payroll to any W-2 employee, so hopefully we can survive long enough to open the doors back up and resume business. 

I read stories like this every day Gambs.  The whole payment world needs to be put on pause just like the real world is now.

tempo_n_groove

Still working - considered essential

I have a few infrastructure jobs open so I am still working.

deadendp

Out of work - voluntarily or otherwise

My husband is a park naturalist.  He is not considered an essential employee (he isn't law enforcement or maintenance) so he is working from home.  He works T-Saturday.  He got a text this morning from his boss wanting everyone to have a 10:30 AM group phone meeting.  

He's pissed off so he is working out and has decided to attend the meeting as he lifts.  (I don't see him actually doing this, but he is mad, so I just let him make believe for a few.) 

So the question is now that so many are working from home . . . are your employers expecting more hours of productivity from you than what you are contractually obligated to provide?  It certainly seems it for Mark.  He said that he doesn't want to break up his schedule and work 6 or 7 days of part here and part there.  He is scheduled for a bird hike on Saturday with his coworker.  (Social distancing observed and I had a Star Wars mask made for him.)  He already has plans for his T-Sat.  

Thoughts? 

Glorified KC

Still working - WFH

I've been working from home for a little over 2 weeks now.  My company was deemed essential and I oversee parts of the supply chain, a lot in planning and process development.  Luckily, that's something I can do from home.

Poncier

deadendp said:

My husband is a park naturalist.  He is not considered an essential employee (he isn't law enforcement or maintenance) so he is working from home.  He works T-Saturday.  He got a text this morning from his boss wanting everyone to have a 10:30 AM group phone meeting.  

He's pissed off so he is working out and has decided to attend the meeting as he lifts.  (I don't see him actually doing this, but he is mad, so I just let him make believe for a few.) 

So the question is now that so many are working from home . . . are your employers expecting more hours of productivity from you than what you are contractually obligated to provide?  It certainly seems it for Mark.  He said that he doesn't want to break up his schedule and work 6 or 7 days of part here and part there.  He is scheduled for a bird hike on Saturday with his coworker.  (Social distancing observed and I had a Star Wars mask made for him.)  He already has plans for his T-Sat.  

Thoughts? 

I mean, how long is the meeting going to last?
Considering the current world, a meeting may have crucial info and taking 30 minutes or even an hour out of a normal day off is a small sacrifice. Just do an hour less on a regular work day.

deadendp

Out of work - voluntarily or otherwise

It was an hour and a half. She told them park districts are laying off staff and that they are fortunate to work from home. He changed his tune and learned appreciation. I told him just chop that time off of Wednesday. 

markymark550

Still working - WFH

deadendp said:

My husband is a park naturalist.  He is not considered an essential employee (he isn't law enforcement or maintenance) so he is working from home.  He works T-Saturday.  He got a text this morning from his boss wanting everyone to have a 10:30 AM group phone meeting.  

He's pissed off so he is working out and has decided to attend the meeting as he lifts.  (I don't see him actually doing this, but he is mad, so I just let him make believe for a few.) 

So the question is now that so many are working from home . . . are your employers expecting more hours of productivity from you than what you are contractually obligated to provide?  It certainly seems it for Mark.  He said that he doesn't want to break up his schedule and work 6 or 7 days of part here and part there.  He is scheduled for a bird hike on Saturday with his coworker.  (Social distancing observed and I had a Star Wars mask made for him.)  He already has plans for his T-Sat.  

Thoughts? 

I talked with my boss the day after we started working from home. For us, there's no big expectation that a lot will be accomplished. His words were "do what you can and I'll see you after the apocalypse if we both survive."

fife

Still working - considered essential

have been working from my office the whole time.  I work in a non-profit who provides supportive housing for people live in with HIV.  Been really crazy and dealing with my clients who are scared to leave their room on one hand and other clients who are bring in so many people into their unit on the other hand. 

F Me In The Brain

Still working - considered essential

deadendp said:

It was an hour and a half. She told them park districts are laying off staff and that they are fortunate to work from home. He changed his tune and learned appreciation. I told him just chop that time off of Wednesday. 

Glad he still has his spot

We discussed but have not reduced pay for employees.  We also discussed, as an executive team, the potential to take no pay at all.

Desperate times call for desperate measures....which is why I have no problem calling someone to ask how we can help them with their issues right now or in preparation of what will be on the other side of this.
I had one dipshit tell me "this isn't the time to sell" - and I told them that the alternative would be to fire everyone.  Where do people think money comes from?  
What the frig is wrong with people?
Solve problems.  Help people.  Don't sit at your desk and do nothing.  (Or, sit in your couch and watch Oprah in your pajamas )

We are all scared/worried/upset in some way right now.

Crazy times out there and a little perspective goes a long way 

Indifference71

I work in health insurance so fall under essential.  I already work from home regularly so that part hasn't changed for me....the part that has changed is that my wife and 2 kids are now here with me.  It has been rough.

mcgruff10

Still working - WFH

Week four of remote teaching started today.  No clue when we will be back. 

darwinstheory

Still working - considered essential

You do have a full classroom at home too.

PureandEasy

Still working - considered essential

I am going to work every day, a lot of my coworkers are working from home, coming in 1- 2 days a week.  I work for American Red Cross Biomedical (blood collection side of ARC).  My position requires staff to be in the office to perform certain tasks.  I volunteered to come in to the office to offer that support.   

That being said, I can’t say enough about our collections staff who are working tirelessly to maintain the blood supply by showing up every day to collect blood.  Without their dedication, there would be an even more desperate situation in health care.  The need for blood is constant.  COVID19 has affected cancellations of drives all over the country. 

I know the focus is on ventilators, PPE, testing and those ailing from this horrible virus.  However, that does not change that fact people all over are suffering from cancer, sickle cell and other conditions that require blood transfusions regularly.

I pray for all of us.  Stay safe.

mca47

Still working - WFH

I work from home regardless of a pandemic.  My work travel, which I do quite a bit of, is on hold.

Matts3221

Still working - considered essential

Credit Union - manage our one NH office , only three of us so we can keep our distance , low interaction with the public ( Drive Thru put my teller and I just wear gloves and clean the tube each time ) did a home equity closing in our parking lot by passing papers thru a slightly rolled down window and watched them sign then handed back. Very strange but lucky to have a job , wife was laid off. We at least we keep making the joke that it feels like the 1950's in our house now. I just like to yell "where is my slippers and dinner" when I get home at night.

CantKeepmedown

Still working - considered essential

Essential job, but I can do it (mostly) from home.  Adult Protective Services investigator.  They are being pretty lenient on what constitutes an emergency where someone absolutely has to bee seen.  Otherwise, we are doing a lot of it over the phone and connecting with providers.  I don't have to go into the office, but I've had to go out in the field a couple times.  Doing a lot of interviews in driveways and whatnot.  Not going anywhere near nursing homes and hospitals. 

Purple Fairy Tree

Still working - WFH

I'm really enjoying working from home. Although I'm considered a key worker I dont see it that way as I'm not frontline.  I'm happy to continue working from home for as long as possible and life under lockdown seems to really suit me. I realise though that not everyone is this fortunate and feel sad for so many people who have lost their family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.