As I sit to write these words, 34 million Americans have become unemployed over the last 7 weeks—that’s 1 in every 5 workers.
Such pain, heartache, anxiety… I am so sorry for each of you.
Along the way, a new conversation began emerging in public discourse and policy: essential workers and non-essential workers.
Who is an essential worker and who is a non-essential worker? Which businesses and industries are essential and which are not?
Medical experts and political leaders debated these phrases in countless communities around the world—often times arriving at drastically different conclusions.
Regardless of how they ended classifying work in their jurisdiction, “essential” workers were allowed to continue, “non-essential” were asked to stay home.
I fear the fall-out from this type of designation and how “essential” workers have been heralded and praised in every community, while many “nonessential” workers have lost their livelihood at these seemingly arbitrary designations. In some cases, the work being accomplished was identical.
Let me offer some thoughts if you are hurting.
First of all, if you are an essential worker and have been putting yourself out there for our society, thank you. If you have been stocking shelves, driving trucks, packing food, or responding first, thank you for the incredibly hard work and extra hours you have been putting in over the last 7-8 weeks.
But equally important, if your work or business has been classified as nonessential, please know your work is essential to us—even if not classified as such by some.
In almost every case, your work is needed, your talent is appreciated, and your dedication to serving others is required for all of us. Your work, by definition, makes us a better people and a better society. You are essential. And I hope you are back to work soon.
If you think the rush for toilet paper was bad, wait until 300 million Americans try to schedule a haircut at the same time.
And lastly, please know, your work may have been deemed nonessential, but your life is not. You are essential to somebody, every day.
So make the most of every opportunity:
- Care for your body and health.
- Love your spouse.
- Spend time with your children.
- Call your neighbors and friends and extended family.
- Serve the less fortunate.
- Foster your faith.
- Offer hope and life to everyone you see.
Live your life with intention and purpose.
You are important. You are essential to someone. And no one can take that away from you.
Sue says
Thank you for this beautiful message. Every worker is essential, not only because of the trickle effect their work has on the vendors who support them and the customers they serve, but also because their income allows them, in turn, to support others. God bless us all as we move through these very challenging times.
Angela says
Great post Joshua.
My son works for a company that builds luxury boats.
Of course most of us live our lives without one quite happily.
Therefore not an essential commodity.
However, he has a wife and a two year old son and a 6 month old daughter.
Providing for them is essential.
They did shut for a while, now going back in stages.
I’m grateful that his job can be done at home mostly.
My heart goes out to those less fortunate.
Karen Baily says
Your compassion and support are very much appreciated at this incredibly stressful time. Thank you for your kind words.
Karlene says
That was so insightful and true. Thank you
Hadden Sayers says
Thank you Joshua. Your steady, solid presence is making a difference.
Melissa Williamson says
Every job that puts food on the table is essential.
joan mckniff says
Remember, many of us have neither spouse nor children. Please don’t treat us as invisible let alone nonessential.
Tahara says
I don’t think anyone without children or a spouse was overlooked in this post…Seven examples were given at the end of this post – two of the seven were directed at having a spouse or a child while the other five were not…You are not being treated like you are invisible or nonessential…I mean this in the most respectful and encouraging way possible…
joshua becker says
Didn’t forget about you at all Joan.
Michael Webber says
An important message that needs wide distribution!
Jennifer Brooks says
Thank you- many of us need to read this. I’m sharing.
Linda Deneau says
All of us needed to hear this … thank you, Joshua❣️
Sharon Martin says
Couldnt agree more. In the UK the emphasis has been on the NHS. Although being a nurse myself I understand how important they are, but it has lead to inequality of resources and divisions. Those of us in care homes left forgotten about, when now the true picture is emerging. For us at work the essential worker was the taxi company who deliveried bread, milk and eggs for free and the corner shop who went out of their way to get us stuff for our residents.
Everyones important xx