Employed in the Times of Unemployment

“When we think of the major threats to our national security, the first to come to mind are nuclear proliferation, rogue states and global terrorism. But another kind of threat lurks beyond our shores, one from nature, not humans - an avian flu pandemic.” -Obama

I sat down with my boss at the beginning of the quarantine. Working in hospitality, I anticipated our inevitable demise during this pandemic. He gently assured me, ‘I can only keep your benefits while you are employed, so we will try our best to keep you employed.’ The next day, all of my friends in the hospitality industry were let go on furlough. I remained employed.

The past week of quarantine has felt fuzzy and inconsistent. I ride waves of gratitude for my economic security and foothold within the community, mixed with guilt and frustration for not being able to quarantine myself. I am filled with more anger than norm, at our government, who has placed economic profit and growth before humanity. And I am confused.

Through this confusion, I want to place my point of view in words to maybe reach out to others who are sharing the sentiments. So, here we go.

Coffee shops are not staying open to make profit. Actually, no restaurant that is staying open is staying open to make profit. We are not ignoring the messages, and we are not playing dumb. The restaurants that are choosing to stay open are choosing to keep their people employed to guarantee them a cushion as we head towards the sea of unemployed and uninsured Americans.

I respect my company immensely 1. because they give all full time employees health care, and 2. because they are continuing to show up and support us as we navigate these waters together. Our mission has remained the same, and our goal to feed people and support the community is shining now more than ever. It is beautiful.

What is challenging, is to navigate the fear and frustration and confusion of so many people who are choosing to respect the social distancing, to stay home, to isolate. I respect these decisions as well, and am grateful that people have the choice to be able to choose to work from home and stay home. What these people have to understand, is that people who are still serving groceries, or food, or whatever it is that is service industry, are facing the choice between: ‘staying employed and risking our own safety and that of those we love, but being able to afford our rent and bills,’ or ‘prioritizing our own health and safety, but risking economic security, health insurance, and whether or not we can eat next month.’

It is not an easy choice to make, and the outcomes both weigh heavy.

And since there is no resolution to this conversation, all I ask is that we begin to practice more kindness. More compassion. More gentleness towards our fellow humans as we navigate this together. Before we lash out, I hope we have the strength to pause and ask why. Before we push our anger onto others, I hope we are able to stop and listen to where the anger originated and what we can do for ourselves to quell it.

These times are fragile. There is no ‘right way,’ though there are ways that are more right than others. Educate, but do not shame. And stay patient. This too will pass, and the way you walked through it will be remembered.