Pandemic-Pay Attention to Workers at all Frontlines at This Moment By Shadow April 19, 2020

I decide to write this because I am saddened to see so many healthcare workers and workers at all frontlines are not being well protected with right medical equipment including N95 masks, gloves, glasses and the outfit to cover them up. It is a fact that there is a shortage of those products, I feel sorry, however, I believe this will be taken good care of by the government.

However, there are many other frontline workers that cannot stop working because they are healthy for the moment so they can’t quit their jobs as they are not qualified for government benefits, however, they may have their own concerns for their safety at this pandemic moment.

First, the employers should not set the rule such as they cannot wear masks or gloves to protect themselves if the workers feel necessary themselves. In a lot of grocery store, I see workers do not protect themselves well except a dividend glass. If it is their choice, that’s OK because they themselves don’t find it necessary and they have to be responsible for their health. While if it is the employers who make the rule that they cannot wear protective stuff, then it’s the employers’ fault, the employers should be responsible for their health problems. They are depriving workers’ rights to protect their own health. In a perfect situation, employers should enforce workers to wear all those things and also provide those things, if it’s difficult, employers should tell them to wear those things as they are important.

People had thought only sanitizers are needed or as long as they sanitize their hands or don’t touch things they will be fine. They have neglected this virus goes by air and stays in air. Traditional knowledge about ordinary virus is not enough to handle this pandemic.

Due to the specific condition of Canadian weather( I don’t know much about US), there are a lot of working facilities are closed buildings without enough circulation of fresh air for the fear of losing heat during winter. There is nothing wrong here, however, it may pose danger to workers’ health at this moment. I have seen news about virus infection in cashiers of grocery stores, meat processing frontlines and long-term care facilities. I had been to all those places before so I know how these places can get easily hit by the virus and how quickly they can pass on to other workers.

Workers at these places cannot stop working because they have family to raise or they simply just want to live their own life, they don’t have much other skills, and they are providing all the necessities for us. There are also reports about Amazon workers who complain work safety issues but got fired later on. I am so shocked that employers will put profit on top of their workers’ health, and will not even listen to their workers’ complaint. If everything is really perfect, no one will complain. Not to mention that a lot of people are passive and they suppress their real feelings as they are scared of being fired or some other unknown reason.

The virus is already hard to deal with; I hope employers are nice to their employees. People come to work because they want to make a living and they don’t have any choices in life, basically they are desperate. Some people may come to work because they want friendship or social as they may have mental needs too. No business is forever but good deeds can be remembered forever and kindness can generate better loyalty; see how many big corporations have clasped. If employers have any possibility to make workers feel more respected, cared, please try your best, as you can become their sunshine and also you can take this opportunity to build your good karma.

Good karma may result in a better situation for your own future or for your loved ones’ better future. I have heard some bad stories about Kennedy family. People are trying to figure out why there is always a sudden unexpected miserable thing happen to their family members. Very recently, a mother and a kid died in chasing a missed ball in the ocean, which I believe was on April 2, 2020. I saw an explanation about it; it was because the ancestors were too selfish in accumulating their wealth and did some wrong things to some other people. I cannot judge this, you can find out yourself.

On the other hand, I also see many employers have become more kind at this moment than other time, which is adorable.

You can try to listen, try to improve their working situations, if not able to, provide better solutions or at least say something warm. Giving workers some freedom and stopping acting as control-freaks can also being appreciated and save your own souls. There is nothing can prove employers are at a higher position than their employees as we are all human, and we are all subject to the test of virus, as virus treat everybody equal. Not to do things to others that you don’t want others do to you.

Thanks for reading. All the best to your health!