The days go by quicker and quicker and, at this point, leaving my home for anything other than groceries seems like a distant memory. I’ve solidly adjusted to Indiana’s mandated “stay at home” policy and, as much as I’d love to lazily roam the aisles of Target with a Starbucks tea in hand, I’m doing my part to flatten the curve and safeguard the health of those whose immune systems are compromised or have underlying health issues. Right now, more than ever, we are living in a time where we are required to put our own selfish interests aside for the greater good.
Source: USA Today
We are the lucky ones. Our leadership team was proactive, and as of March 13, 2020, the entire staff at DirectEmployers was working from home. From Zoom calls, collaborative meetings on Slack, and even old school phone calls {gasp!}, our staff has been social distancing like champs and it’s been business as usual as we make forward progress with lingering projects and goals. However, those on the frontline have experienced a very different reality, one that is bleak and more exhausting. From hospitals inundated with sick and nearing maximum capacity to delivery drivers working overtime to supply essentials, to grocery employees working around the clock to stock shelves, and our civil servants still answering their calls of duty to keep our cities safe, these individuals are exhausting themselves daily to keep the world running as we all shift to this new normal. A simple thank you does not even begin to express how grateful we are to the men and women who have stepped up to care for the nation–the true frontline heroes.
Source: LinkedIn
As an Association of employers, we are fortunate to support over 900 businesses, many of which are on the frontline serving our nation. From healthcare systems, grocery chains and restaurants to Members in laboratories working feverishly to develop a much-needed vaccine to combat this disease–we thank you. To Members like Keurig Dr. Pepper Group who are doing their part to “fuel the frontline,” Walgreens who has announced a Frontline Hero discount on April 25th, Essilor who donated close to one million pieces of protective equipment, General Motors and their facility conversion to build critical care ventilators and surgical masks and others like Valvoline whose sales teams have partnered with local providers to offer free oil services to frontline workers–we thank you. So many corporations from countless industries are doing their part to flatten the curve and step up to the call to shift their business model to support mankind during such a crucial time.
Our new normal is an uncomfortable place for all, but I’m thankful that I’m afforded the ability to stay home and allow the frontline heroes to do their work. I truly believe that experience shapes your opinion and view of the world, and right now, we’re all just trying to survive, keep our families safe, and establish a routine that supports this “new normal.” There will be time for Starbucks and Target runs, group gatherings, sports, and conferences, but for now, I’ll stick to social distancing the Hoosier way and be forever grateful that DirectEmployers is backed by each of these organizations doing amazing work in the field. #INthisTogether
