Jan. 18, 2021, marked my 27th year as an employee of Colorado Springs Utilities. During that time, I’ve seen my fair share of change, but the one constant has been the dedication of our field employees.
No matter the weather, and even in the midst of a pandemic that has claimed more than 443,000 Americans, it is our utility field employees who head to work each day to keep the power on, water safely flowing to our taps, wastewater collected and treated, and our natural gas systems safe.
As a behind-the-scenes employee, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to work remotely for the last several months. Beyond being thankful for still having quality employment during a time when so many have lost their jobs, remote work has helped my wife and kids stay healthy; one of whom has special health needs. It’s a privilege that is not lost on me.
My dad walked a mail route for more than 20 years in the hot and humid New Orleans, La., weather. His hard work taught me the importance of valuing workers who are often easy to take for granted, yet play an integral role in helping us live our lives.
I can work remotely in large part due to the talented men and women who must still work in the field each day to ensure essential utility services are provided to our customers. Without them, I wouldn’t have a job and we wouldn’t have safe and reliable utilities.
While I think our field employees would be first to say, “Don’t compare me to a medical worker during a pandemic,” it’s important to acknowledge they are, in fact, essential. Similar to employees in other essential industries, our field workers and plant operators face their fair share of unique challenges and sacrifices during a pandemic.
A recent Wall Street Journal article, “Covid Wears On, Essential Workers Carry On: ‘Everybody Forgets That You’re Still on the Front Line’” perfectly captures the challenge facing essential workers all over the nation. The article is behind a paywall, but the essence is that it’s important for us not to forget the sacrifices these individuals make – whether they’re a medical worker, utility field employee, snow plow operator, firefighter, police officer, grocery store employee, truck driver, waste management worker, etc.
Each essential employee in the field has likely faced their own hardship during the pandemic, such as caring for a sick family member, all while still proudly reporting to work each day.
So, the next time we’re running an errand – while practicing safe social distancing and mask wearing – take a few extra moments to thank these employees for their dedication and sacrifice during COVID. It will mean more to them than you know.