Essential Personnel
by Peachie Pleasants Williams
It is the season for inclement weather and we currently have several inches of snow on the ground. Therefore most of our children will wake up early to see if their school’s name will scroll across the marquee of the morning news indicating the closure of their school system. Once their school runs across the bottom of the television, they either return to their sleep or simply chill. They are unaware of the verbiage that follows the closure notification. Do you have any idea of what I am referring to? Let me give you an example; there are four possible codes (green, blue, yellow or red) that follow the school closure notification. All indicate whether 12-month employees, Emergency or Essential personnel need to report to work despite the school being closed. I am most interested in the Essential personnel because it takes an act of God (a code red) for their presence not to be required.
Essential personnel are defined as those employees required to report to work to ensure that critical functions continue during an emergency even when a business has closed or suspended operations. Essential personnel are designated by the position they hold, including but are not limited to Housing, Security and Maintenance staff. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a married couple to me.
Because an Essential personnel position is vital to the operations of any institution, it is above my pay scale to assign this title to married couples without further examination of their suggested functions. Therefore, lets look at some general responsibilities of a husband and wife before designating such an important position. Some of those essential functions are:
- to preserve the health, well-being and safety of your family
- to assist and support your family with their needs
- to ensure timely and effective communication
- to provide, maintain and protect your home
- to preserve your family values and moral infrastructure
- to protect assets required to allow your family to resume its normal functions when stressful situations have subsided
Attention All Husbands and Wives: Upon acceptance of your position (the date of your marriage), you were deemed ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL. Therefore, you must report to work on time everyday and you are not eligible for Liberal Leave. Your covenant has been pre-identified as having essential service functions (To have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish). Husbands and wives have specialized training (to preserve, to provide and to protect) that is required to do the work, and/or have assignments directly related to the support of vital operations. They will be required to report to work as scheduled (every day until death do you part), and may be called to work when not scheduled (attending to sick children in the middle of the night). Employees (family & friends) from throughout the business may be asked to provide support in these areas to the extent they are qualified and available. Did you hear that? Code Blue…someone in your home is calling you; they need something that falls under your area of expertise. It’s time to get back to work!
Peachie Pleasants Williams is a Relationship Coach and co-owner of Marriage Nectar. Peachie is convinced that your quality of life is directly connected to the quality of your relationships. That’s why she is dedicated to providing couples with the tools needed to form and sustain healthy marriages by teaching them the benefits of marriage, skills to improve their communication, manage their conflict and deepen their commitment. You can instantly view Peachie’s Marriage Nectar by visiting http://blog.marriagenectar.com/.
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