Al
Hey, why do we have to be working right now?
I agree. Isn't there like a pandemic going on right now?
This is ridiculous. I'm going home. -What?
You know what? I quit. -No. Wait.
Same here.
Oh, come on, guys. We're a team.
I'll buy you donuts.
[door slams]
No? OK.
♪ ♪
All right. And we're recording.
That wasn't so hard. This is easy. I --
[static and tone]
Oh come on. What the --
[sigh]
When people hear about essential workers,
they might imagine adults in these positions.
But there are actually teens all across the country
doing essential work.
Essential workers are people whose jobs have been recognized
as important to the health, safety,
and basic societal functioning of Canadians
during a shutdown.
What's it like to be working during quarantine?
I spoke to some teen essential workers
to get their perspective. Let's go.
How has your job changed since the pandemic began?
My job has changed so much. Everything is different.
I'm constantly reminding people to keep the six feet.
I'm wearing gloves and a mask at all times now.
These are all the cashes with the glass on them,
everyone's wearing masks.
The whole building is in lockdown right now,
which means that no resident is allowed in or out.
No visitors are allowed in, and also the staff have to
self isolate when they are outside of work.
What would you say is the best part
about being an essential worker?
I kind of like to go to work
because on my like days off
I'm kind of bored and I'm sick of being home.
Do you ever feel nervous about going to work, or scared?
At the beginning I think
maybe I would have felt a little bit scared
but my work has done a great job
at making sure that like we're safe.
They separated all the tables, we limited the seating
just to really help employees to also stay safe with each other.
You found a very cool way of
keeping morale up during these hard times
through your traditional dancing.
Can you tell us more about that?
The traditional dancing I do is called hoop dancing.
Now, hoop dancing is a medicinal dance.
Not only is it a medicinal dance for myself,
but it's also a medicinal dance for whoever is watching
or whoever I'm praying for while I'm dancing.
What would you say is the worst part
about being an essential worker?
Oh probably all the rude people.
I have definitely dealt with some very rude people.
I have cried, and I don't cry easily.
People often underestimate what teens
are capable of doing in the workplace.
And as a teen who works in health care
you play a very important role.
What would you say to those people who
underestimate you guys?
I would say to them to definitely not underestimate us
because we grew up in a very different generation
than the previous ones.
We grew up in a world with so much more access to information.
If you could share one thing about your experience during
the pandemic with other people, what would it be?
Just like be nice to everyone.
Everyone's trying to do their best.
Everyone is in a stressful situation.
Stay home. You know, do your part.
Try to pick up an old passion that you left behind
or even try to pick up something new,
like art or the love for fitness or
really there's so many things available.
These teens are busy at work
helping their local communities.
So if you know an essential worker in your life,
tell them thanks.
And for those of us who aren't essential workers,
find out how you can help flatten the curve
at cbckidsnews.ca. Until next time,
I'm Anisha Latchman.
Just gotta turn off this camera.
All right. Perfect.
[whistling]
[she plays hip hop music]