Essential Employees: An opportunity for learning, connection and growth

Essential employees.

These words have been heard all around the U.S. over the last few months. At UNC Charlotte, many employees continue to work from home. However, essential employees still come onto campus and take the proper precautions to stay safe. They use face coverings, maintain six feet of distance from each other and follow other departmental safety procedures to protect themselves, their families and their community. But who are the people behind the face coverings? What are the experiences behind the people designated as “essential employees”?

They may share the same title, but each employee and experience is different. Their duties, departments and unique interactions with their community shape their reality as an essential employee. For many of them, it’s become more than just a job, but an opportunity to learn, connect and grow. These opportunities come in various forms.

Jeremy Golden, operations supervisor in the Department of Mail and Package Services, not only has a critical role to campus functioning, but also in modeling the power of perspective and gratefulness. He manages all departmental incoming and outgoing mail and packages by leading a team of route associates who deliver to and pick-up from all the mailrooms.

Lydia LeMasters

“As a supervisor, I have the challenge of providing leadership and strategic planning,” said Golden. “In the midst of having to deal with the anxiety and fear of me or a team member contracting the virus, our team keeps its family atmosphere within our department. I lead one of the most selfless and professional teams on campus.”

With the help and hard work of his team members, he leads in providing excellent service while overseeing the health, safety and collaboration of his team.

Being an essential employee also means being the face of support and service, especially for students and employees still on campus. These opportunities open the door for meaningful interactions and building stronger relationships in the process. For Lydia LeMasters, interacting with students is a highlight of her day. While she typically manages and executes food service operations in South Village, LeMasters now works in Crown Commons, providing lunch and dinner to students who remain on campus. Even though their cooking options are limited, LeMasters and her team stay optimistic, seeing the smaller meal crowd as an opportunity to interact with students on a more personal level.

“For staff and students, the time we spend in Crown Commons is the only interaction with others we had during shelter-in-place,” said LeMasters. “We’ve done extremely creative and fun menus for the students over the past few months; the crowd favorite was milkshake night. Seeing them walk into the dining hall and eyeing their special dish always brightens my day.”

Ken Fields, director of auxiliary services, has also grown in this crisis while helping campus grow into and navigate a unique fall semester. Fields oversees operations on campus, including dining licensing, vending, mail and package services, and reprographics. Even though his team works remotely, Fields comes in daily to check on operations and assist with any issues while simultaneously preparing for fall semester.

“The planning for the summer and fall terms is non-stop,” said Fields. “We’re working to define the new normal for our operations while we try to be proactive and creative in our approach to serving the needs of the campus community. There are so many variables to consider along with the effective coordination with different departments, our contract providers and state agencies to make this happen.”

Even with the remote working challenge, Fields knows one thing: In times like this, there is no such thing as over communicating. In the case of Golden, LeMasters and Fields, communication, whether with their team or with students, has driven their success through this crisis, allowing for unique and invaluable growth. The duties of these employees, among others, are essential for our campus community, but one could say that the connections they’ve built with each other are just as essential now as they will be in the future.

“Although COVID-19 has been challenging, I believe that we as a team will only come out of it stronger,” said LeMasters. “We have all had a hugely different experience, and we will all bring a new diverse outlook as the future progresses.”

Story: Jordan Estabrook

Photo, top left: Jeremy Golden, operations supervisor in the Department of Mail and Package Services