Man explains why 'essential workers' are considered important yet poorly paid: 'It's really strange'

We all remember the year 2020 when the "essential workers" were praised for risking their lives and doing their jobs despite Covid-19 spreading at a fast rate. However, a TikTok user @theathiesticdeist highlighted in a recent video that they were never paid what they deserved and still are considered one of the lowest-paid jobs in the country. They say in the video, "Does anybody else think it's really kind of strange that during the pandemic, all the essential workers had to keep going to work because we were considered essential to the functioning of society?"

He asked, "These are the people who, for society to function, have to keep going to work, and yet none of those people are people, who make over $100,000 a year." The man continued, "None of the people who are 100 percent absolutely necessary for the functioning of our day-to-day lives, none of them make $150 grand," he further added. "All of the essential workers, all the most important people for the functioning of our society, are all the lowest paid people in the f—ing country. Somebody make that make f—ing sense to me."

The video went viral with 1.6 million views and many people on TikTok agreed with what the man said. u/unseenone2 commented, “The only time I had off is when I caught COVID and I didn't get paid the two weeks for being sick then right back to work.”

“Gas station worker and I worked through it all,” wrote @maryfairchild5566. “My job gave us a sheet of paper to keep in the car to prove were essential,” said @ridgecrest1. @gwenharman925 said, "It's odd. The administrators were working from home (making 6 figures), but we must show up to take care of the patients (we don't make 6 figures)."

Healthcare workers were also considered essential workers during the pandemic. A worker shared her experience of how she made significant contributions to the institution but was not granted the salary raise she asked for. A Reddit user, u/alldemboats, said she worked as a medical assistant in a COVID and urgent care clinic for about three years. Meanwhile, she also completed a master's in Public Health. "My job knew this and encouraged me the entire way, with my manager even being excited about the potential for a big raise," she wrote.

The healthcare worker wrote about the added responsibilities she had taken up at work. "I answer the phones, schedule patients, check in patients, process faxes, schedule imaging studies, manage calendars, cover shifts in other clinics when they are short-staffed, room patients, collect specimens, run specimens to the lab, and pick up meds from the hospital pharmacy," she added.

Moreover, she also took up responsibilities regarding infection control at work. After taking up so much responsibility at work, she decided to talk to HR about a well-deserved raise also because she has a master's degree as well. However, her request was declined. "Their reasoning? My degree isn't 'related to my job' and the new responsibilities aren’t significant enough," wrote the woman. After getting such a response, she was quick to resign after giving a two weeks notice.