GREEN BAY, Wis (NBC 26) -- Many essential workers continue to go to work during the pandemic. Tonight we're sharing the story of those who continue to pick up the trash from your curbside, and how some say a simple thank you, can go a long way in helping them get the job done.
It's a job that isn't often associated with a lot of fame or a lot of glory, in fact, most people don't think about it the profession at all until something goes wrong.
"They don't think about it unless it doesn't happen," says Chris Pirlot the Operations Division Director for Green Bay Public Works.
Pirlot has been working for the Green Bay Public Works department for 30 years. And for the first time in his career following the epidemic, he's finding how important it is to really hammer home to his crew, how essential they are right now.
"My first verbal concern as senior staff, was we have to ensure that our sanitary services are kept going."
Over the last several weeks, with so many people self-isolating at home, Pirlot says the amount of garbage the department has been picking up has only been increasing.
"The frontline people are the ones making it or breaking it for us," says Pirlot.
Pirlot says his crews haven't skipped a beat during these trying times for many. But recently with the potential risks of the job he admits that some of his members have bowed out of the profession.
"Just within the last couple of days, we've had a couple of longtimers decide hey I'm gonna retire. I've been here 36 years and I've been thinking about it anyway, so now is the time I think."
So you might be asking yourself, what keeps these essential working men and women going? Well one thing that helps according to Pirlot, is the gratitude and kindness many are starting to experience more often on their routes.
"I hear a lot more be safe, have a good day, I hope everything is going well with you."
This is just one example of essential workers getting a job done, so that we can all get through this together. Thankfully, we have a community and a workforce that is pulling for one another.
"We have good people. At the end of the day, we want them to go home, be safe, enjoy their families, but come back in the morning," says Pirlot.
