When Chantee Mack, a long-time health worker, requested more than once to work from home because of her fear of contracting COVID-19, she was considered essential and was told no. Eight weeks later, the virus killed her, KQED reports.
Mack died after an outbreak at the Prince George’s County Health Department, where she was employed. At least 20 of her coworkers were also infected, some of whom attended a staff meeting where there was no efficient social distancing.
“We are called to fire to do this during an emergency. We are essential People don’t look at us as the first to respond, but we are, ”said Mack’s co-worker Rhonda Wallace.
“Public health workers in other states, including Ohio, Oregon, California, and Georgia, also contracted the coronavirus, and in some cases even worked throughout their illness to address the ongoing pandemic,” reports KQED. “But the Prince George’s department outbreak was one of the worst, and it happened when workers dealt with a number of community cases that eventually reached more than 21,000, more than any other county in Maryland.”
Mack’s requests to work from home were supported by his immediate supervisors, but was rejected by top management. According to her brother, the denial of her application is pointless since her job mainly involved paperwork, computer work, and phone calls. She also had back problems that made it difficult to deal with clients.
“The department’s teleworking policy considers, among other things, the responsibilities and work history of an employee,” reports KQED. “In a managers conference call, recounted in an internal union document obtained by KHN, Diane Young, associate director, said that all family health service workers were essential. Only those over 65, those with an ‘altered’ immune system, or young children, would be eligible to work from home. Decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis.
Mack was obese, putting her at increased risk for COVID-19. But even after his union intervened, management refused to approve his request to work from home.
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