Background: my clients are in the Midwest US and I live in the corner of the Northeast US. Let’s say there are over 1200 miles between myself and those who pay my company. One of the clients just had an equipment breakdown, where the equipment won’t work until parts are replaced. Because of coronavirus, I am trying to work every angle I can in order to NOT drive 1200 miles to a current coronavirus hotspot. Even if that is part of my job when the airports shut down. I already live in a covid-19 hotspot, and I’ve been sheltered in place for weeks.

For obvious revenue reasons, my company wants the issue taken care of, regardless of who does it or how it is done. My coworkers are staying out of the issue because they don’t want to drive 1200 miles either to stay in hotels for a week during the pandemic.

With all that said, my interpretation of the events is that even my coworkers and managers, who I’ve known for several years, do not care about my well-being or safety. For each and every one of them, their own safety and finances are what matters.

This is an odd realization to have when I’m nearly 30 years old. But I’m trying not to squander the learning opportunity. I guess it took a crisis in order to see every person for who they really are.

For those of you who consider yourselves assholes and have good anecdotal evidence, did it take something similar to press the last bit of love for humanity out of you? Or were you just born with a natural non-cordial disposition towards others?

I swear this isn’t here to seek validation or vent about my job. This is just the first crisis I’ve ever experienced in 30 years and the first time that people have put my neck out on the line to save their own.