As an employee that works in fast food, during these trying times I am still expected to get up and go to work every day to serve my community while being under a stay-at-home order. Don't get me wrong, I am so blessed to still have a job but as changes keep piling up, my shoulders seem to be getting heavier.

I work at Chick-Fil-A and from the beginning the expectations that we have from both our owner and the community were already significantly high compared to those that work in other fast food establishments. I have also created stronger bonds and relationships with these co-workers than I have at any other job and that is part of the reason that this virus continues to make our lives a little difficult.

With these rapidly changing times and updates from the virus, new policy changes are coming into work on a daily basis. This started with a dining room shut down, turning us to serving our guests through the drive thru only which really wasn't a big deal besides the normal interactions that we would get from within the restaurant. From here, things became a little more difficult.

I may not work in healthcare, but I still have long days with angry and annoyed people who still treat me as a fast food worker despite the risks I am taking to be out here serving them. We were just recently split into separate teams, told to wear face masks, and most of us are working 12+ hour shifts.

So as I write this and you are reading, all I ask is that if you cannot stay home, please be kind and be reminded that we are trying our best to take every precaution we can to keep you safe and have changed many policies for the health of us and everyone around us.

I want to remind you that I am quarantined with my family, I only leave my house for work, and even there I have been put on a separate shift than people that I look forward to seeing everyday. If I am doing this for you, please stay home for me. While you are out acting like nothing is wrong, I am constantly bending backwards and hurdling new changes to make you safe.

Please do not complain about us still being open, about us not following the rules or not social distancing, and please do not call the health department on us. Not only does this make us feel and look bad, but it also makes you look bad as you left your house for a non essential necessity. You should be eating at home as much as possible while this is happening.

This is not to make you think that I am ungrateful, but I want you to keep in mind how every little thing could end up affecting someone else. So while my co workers, the health care workers, the grocery story employees and so much more are having to change things about our lives daily to keep any person we come into contact with safe, please stay home and practice social distancing. This is the only way we will get through this together.