by Kara Thompson ’20

Many teenagers work jobs, both in the summer and during the school year, so they can have extra cash. Especially for seniors, this paycheck also can help them pay for college, whether it’s textbook or tuition money, or it is used during the school year for spiritwear or food. Due to the coronavirus shutting down many places of work, that paycheck is now not guaranteed for many student workers, and if it is, it’s at the risk of their health.  

Many businesses that are considered “essential” are staying open, and in Olney these include many restaurants. Senior Nick Vendetti works at Chick-Fil-A and due to the fact that employees risk their own health every time they clock in for work, there are many safety measures taken. “We have to wash our hands every 30 minutes.  Everyone wears gloves and masks, even if you’re not coming in contact with food.  We sanitize commonly touched surfaces every 30 minutes. And a plethora of other precautions,” said Vendetti. 

Matthew Best, who works at Papa Johns, agrees that there are a number of precautions taken to ensure the safety of workers. “We wipe down our surfaces a lot and make sure that everyone in the store, and the customers, have masks on,” reported Best. “I feel safe going to work because I always wash my hands and I have to wear a mask.” 

Some students have been furloughed from their jobs, but are eligible to receive stimulus checks. “I have received [stimulus] checks,” said Grace Strosnider, who worked as a hostess at Cava Mezze in Olney. Grace Hardy, who worked as a hostess at The Greene Turtle, also receives some stimulus money. “I am eligible to receive it; however, my parents did claim me so unfortunately it is not the whole twelve hundred,” said Hardy. 

As the coronavirus continues to affect people, those who have summer jobs lined up may begin to question whether or not they will work this summer. Senior Melissa Bitting has worked at Merriweather Post Pavilion for two summers now, and was employed for this upcoming summer season as well. “As of now, Merriweather has postponed all concerts that were supposed to take place in May and June, and are planning on rescheduling them for later dates in September and October,” said Bitting. “Our boss hasn’t updated us since the very beginning of April, so I, along with the rest of the staff, do not yet know what MPP’s plans going forward will be.”