key workers
Society's backbone staff
Key workers are employees in essential services that society depends on—healthcare, utilities, transportation, food supply, emergency response.
The term gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when key workers continued reporting to workplaces while others stayed home: Key workers were prioritized for vaccines.
Sometimes called essential workers.
Healthcare provider, bedside
- doctorLicensed medical healer
- paramedicPrehospital emergency caregiver
- pharmacistMedicine dispensing professional
- surgeonPhysician who operates
midwife · therapist · dentist · hospital staff · NHS · medical · patient care · shifts
Emergency personnel combating blazes
- policeCivil law enforcement
- paramedicsEmergency medical technicians
- dispatchersThose who send out
- rescueSave from harm
first responders · ambulance crew · coastguard · lifeguards · crisis · 999 · 911 · uniformed
Thankfulness for kindness received
- heroesAdmired courageous figures
- tributeOffering of respect
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- solidarityUnity among allies
sacrifice · dedication · frontline · underpaid · undervalued · essential · medals · honors
Self-service food retailer
- groceryFood retail shop
- deliveryConveyance of goods
- postalOf mail service
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
utilities · transportation · warehouse · distribution · bus drivers · train operators · cleaners · food supply
WHO-named 2019 coronavirus
- lockdownEnforced restriction on movement
- essentialFundamentally necessary
- furloughGranted absence from work
- exposure riskPotential for harm contact
social distancing · quarantine · testing · transmission · bubbles · shielding · in-person · virus
Government agency employees
- teachersThose who instruct students
- governmentAuthority over a state
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- childcareSupervision of young ones
education · welfare · local council · public services · clerks · officials · regulators · community support
nurse
Healthcare provider, bedside
- doctorLicensed medical healer
- paramedicPrehospital emergency caregiver
- pharmacistMedicine dispensing professional
surgeon · midwife · therapist · dentist · hospital staff · NHS · medical · patient care · shifts · burnout
firefighters
Emergency personnel combating blazes
- policeCivil law enforcement
- paramedicsEmergency medical technicians
- dispatchersThose who send out
rescue · first responders · ambulance crew · coastguard · lifeguards · crisis · 999 · 911 · uniformed · patrol
gratitude
Thankfulness for kindness received
- heroesAdmired courageous figures
- tributeOffering of respect
- appreciationRecognition of worth
solidarity · sacrifice · dedication · frontline · underpaid · undervalued · essential · medals · honors · morale
supermarket
Self-service food retailer
sanitation · utilities · transportation · warehouse · distribution · bus drivers · train operators · cleaners · food supply · supply chain
COVID-19
WHO-named 2019 coronavirus
- lockdownEnforced restriction on movement
- essentialFundamentally necessary
- furloughGranted absence from work
exposure risk · social distancing · quarantine · testing · transmission · bubbles · shielding · in-person · virus · infection control
civil servants
Government agency employees
- teachersThose who instruct students
- governmentAuthority over a state
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
childcare · education · welfare · local council · public services · clerks · officials · regulators · community support · librarians
key workersremote workers
Employees based elsewhere
telecommuters · digital nomads · knowledge workers · office workers
key, worker, keys, keyed, keying, keyhole, keyboard, keystone, work