State workers no longer “non essential”

HARTFORD — It turns out state workers are not “non essential” after all.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Wednesday showed his sensibility to less than flattering names when he signed a executive order changing the term used to describe state employees who should show up for work during snow storms and other emergencies.

The state for years called employees who did not need to report to work “non essential employees” while those required to brave the elements were called “essential employees.”

Under Malloy’s executive order, “essential employees” will now be called “Level 1 employees” and previously “non essential employees” will be referred to as “Level 2 employees.”

While Malloy did not offer an explanation in a press release announcing the change in terms, calling some workers “non essential” has been the source of jokes around state government for years — and no doubt a source of aggravation for those targeted by those jokes.

Fortunately for everyone, all employees will now be considered “essential,” just on different levels.