In the musical “Chicago” there is a solo by a character who refers to himself as Mr. Cellophane. He calls himself that because he considers himself invisible and inconsequential to those around him. He feels unimpressive and undistinguished as well.

It is a sad but humorous piece in a show that rapidly changes from comedy to drama through its two hours.

It seems some Butler County workers, as well as many businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, were asked to wear this less-than-flattering label this week. Maybe it was just a poor choice of words, but Gov. Tom Wolf used the term “nonessential” to describe what businesses in his mind should close because he felt they weren’t “essential” to the citizens at this time of crisis caused by the coronavirus.

It certainly wasn’t a label to make an owner feel proud of the service or product he provides. But worse yet was the employee who learned that he or she fell into the county government’s category as a nonessential employee.

How would you like to walk in and out the boss’ door wearing that sash every day?

Picture this: Instead of a tie or a sweater to complete your wardrobe or maybe a name tag or electronic pass key to gain entrance to the building, you were instead given a more generic one that simply read “nonessential personnel.”

Not exactly the five-hour pick-me-up that you hope for from an energy drink in the morning, is it? Kind of a direct smack in the face, maybe?

Lots of companies faced layoffs or cutbacks this week.

Apparently someone has decided the nicest word to use is furloughed. Same thing; it means stay home tomorrow and sign up for unemployment benefits. We have been laid-off. We have been furloughed. We even have been fired. But the last thing we would want to be told is we are nonessential. That wouldn’t help make the reunion when we get called back real comfortable would it?

Maybe it was a directive from the Human Relations Department that stated legally this is the term you must use.

Maybe it was following the governor’s lead since he used the term.

Maybe it is the correct and most accurate word the boss could find to describe the feelings he had for that soon-to-be-previous employee. It simply conveys the worst message you could possibly give an employee that is already facing one of the worst days of his life. When he gets home the spouse or family can ask why did this happen and the reply is “apparently I am nonessential?”

OK, water under the bridge or over the dam whichever you like to say, but as your mother always told you “words hurt” and this way of communicating that a person’s life has been categorized as pass or fail, essential or nonessential was truly an insult to everyone. Another musical uses the cautionary phrase “watch your phraseology.”

That would be good advice for handling future commentary on issues such as loss of employment.

— RV