[right way right]

That leads to another question.
Why do we have non essential employees anyway?

[Bryan24]

“Why do we have non essential employees anyway?”

That is a misnomer, at least NASA. I’m a contractor working for NASA. “Essential employees” are those who are supporting in-progress manned space flight or tests that are in progress that cannot be stopped without costing large, sometimes enormous, sums of money.

I work in the calibration facility, and we have 3 people deemed “essential” as contractors. If a priority calibration came up to support human space flight operations or one of the few “critical” tests in progress, they would be required to go to work and perform the calibration.

Other than that, our lab is closed.

[Vigilanteman]

Good question. I've worked a very minimal number of government jobs in my lifetime, mainly duties of an elective office which are 2 to 3 paid days per year for a very long day. The rest of the time it is gratis.

The other 363 days or so per year, I work in the private sector. If you aren't essential, then you aren't employed.

[aquila48]

You’re not supposed to ask embarrassing questions!

[NorthMountain]

Why do we have non essential employees anyway?

Because without them, in the long run, the agency's mission doesn't get accomplished. As with all legalisms, "essential" doesn't mean what you think it means.