Worker Exodus Could Leave Lasting Impacts On Public Health Services More Montana public health workers are quitting their jobs as they face mounting stress, and in some cases, threats, because of their work during the pandemic. The loss of experience could complicate the work of health departments now and in the future. Former Pondera County Health Department Director Nicky Sullivan was working 90-hour weeks in October just to keep up with managing her three staff members, contact tracing and tracking quarantine and isolation orders. That grueling pace led Sullivan and all but one of her staff to announce their resignations in early November.