General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFinished work 90 minutes ago and I'm still steaming.
As you may or may not know, I work as a cashier at a grocery emporium in northern NJ.
We've instituted safety precautions: latex gloves, plexi-glass partitions b/n us and the customers, choice of wearing masks, tape on the floor to show six feet length, hand sanitizer, etc.
This was my day:
The lanes for check-out are supposed to be every other one (b/c otherwise, you'd be less than 12 inches away from customers in the next lane). But no, all day I was put at check-outs next to another check-out and those customers didn't wear masks. Then MY customers were as dense as bricks: they don't get what six feet apart means. They stood apart before getting to the belt and then proceeded to stand at a maximum three feet from me as I'm bagging their 10+ sacks of groceries.
Then the apex of the evening: We're supposed to close the store by 8:00 by order of the governor and the county executive. Fine by me. Except at 8:05, I received word that there was one customer left. Well, we don't throw out customers whose shopping cart is overflowing with groceries that may ring up to $400+. Yup, that was my last customer. 25 minutes and 12 bags later, I was too tired to be livid. All I could do was ruminate "You had ALL FRIGGIN' DAY TO SHELTER IN PLACE. ALL DAY! And you decide to re-stock your proverbial bomb shelter at 7:45!"
OK, rant over.
renate
(13,776 posts)Only you cant do either, so... indescribable stress.
Im so sorry you have to deal with people all day. You deserve to be treated like royalty.
Ohiogal
(31,998 posts)Well, sort of. My son works in a grocery store. His store has put tape on the floor. Thats the only precaution theyve taken. And the customers are dense as bricks, hardly anyone stands 6 ft. away from someone else in line and no one seems to pay attention to the tape even though there are big signs everywhere telling them what its for. I said, why cant the front-end manager police everyone and tell them to stand farther apart and he said they wont do that. Its insane.
wnylib
(21,450 posts)Laying down tape without enforcing it is a cheap cover-your-butt move that doesn't cut it. Employees should speak up directly to customers. Let the boss explain firing someone for doing that.
Lonestarblue
(9,988 posts)If you get too close, youre told to move back to your block on the floor. Theyve been very proactive in protecting workers and customers.
Flaleftist
(3,473 posts)I see families shopping together. There is no reason for couples in a home to go to the store together, much less bring their kids who are old enough to stay at home on their own. I really wish this would be addressed in press briefings as grocery stores is where crowding and the spreading of this virus is going to occur.
Another thing is people who are wearing gloves and masks, yet doing things like eating, drinking and lifting the mask to scratch their face. If people are using such PPE over a concern for their own safety, okay, but at least use the shit right or else you are contributing to shortages for healthcare workers for no reason.
babylonsister
(171,065 posts)Lowe's and Home Depot-packed. I'm dumbfounded.
progree
(10,907 posts)babylonsister
(171,065 posts)I have a smart and handy SO who just updated my laundry room. He would be at Lowe's at 6am when he needed something. Usually alone except for staff.
We're re-roofing also, but found a company who did not require our presence to buy the materials, was reasonable, and delivers.
I think a lot of people are bored and think big box stores don't count. Why I don't know.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)Having your own built-in handyman. Every woman's dream.
That's fine. I suppose? But people really do need to be careful and not fall off roofs or hurt their selves. Medical workers are overwhelmed enough as it is. I'm not going on a roof it's just not my thing or using sharp tools I don't have experience using!Now is just not the time for that.
Flaleftist
(3,473 posts)Like only letting X amount of people inside at any time and making sure the line outside is spaced. Some are doing this, but it is also something that could be encouraged and enforced at a governmental level.
ProfessorGAC
(65,034 posts)I stayed in the car. She doesn't need my help to push a cart & the store doesn't need an extra person in there.
Couples can go together. Only one needs to go in.
mountain grammy
(26,620 posts)one at a time.
shanti
(21,675 posts)N99 mask and nitrile gloves. Maximum 30 minutes in store, but I got almost everything I was looking for - no dried beans or pasta though. It's not summer yet, but I was sweating when I got home. My hands were dripping under the gloves. Can't imagine how it's going to be here in the summer when it's 100+ out there!
Pacifist Patriot
(24,653 posts)My husband and I are both working from home. Only one of us goes out in public at any given time and that has been one doctor's appointment for him and one for me that couldn't be postponed, and he's been to the grocery store once a week without me. No reason whatsoever both of us need to go.
packman
(16,296 posts)Your note about families - two elderly people with three youngsters at their side. Looked like grandmaw and grandpaw taking their grandchildren out shopping. No 6 feet between them and the old man lifting a young one up in his arms. Saw several couples picking over groceries ignoring , again, the 6 foot thing. No one wearing gloves or masks, not even the clerks trying to restock the shelves. On our way out, saw a chicken place staff outside the restaurant smoking , what I assume was their break, and standing almost shoulder to shoulder.
People are just not taking this seriously.
Marrah_Goodman
(1,586 posts)me, my guy and his housemate. He is the only person that leaves the house. We all have underlying conditions and we damn well intend to survive this.
bhikkhu
(10,715 posts)At the grocery store two days ago there was a family one person ahead in line, with two kids just being kids -running back and forth, hanging on everything, messing with all the point-of-purchase stuff...The checkers and everyone else just had this look of dismay.
After they left the girl doing the checking in my lane got out her spray and wipes and wiped the whole area down. Ordinarily that'd annoy people for having to wait a few minutes extra, but me and two other people thanked her.
We can all eat and provide for ourselves because the food workers stay on the job, in spite of the hazards. I'm all for making it as easy and safe for them as possible. The store I go to gave all their checkers a $2 an hour raise when the shut down started, which makes me like the place even more.
Maraya1969
(22,480 posts)register until everyone disperses. This is your life and the lives of you friends and family that you are protecting.
You have a right to speak up.
babylonsister
(171,065 posts)MLAA
(17,288 posts)Good wishes and thank you for being on the front line.
BigmanPigman
(51,590 posts)After our Governor said there was a state wide lockdown I went out 15 min later with my mask and gloves on to stock up on what I could. I was the only person in the crowded store wearing either. I ventured out last week and there was still no one wearing them this time either! When I stood in line I noticed the marks and signs on the floor to space people apart. I had to remind the people in front and behind me to move back/forward. I had to protect myself since many people are irresponsible, selfish morons.
You are risking your life for us and I am staying home if I can. My dentist laughed at me 3 weeks ago when I asked wear his mask was and if he washed his hands. I was the only person concerned, he told me. The following week his office was closed except for emergencies. He who laughs last... but I am not laughing! I worked in service jobs most of my life and I know how people are... I am sorry you have to deal with them, especially now.
Ms. Toad
(34,069 posts)I normally shop at 11:00 PM - and it is a stretch for me to get there by then, since I normally work from 11 AM through 2-3 AM. (Note, that's roughly 7 hours between ending work one day and arriving the next, since I have an hour commute. So I can't just shift to shopping ahead of work. And I can't shift to shopping on weekends, becasue I work the same hours 7 days a week. I don't keep cashiers overtime - but stores were open through 11 so I could usually find one day when I could manage to leave early.
Now that stores are open fewer hours, my workload hasn't decreased - but your store hours have. I happen to be working from home - but others aren't. Others are essential workers who work outside the home with fixed hours - as you do. So I understand you are physically and emotionally exhausted. But so are folks like me who have to work harder at our already overwhelming own jobs and fit shopping into suddenly different shopping hours. I'm not sheltering in place eating bonbons and watching TV. And when I shop, I'm not restocking my proverbial bomb shelter.
We're all struggling to adjust to the new reality. There is absolutely no excuse for your store not enforcing the every other lane, or for cutomers cramming themselves closer than 6 feet. You have my complete sympathy as to that unacceptable aspect of your day. But please don't assume that people arriving late are doing so by choice. It may just be the only tme we have to shop.
efhmc
(14,725 posts)their work situation she/he can't get in the store sooner, etc.
Theoretically you are right. I WISH you were always right. But having worked retail in the past, it was almost always our observation that the post-closing laggard was, well...a laggard who spent two hours trying on the same two jackets and then, five minutes before closing, wanted us to call the other stores to see if anybody had their size in an odd color and then wanted to pay for eight items by check. The "couldn't get here sooner" person is usually making an effort to not inconvenience the entire store, and even if they get to the register at 8:05, nobody minds because they aren't just expecting the store to accommodate them.
Ms. Toad
(34,069 posts)but a lot of things have dramatically changed, and meeting deadlines of any kind may be challenging these days. We all need to be tolerant of each other.
As ot the jerks crowding each other, or the store opening adjacent registers - I can't think of any excuse.
meadowlander
(4,395 posts)if the store closes at 8 and you can't get there until 7:45 maybe that's not the shopping trip where you buy 11 bags worth of groceries and make everyone in the store work an extra half hour at the end of eight hours on their feet. I was a cashier when I was in my 20s and I was physically exhausted at the end of the day and still had aches in my legs hours after I got home. There's no excuse for keeping an entire store's worth of employees hanging around unable to close up because you didn't plan your shopping trip to fall within their hours.
Buy a bag or two of essentials and save the big shop for your day off or go on your lunch break or go twice a week. There's not that many jobs (outside of Victorian England) where it is physically impossible to ever get to a store during their normal operating hours without forcing cashiers to work overtime.
Ms. Toad
(34,069 posts)(mine does). So if I have limited hours to go shopping, that may be the one time I have to go shopping - and even if it is not, the state guidance is to limit trips to once every other week or so.
But my larger point (and what ticked me off) was the assumption by OP that the person was just sitting home eating bonbons, and got their selfish self up from the sofa at the last minute when they had all day to shop - and that they were shopping for purposes of adding to their stockpile of food. That shopper may well have also been struggling to adjust to the new reality. There is no need to assume that shopper is in the same category of rude as people who simply refuse to pay attention to social distancing - or - the store owner who opens adjacent registers.
DenverJared
(457 posts)Thankfully, it is not universal.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Im sorry you have to deal with a potentially deadly public on top of all the other daily crap.
Laffy Kat
(16,378 posts)I work in a clinic and today was registering and screening patients. We had tape on the floor with arrows showing exactly where to stand and signs all over the place. I still had to tell about every other person to please stand behind the tape. One guy sauntered up, leaned over the desk, and started coughing. Arrrrgh!
lunasun
(21,646 posts)while) . thank you for what you are doing every day
marble falls
(57,081 posts)went wrong when we vote in Nov.
Rant all you need!
lettucebe
(2,336 posts)when customers come in right before closing, assuming they just need to be in the door before closing time; no regard for the fact it means "closing time." Ugh.
I used to own a small store and boy, "customer is always right" wore real thin.
Hang in
DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)for why this customer showed up late, it's kind of presumptuous to attribute it to "having all day" to come in don't you think?
ffr
(22,669 posts)Enjoyed your rant. Especially the part about the bomb shelter.
GeorgiaPeanut
(360 posts)in these troubled times. I salute you.
LizBeth
(9,952 posts)pecosbob
(7,538 posts)I'm grateful to still be at work nonetheless, but it's like shooting dice with the Devil.
progree
(10,907 posts)I have to bring bags that are strong enough to survive a 2/3 mile walk home. (I have the reusable bags in a backpack). Unless they triple bag (plastic) or double bag (paper) and even then not load them too heavily, there is no chance some won't fall apart on the walk home.
I shop at a higher-end grocery store (the only one within walking distance) and so they have baggers always at the ready. By now they probably have a policy of not bagging into reusable bags (or they should). I don't shop a big amount because I have to walk it home. If I'm too slow bagging it myself, what the heck, just throw it all in a shopping cart and then I'll take the shopping cart to a little bit away place and bag the damn things myself (max 4 minutes).
How does that sound? I'll probably be going shopping tomorrow morning for the first time in nearly 2 weeks, so I'm wondering if I'm thinking wrong or missing understanding something or going to offend the bagger or whatever.
Snarkoleptic
(5,997 posts)Makes sense from a virus transmission perspective, but I'm conflicted as I hate plastic bags.
Mr.Bill
(24,287 posts)progree
(10,907 posts)Last edited Tue Mar 31, 2020, 01:44 AM - Edit history (1)
are the reusable bags on the floor any more germy than my shoes? Or all the people who take things off the shelf and put them back? Including produce? Oh well. I guess I'll find out tomorrow, they can put it in their bags and I'll just take it all outside and put them in my resuable bags outside -- again, only the reusable bags are strong enough to make the 2/3 mile walk home.
I can use the plastic bags anyway so I don't have to buy my own plastic bags for the trash (required by home owner association rules -- all garbage that might leak must be double-bagged in plastic bags).
Edited to add: Their website says starting March 28, we do not allow reusable bags in our stores.
(But they will be in my backpack, and yeah, it looks like I'll be re-bagging them into my ironically called "reusable bags" outside.)
Marrah_Goodman
(1,586 posts)progree
(10,907 posts)"Paper or plastic"? Me: Plastic.
I told them no need to double bag things, and you can fill them up because as soon as I get outside I'm going to put them in my own bags that are strong enough for me to walk them home 2/3 miles without them falling apart.
(I can re-use the plastic bags -- the ones that don't end up having holes in them -- to bag garbage like food waste that might get leaky -- homeowners association rules)
PatrickforO
(14,573 posts)Tough going to work really hard and no one really seems to appreciate it.
calimary
(81,261 posts)And no_hypocrisy, that goes for you, too. Some of us appreciate the long hours folks like you put in, so the rest of us can enjoy convenience of going out briefly to pick up supplies and get served and find most of what we need (hopefully).
You are NOT unappreciated. Heck, you're the one link remaining - to a more normal reality that we all took for granted.
PatrickforO
(14,573 posts)email (3 in fact) from my director. And she began work at 7:30 this morning. So, we're talking about a 16 hour day. And this isn't the first. She, and our entire leadership team, including me, are putting in all kinds of hours of hard work trying to do our part to help people who are affected by this thing.
Not a day goes by that I don't feel grateful that I'm able to help in some small way. Like that lady who did this OP - all of us who work hard every day are helping - we are helping ourselves and we are helping others.
I'm grateful to have work when so many are being laid off, and to be able to be in public service and be helping in the crisis response and the recovery, well it is a privilege I don't take for granted.
As to Trump...well, he's a sick, mean-spirited, sociopathic man who will go down in history as a monster - the biggest fuck-up we've ever had the misfortune to have as a president.
Then I look at people like my own director, and the rest of our leadership team and I'm proud of them. Cashiers, truckers and delivery drivers, waitstaff, government people, healthcare workers, computer people. We're being devastated by Trump's incompetence and the Republican notion that we have to make profits off misery and pain, but we will get through this.
We will. And we will save this republic.
C Moon
(12,213 posts)ecstatic
(32,703 posts)It took me a second to adjust to the fact that I should stay spaced out from others, etc. I'm really trying to be mindful of that, but it's an adjustment.
crickets
(25,979 posts)I hope people quickly adjust to make your life (and their own, once they get in the swing) much easier.
JohnnyRingo
(18,628 posts)...and that's what makes you a working class hero, and that's something to be.
Thanx for helping.
KPN
(15,645 posts)more than just listening. But its what I can do. Youre welcome to rant anytime you want. You folks are the unrecognized heroes who are making this all work. You deserve so much more. God bless you, but also take care of yourself. If its too injustifiable for you, you have every right to walk away. Your employer needs to put you and your fellow workers first. Be safe. Take care.
Aristus
(66,349 posts)Before I got sick and decided to self-isolate at home, my clinic had narrowed traffic down to respiratory cases only. But we still had people coming in for things that could be handled over the phone, like medication refills. I couldn't get it through their heads that being out and about, especially in medical facilities, was putting everyone else at risk.
2naSalit
(86,607 posts)involved two stores in town that I go to all the time. I wore gloves and had a homemade mask arrangement. Only a few people were wearing masks and i think they work at the hospital.
But I made sure to be extra appreciative to all the workers there and thanked them for being there. At the register I heard a couple people thank the cashier too. I send those vibes to you too.
I have been a cashier at the grocery too and I feel your frustration, to be nice about it.
KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)I live in a senior place. The staff in the nursing, assisted and memory wings get off work at 7. ... 12 hr shifts.
An acquaintance is husband to a police officer that is working 12-16 hr shifts, 7 days. He can't get out to do any shopping until she is home.
Maybe your late shopper was thoughtless. Maybe they had a situation.
This said, grocery workers take a LOT of shit. Customers are asshats. Grocery managers are often worse.
I feel for you.
Greybnk48
(10,168 posts)You are going above and beyond to help keep people stocked with food and necessities in this stressful, high risk time.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Ziggysmom
(3,407 posts)Folks working in grocery stores deserve many thanks. You put up with a LOT!
THANK YOU
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,343 posts)The store should take stronger measures to protect you!
littlemissmartypants
(22,656 posts)Maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask the management to use it to make periodic announcements that the store is practicing social distancing and would like the customers to use the six food rule to protect themselves and the employees. IJS...
CousinIT
(9,244 posts)And he/she should.
I don't know if they announce the store closing but they should do that too - 45 minutes before closing announce the store is closing at 8:00 sharp, no exceptions. Get people moving. Of course that goes out the window when a hoarder waits until 7:00 to do their shopping for the month and has a $400 order. Pfft.
That's another bad thing about buying more than 2 weeks of stuff. But hoarders and bunker stuffers and preppers only think of themselves. Inconsiderate stupidity all around.
lambchopp59
(2,809 posts)Nor their progeny nor elders. Overhearing some of the local MAGA hats still stuck on it's all a "liberal hoax". One camoflage wearing duck die nasty look a llke laughing hyena at the checkout line, was apparently chuckling at my mask. Soon as I made eye contact, he spouted "You think that mask is gonna protect you from something?"
"It's not about protecting me." I retorted.
Shit eating grin turned suddenly to a grimace, and dipshit backed off, pushing two pre-teens backwards with him.
In their world, we are all as utterly selfish and inconsiderate as his own ilk.
Coventina
(27,119 posts)buy 20 gallons of water.
(I think the limit was 5).
I feel for you grocers.
Lulu KC
(2,565 posts)I have worked retail. Grocery store cashier is a whole new level and then COVID-19? LET ME BUY YOU A DRINK!
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Banks stores open actually have security to make sure you obey most have put a sink outside their establishment.
One at a time in bank. Guards outside to make sure six feet apart. We even had to step in sanitizer for our shoe soles.
Used hand sanitizer outside the bank, had to use the bathroom to wash hands before you approached the tape on the floor six feet from clerks.
Marrah_Goodman
(1,586 posts)...the amount of people allowed in stores per sq footage. The police, state police and nat. guard are doing spot checks. If a store is found to not be following the new rules they will be shut down.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)We had the same problems here in WA at first, but now it's pretty mellow. Except maybe at Costco for some reason.
Progressive dog
(6,902 posts)The first hour is reserved for seniors. They have plastic partitions between the customers and the checkers. The two lanes that were open were separated by two unused lanes. Signage said that every other lane would be unused, so customers were aware of the rules. The employees were all wearing gloves and a few were wearing masks.
They seem to be following the rules, but it still must be stressful to be exposed to so many potential covid carriers. Thank you for persevering.
Warpy
(111,256 posts)and there is always at least one idiot who dashes through the doors at 5 minutes to closing and wants to buy out the store. I think self absorbed clods have a rule book somewhere and it's in the top ten. At least where I worked, another checker would bag as I rang up the order so we'd both get the fuck out of there faster. And the ones who want to talk are insult to injury, expecting social entertainment while they delay people getting off work and home.
Some social separation is just not going to work, and grocery stores are a prime example. Having a shield so clods can't cough directly into your face is a very good thing. They should have done that one years ago. I was always sick when I worked retail.
SergeStorms
(19,201 posts)and after a day like you had, you really deserve a righteous rant. I'm glad you can rant here and not hurt someone in your general area. We're all in this together.
brewens
(13,584 posts)They open at seven, normally are 24/7. There were about six people waiting at the door and three were too close together. I hung back by my truck waiting for them to get in the store and spread out before I went in. I was mostly able to keep away from everyone. They only had two check stands going. I overheard one who must have been the supervisor tell a coworker she didn't have another checker coming in until nine and was obviously pissed about it.
That would be one way to cut down exposure risk to have extra checkers and I bet there will be when I go back next Monday. It may have been the biggest orders I ever had there, about $80 I think. I never tried to shop for a whole week before, where I was determined to not need anything and run somewhere to get it. So much of my diet is fresh produce that $80 bucks get me a pretty big pile for one guy.
rownesheck
(2,343 posts)I work in grocery as well and we have a shelter in place in Houston. Today, I swear, everyone decided to shop today! People arguing about the 6 ft rule and being fussy about having to wait in line just a wee but longer. It's like they don't understand this situation is WORLDWIDE!
Pillow talk
(265 posts)my irresponsible co workers.
soldierant
(6,857 posts)You and your job are essential at this time.
Feel free to rant any time. We care.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)TechNerd
(13 posts)Just came back from an evening trek to the local WalMart here in Central NJ. As a shopper, I could not wait to get out of the store due to the lack of observance of social distancing.
I mean really, how hard is it to stand back 6 feet when a someone is shopping in an aisle. But no, you who's not wearing a mask or gloves is going to come right up on me to reach in front of me for an item on the shelf. Was it so hard to give me 30 seconds to find the item I was looking for?
Then the best was this young woman in her 20's standing along with her girlfriend at the self-checkout and having a sneezing fit that she didn't cover her mouth or nose at first and then sneezed into her cupped hands. I quickly stepped back and found other registers to go to checkout and leave.
Needless to say, I won't be heading to that WalMart any time soon.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)shoppers every night, I never go into a store unless I can be out with at least 20 minutes to spare from closing.
One of the other things that used to tick me off was people throwing money on the counter, but maybe thats not so bad nowadays for people who still use cash.
jrthin
(4,836 posts)Thank you.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,187 posts)Yes, it takes planning ahead because the pick up appointments are booked days in advance. But we've known about this for weeks now.
Permanut
(5,604 posts)Just let me say a really loud, "I hear ya".
musicman65
(524 posts)peace and love to you and family
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)extended around your 'bagging areas'. so people couldn't stand so close.
I don't understand why grocery stores and places like Walmart, shortened their hours. Those short hours just piles up people who would shop in early am/late night to avoid crowds.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)My heart goes out to you.