Second Wave
The pandemic continues. As cities, states and the country make decisions on what is best for all of us, retail associates have to settle on what is right for their family. To no fault of the associate and their families, these decisions have an immediate and detrimental affect on staffing at retail.
After months of working through the peak of uncertainty and challenges each day would bring, there seemed to be some (do I dare say) “normalcy” to our routines. Now we are climbing towards the dreaded second wave of COVID-19 cases and the panic is edging back into our business. Associates are again having to make arrangements for school age children that are going remote. Who can be home with the kids while they work? Can they afford to decrease their hours knowing it puts a strain on those who have to be there full-time?
If they decide to continue working, for some there is a fear that they will bring the virus home to compromised family members. We have seen that the plexiglass barriers between cashiers and customers, the stickers on the floor telling customers where to stand and wait, the frequent cleaning of equipment and hand contact surfaces along with the wearing of masks are having a positive affect at limiting exposure. In NH, “Community-based transmission continues to occur in the State and has been identified in all counties” (NH DHHS, 2020).
“Only about a quarter of US workers are in occupations that can be done at home, with about 75% of the US workforce either remaining in the workplace and risking increased exposure to infectious disease or experiencing job insecurity, disruption, and displacement because of workplace closure” (Baker, M., 2020).
Challenges
Stores that sell groceries are reaping the benefit of increased sales however they are on the receiving end of angry and upset customers that can’t find disinfecting sprays and wipes, their favorite brand of paper towels and any other item on their list impacted by manufacturing plant temporary closures due to COVID-19 exposures or raw material shortages.
Think of a pyramid. When the raw materials at the top are low on supply, it trickles down and affects multiple manufacturing plants that need that supply and that further slows the end product reaching the warehouses to then be sorted and sent out to the individual stores. When the product finally reaches the stores, it runs out quickly since customers buy what they can due to the uncertainty of being able to restock their pantry in the future.
Frustration
The uncertainty then takes its toll on the customers who are unable to get what they want and they take that frustration out on the retail associates that are doing their best to get products on the shelves as soon as it comes off the truck.
With no end in sight to the shortages of products and the continued staffing challenges that present themselves, think about how you are treating others during this pandemic. The longer lines that may occur could be due to someone needing a mental health break, needing to stay home with school age children or even an unexpected sick call due to the uncertainty of a sore throat may be what is causing you to have to wait an additional 5 minutes in line. We don’t know what people are going through during these times and what could break them without any warning. Be kind and stay positive.
Thank you.
References
Baker, M. G. (2020). Nonrelocatable Occupations at Increased Risk During Pandemics: United States, 2018. American Journal of Public Health, 110(8), 1126–1132. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305738
NH Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, November 17). Press release. NH DHHS COVID-19 Update –November 17, 2020. https://www.nh.gov/covid19/news/documents/covid-19-update-11172020.pdf
Sharing Experiences with Others 
Leave a comment