Grocery workers starting to die- we need a better system to get food to people

[Anonymous]

One of the women who runs the food bank in my county just died. This broke me today.
https://www.ahherald.com/newsbrief/local-news/27006-fulfill-mourns-the-loss-of-diana-tennant

[Anonymous]

Basic hygiene is never useless. Most Americans are lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giant finally decided to do something. This is what their email today says:

"
Giant Food

To Our Giant Customers,

Nothing is more important than time spent with family. This is true every day, but as we battle a health crisis that restricts how we connect with each other, the time we have with our loved ones, whether in person or virtually, seems even more precious than ever. Over the past several weeks, the associates in our stores have answered the call to leave their families every day. They have made tremendous sacrifices so that we can continue to provide a critical service to our communities.

Reduced Store Hours Sunday, April 12
This week, as many of us gather in whatever way we can to celebrate Passover or Easter, we will be giving our store teams a much-deserved break so they can spend extra time with their families.We will be closing all of our stores and pharmacies at 3pm on Sunday, April 12th. We will reopen at 6am Monday, April 13th.

We have implemented several changes to our store operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes were not only put in place to protect our customers but our associates as well. As they show up to work, day after day, we will continue to adapt our procedures to ensure that we are protecting them as best as we can. Here are additional changes that you will see in our stores this week:

Limits to Customers in Stores
Although not yet mandated by governments in Virginia, Maryland or DC, as of Thursday, April 9th, we will begin limiting the number of customers in our stores at any given time, reducing our store capacity to 20%. We will have store associates monitoring this and we ask for your help by adhering to this policy change. As such, we encourage our customers to shop with as few family members as possible.

One-Way Directional Signage
We will be putting directional signage in our aisles to better control customer flow and promote social distancing. We ask that you follow the arrows while shopping and be mindful of your distance from our associates who may be working in-aisle to restock shelves.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for Associates
Although PPE is in short supply, we have managed to secure plastic face shields for all of our associates and are in the process of securing additional face masks. We’ve also encouraged associates to wear masks, following recent CDC recommendations.

These new policies and procedures are in addition to a host of changes we have already put into place to improve safety for our associates and customers, including:

Plexiglass shields at our cash registers, pharmacies, and customer service desks
Social distancing markers throughout our stores to encourage customers to stay six feet apart
Increased cleaning and sanitation of “high-touch” areas throughout the stores
Reduced store hours to allow for additional cleaning and associate rest
Special shopping hours for senior citizens and customers with compromised immune systems
“Contactless” delivery through our Giant Delivers service

We have made, and will continue to make, countless difficult decisions to adjust our operations and make the shopping environment in our stores as safe as possible. From our perspective, none of our decisions have been perfect, but at the heart of every decision was our desire to do our best for our associates, our customers, and the communities we serve.

We hope that you enjoy the time spent with your families this week and that you are able to find joy, peace, and gratitude in the moments you can share.

Ira Kress,
Interim President, Giant Food"

Most of this should be permanent.

While I agree with these temporary measures, I disagree with making them permanent (e.g, beyond a COVID-19 vaccine). Eventually, new pathogens would emerge that would render these protective measures useless. Then what?

How about the filthy carts?

[Anonymous]

Limit people inside. Immediate stationary crowd outside. No way to avoid the individual nearby coughing or sneezing. One way aisles. Cram people together in follow the leader, decreasing efficiency and increasing shopping/exposure and line standing times. What accommodations for the disabled? “Senior hour?” Jam all the most vulnerable people into a single Petri dish. Monumental, poorly considered stupidity. Violates rules against assemblies outside stores of more than 10 people.

Protect the staff? Absolutely. This other nonsense? Did anybody think about any of this? At a time when there’s panic buying and stockpiling they want to make grocery shopping harder? Idiocy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should shut down the grocery stores and only take orders online
Have the workers in the store gather up the groceries and bag them
Someone take them to the car

Or, each grocery store should do a 10 person limit

Ffs. I can think of a handful of folks right now that can't order food online. I already shop for one of them. Doesn't even have a smartphone much less home internet. Let's think things through a bit more before posting.


Still waiting for the STAY HOME!!! geniuses who somehow found even this thread to explain how that applies even to food/groceries, btw.

It's been suggested elsewhere on this site. The government could simply deliver everyone some rice and beans once a week.

You are delusional.

1. Do you really think the front line essential personnel (police, fire, hospital staff, etc.) will be able to perform after weeks (or even days) of nothing but beans and rice?

2. The people will not stand for an indefinite future of nothing but beans and rice while grocery stores (and other people's homes) are still stocked with food. This would be a sure bet to ignite riots and looting.

I'm sure they can "perform" just fine on a diet that many of the world already subsists on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giant finally decided to do something. This is what their email today says:

"
Giant Food

To Our Giant Customers,

Nothing is more important than time spent with family. This is true every day, but as we battle a health crisis that restricts how we connect with each other, the time we have with our loved ones, whether in person or virtually, seems even more precious than ever. Over the past several weeks, the associates in our stores have answered the call to leave their families every day. They have made tremendous sacrifices so that we can continue to provide a critical service to our communities.

Reduced Store Hours Sunday, April 12
This week, as many of us gather in whatever way we can to celebrate Passover or Easter, we will be giving our store teams a much-deserved break so they can spend extra time with their families.We will be closing all of our stores and pharmacies at 3pm on Sunday, April 12th. We will reopen at 6am Monday, April 13th.

We have implemented several changes to our store operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes were not only put in place to protect our customers but our associates as well. As they show up to work, day after day, we will continue to adapt our procedures to ensure that we are protecting them as best as we can. Here are additional changes that you will see in our stores this week:

Limits to Customers in Stores
Although not yet mandated by governments in Virginia, Maryland or DC, as of Thursday, April 9th, we will begin limiting the number of customers in our stores at any given time, reducing our store capacity to 20%. We will have store associates monitoring this and we ask for your help by adhering to this policy change. As such, we encourage our customers to shop with as few family members as possible.

One-Way Directional Signage
We will be putting directional signage in our aisles to better control customer flow and promote social distancing. We ask that you follow the arrows while shopping and be mindful of your distance from our associates who may be working in-aisle to restock shelves.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for Associates
Although PPE is in short supply, we have managed to secure plastic face shields for all of our associates and are in the process of securing additional face masks. We’ve also encouraged associates to wear masks, following recent CDC recommendations.

These new policies and procedures are in addition to a host of changes we have already put into place to improve safety for our associates and customers, including:

Plexiglass shields at our cash registers, pharmacies, and customer service desks
Social distancing markers throughout our stores to encourage customers to stay six feet apart
Increased cleaning and sanitation of “high-touch” areas throughout the stores
Reduced store hours to allow for additional cleaning and associate rest
Special shopping hours for senior citizens and customers with compromised immune systems
“Contactless” delivery through our Giant Delivers service

We have made, and will continue to make, countless difficult decisions to adjust our operations and make the shopping environment in our stores as safe as possible. From our perspective, none of our decisions have been perfect, but at the heart of every decision was our desire to do our best for our associates, our customers, and the communities we serve.

We hope that you enjoy the time spent with your families this week and that you are able to find joy, peace, and gratitude in the moments you can share.

Ira Kress,
Interim President, Giant Food"

Most of this should be permanent.

While I agree with these temporary measures, I disagree with making them permanent (e.g, beyond a COVID-19 vaccine). Eventually, new pathogens would emerge that would render these protective measures useless. Then what?

How about the filthy carts?

Carts have been filthy since the day grocery stores started using them. What would an expensive sanitizing process really accomplish?

[Anonymous]

My DH works for Wegmans and is continuing to work. Wegman's is giving employees $2 more an hour and providing lunch. It's only in the last few days that they are allowing employees to wear masks but they are not providing them and the masks must be manufactured ones, not homemade ones. DH and other non-cashier staff are all spending some of their time bagging groceries because of the need to get people through the lines. Wegman's is practicing good social distancing but they're position on masks is frustrating. They, at the least, should be providing them.

It's not an option for DH to stop working because we need the income.

[Anonymous]

^ I'm frustrated on your behalf. Where are they even supposed to find those masks at this point? None in stock anywhere.

[Anonymous]

My store has scan as you go. I pull my own utility cart and scan items as I put them in the cart. I pay at the kiosk and leave. More stores need to implement this to protect workers. I also do this at Target except check myself out without letting the items touch the scanner and they go right back into my own cart. The less contact, the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of this arguing is silly. There is a huge divide in this area on the real lower/middle class and DCUM middle class. Most of us in real middle class don't have the funds to spend $25-50 for a box of veggies that is a few potatoes, a few carrots (really, what am I going to do with 6 carrots) and a few other things and not what we eat. Also, some of those have mass pick up sites so its not any different than going to the grocery store. Grocery Delivery is a luxury. Often there is a huge mark up on each product plus a delivery charge plus a tip. So you are paying 3 times you would in a grocery store.

Likewise, I'm amazed at some of the budgets. Not all of us are buying whole paycheck or trader joes. Many of us budget shop at Aldi's, Lidls, and asian stores for the best value for our money. Many people making $300-400K don't have to worry about those things but for those of us making 1/2 or less than that, we've still got to worry about savings, college and other luxuries you can easily afford without thinking (or if you cannot you are way overspending).

Additionally, it amazes me that many people cannot understand how some of us live in apartments or small houses surviving all this. There are so many benefits to small spaces including your family spending more time together. We have to listen to those saying oh, I don't know what to do with my kids or isn't it nice we are finally spending time together. We don't have a choice. One small living room or your bedroom. People are being so bizarre about all this but ironically those of us who are living on a lesser budget are not often as worried about paying our mortgage as its manageable even with job loss.

Was there a point somewhere in the middle of your ramble?

Also, what do you do with carrots? Eat them. Raw or cooked any number of ways. Seriously?

It’s pretty telling how you can’t even step out of your bubble for a minute.

We are lucky and I’m grateful but I’m not so lucky that I can avoid the stores completely. It’s just not reality for many.

My bubble. My bubble is I'm not ordering in food. We go out every 7-10 days and buy what we need. That was the point. You are in a bubble if you don't get that prices greatly vary store to store and many of us are not shopping at Trader Joes and Whole Foods nor even Safeway or Giant because of the prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giant finally decided to do something. This is what their email today says:

"
Giant Food

To Our Giant Customers,

Nothing is more important than time spent with family. This is true every day, but as we battle a health crisis that restricts how we connect with each other, the time we have with our loved ones, whether in person or virtually, seems even more precious than ever. Over the past several weeks, the associates in our stores have answered the call to leave their families every day. They have made tremendous sacrifices so that we can continue to provide a critical service to our communities.

Reduced Store Hours Sunday, April 12
This week, as many of us gather in whatever way we can to celebrate Passover or Easter, we will be giving our store teams a much-deserved break so they can spend extra time with their families.We will be closing all of our stores and pharmacies at 3pm on Sunday, April 12th. We will reopen at 6am Monday, April 13th.

We have implemented several changes to our store operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes were not only put in place to protect our customers but our associates as well. As they show up to work, day after day, we will continue to adapt our procedures to ensure that we are protecting them as best as we can. Here are additional changes that you will see in our stores this week:

Limits to Customers in Stores
Although not yet mandated by governments in Virginia, Maryland or DC, as of Thursday, April 9th, we will begin limiting the number of customers in our stores at any given time, reducing our store capacity to 20%. We will have store associates monitoring this and we ask for your help by adhering to this policy change. As such, we encourage our customers to shop with as few family members as possible.

One-Way Directional Signage
We will be putting directional signage in our aisles to better control customer flow and promote social distancing. We ask that you follow the arrows while shopping and be mindful of your distance from our associates who may be working in-aisle to restock shelves.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for Associates
Although PPE is in short supply, we have managed to secure plastic face shields for all of our associates and are in the process of securing additional face masks. We’ve also encouraged associates to wear masks, following recent CDC recommendations.

These new policies and procedures are in addition to a host of changes we have already put into place to improve safety for our associates and customers, including:

Plexiglass shields at our cash registers, pharmacies, and customer service desks
Social distancing markers throughout our stores to encourage customers to stay six feet apart
Increased cleaning and sanitation of “high-touch” areas throughout the stores
Reduced store hours to allow for additional cleaning and associate rest
Special shopping hours for senior citizens and customers with compromised immune systems
“Contactless” delivery through our Giant Delivers service

We have made, and will continue to make, countless difficult decisions to adjust our operations and make the shopping environment in our stores as safe as possible. From our perspective, none of our decisions have been perfect, but at the heart of every decision was our desire to do our best for our associates, our customers, and the communities we serve.

We hope that you enjoy the time spent with your families this week and that you are able to find joy, peace, and gratitude in the moments you can share.

Ira Kress,
Interim President, Giant Food"

Most of this should be permanent.

While I agree with these temporary measures, I disagree with making them permanent (e.g, beyond a COVID-19 vaccine). Eventually, new pathogens would emerge that would render these protective measures useless. Then what?

We'd have a healthier food supply if stores did basics like cleaning carts, cleaning the stores more and workers using gloves. It amazes me that some restaurants are spewing about increasing cleanings and other things when they should have been doing it all along. Many we could cut down on colds and the flu if people were more considerate and careful as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should shut down the grocery stores and only take orders online
Have the workers in the store gather up the groceries and bag them
Someone take them to the car

Or, each grocery store should do a 10 person limit

Ffs. I can think of a handful of folks right now that can't order food online. I already shop for one of them. Doesn't even have a smartphone much less home internet. Let's think things through a bit more before posting.


Still waiting for the STAY HOME!!! geniuses who somehow found even this thread to explain how that applies even to food/groceries, btw.

It's been suggested elsewhere on this site. The government could simply deliver everyone some rice and beans once a week.

You are delusional.

1. Do you really think the front line essential personnel (police, fire, hospital staff, etc.) will be able to perform after weeks (or even days) of nothing but beans and rice?

2. The people will not stand for an indefinite future of nothing but beans and rice while grocery stores (and other people's homes) are still stocked with food. This would be a sure bet to ignite riots and looting.

I'm sure they can "perform" just fine on a diet that many of the world already subsists on.

It's telling that you write about what you're sure "they" can do -- vs "we". Let them eat beans is your covid-19 version of let them eat cake?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should shut down the grocery stores and only take orders online
Have the workers in the store gather up the groceries and bag them
Someone take them to the car

Or, each grocery store should do a 10 person limit

Ffs. I can think of a handful of folks right now that can't order food online. I already shop for one of them. Doesn't even have a smartphone much less home internet. Let's think things through a bit more before posting.


Still waiting for the STAY HOME!!! geniuses who somehow found even this thread to explain how that applies even to food/groceries, btw.

It's been suggested elsewhere on this site. The government could simply deliver everyone some rice and beans once a week.

You are delusional.

1. Do you really think the front line essential personnel (police, fire, hospital staff, etc.) will be able to perform after weeks (or even days) of nothing but beans and rice?

2. The people will not stand for an indefinite future of nothing but beans and rice while grocery stores (and other people's homes) are still stocked with food. This would be a sure bet to ignite riots and looting.

I'm sure they can "perform" just fine on a diet that many of the world already subsists on.

It's telling that you write about what you're sure "they" can do -- vs "we". Let them eat beans is your covid-19 version of let them eat cake?

"They" was in response to statement #1. I am not police/fire/hospital staff so yes, "they". It would have been inappropriate and weird to use "we".

It's telling alright, of your poor reading comprehension skills. Better luck next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should shut down the grocery stores and only take orders online
Have the workers in the store gather up the groceries and bag them
Someone take them to the car

Or, each grocery store should do a 10 person limit

Ffs. I can think of a handful of folks right now that can't order food online. I already shop for one of them. Doesn't even have a smartphone much less home internet. Let's think things through a bit more before posting.


Still waiting for the STAY HOME!!! geniuses who somehow found even this thread to explain how that applies even to food/groceries, btw.

It's been suggested elsewhere on this site. The government could simply deliver everyone some rice and beans once a week.

You are delusional.

1. Do you really think the front line essential personnel (police, fire, hospital staff, etc.) will be able to perform after weeks (or even days) of nothing but beans and rice?

2. The people will not stand for an indefinite future of nothing but beans and rice while grocery stores (and other people's homes) are still stocked with food. This would be a sure bet to ignite riots and looting.

I'm sure they can "perform" just fine on a diet that many of the world already subsists on.

Why don't you start eating rice and beans for 3 meals a day/no snacks for 3 weeks and let us know how it goes?

[Anonymous]

The Go Fund Me for 27 year old Giant employee who died from COVID-19:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/leilani-jordan-butterfly-covi19-survival