Throughout this past year with this devastating pandemic, many people have been able to work from home. But essential workers, which, in addition to healthcare workers, also include grocery store workers who risk their health and safety to make a living. According to LA Times, “[supermarket] employees are working long hours, risking infection and battling exhaustion to do their jobs.”
According to Science Daily, a study in the Boston Medical Journal observed the rates at which workers in a grocery store in Boston, Massachusetts, tested positive for COVID-19 and whether or not they displayed symptoms. They found that “One in five (21 out of 104) workers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, indicating a prevalence of 20% at that point in time. This was significantly higher than the prevalence of the infection in the local community at the time: 0.9-1.3%.” Shockingly, however, “three out of four of those testing positive (76%) had no symptoms. And of those testing positive, most (91%) had a customer facing role.”
Not only does work endanger grocery store workers, but it also takes a toll on their mental health. An article by CNN found that “nearly a quarter of the people in customer service jobs said they had problems with anxiety and depression compared to 8% of workers who did not have to interact with customers.”
Many people feel that stores don’t take enough precaution to ensure safety for their workers. According to an article from Spectrum News 1, Francis Robateau, an overnight manager at a grocery store in Lancaster, California, believes that the grocery store he works at did not take adequate safety precautions, leading to him catching the virus. Furthermore, “five grocery stores in Los Angeles owned by Ralphs and Food 4 Less were cited for failing to protecting their employees from COVID-19” because “the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health found Ralphs failed to properly notify the state when two workers at two stores died from COVID-19. Also, state officials found at Food 4 Less that employees could not maintain a safe physical distance from customers.”
Lack of safety protocols in grocery stores is a silent issue that has harmed both workers, their families, and the general public. In some stores, there simply are not enough protective measures in place to ensure safety. As long as grocery stores work towards taking the necessary safety precautions, there will be less danger of spread of COVID-19.
Written by Keya Mann
Edited by Lucy Ge
Graphics by Karis Kelly
Group advised by Sadia Akbar
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