19 Things You Absolutely Must Stop Doing To Grocery Store Employees In The Age Of Coronavirus

[babylonsister]

19 Things You Absolutely Must Stop Doing To Grocery Store Employees In The Age Of Coronavirus

https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephenlaconte/coronavirus-grocery-store-employee-tips-safety-pandemic?utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=bffbbuzzfeedfood&ref=bffbbuzzfeedfood&fbclid=IwAR06Lz1YcOr2qUiDTErhwaQ26cxjbNVcvZxjYyYh2AUI2nK4Zp_zeFJitro

[Sherman A1]

1. K&R

[lunasun]

2. +Don't forget that P.S. part folks . Their work is of value to society

[calimary]

13. Yes. And a smile, a kind word, a "thank you!" are good ideas too.

Even if you're wearing a mask in public. They might not see your mouth smile, but they'll see it in your eyes.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. K & R

[BeckyDem]

4. Love this! So useful so I hope more read it. I like the taped off markers on the floor. K&R

[cwydro]

5. Good read, thanks.

Rec.

[MANative]

6. A very dear young friend is the Front End Manager of our preferred local grocery store

Based on our phone calls and text exchanges, I know he would absolutely appreciate these suggestions.

He has been a frequent guest in our home and is one of the young professionals whom I mentor. Since hubby and I have been quarantined (exposure to COVID-positive people for both of us - on day 12 and doing fine so far), he's been so kind that he actually did our shopping for us personally and delivered the groceries to our door. The son we never had. (((Stephen)))

[calimary]

14. Awwwwwww...

Virtual hugs!

[MANative]

15. Exactly!

It'll be nice to share a real one in a few months. Until then, sign language through the window!!

Here's a big virtual one for you, too!!

[Hugin]

7. As far as #11 & #12.

Just quietly tent your finger with a sanitary wipe to press any necessary buttons and then use the same wipe to hold the stylus.

Simple.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. That'll Work Just Fine

Or use a wipe and just have cover your fingertips.
That said, I don't believe the part about some disinfectants damaging the machines.
The I&I products used by the store are likely stronger than household brands. (Except perhaps cleaners that actually have bleach in the. Still, I doubt it)
But since there are equally simple ways to avoid touching the keys, we should do that.

[forgotmylogin]

18. That's what I do.

I keep wipes in my car. I take one in to disinfect the cart or basket handle, and keep it in my pocket to touch any handles or the keypad or the stylus.

[Hugin]

37. +1

[Phoenix61]

8. All good stuff and a heart felt thank you. nt

[Takket]

10. All excellent points!

[gademocrat7]

11. K&R!

Very good advice.

[IronLionZion]

12. I'm holding off on going to the grocery store as a long as I can

it's the worst place to go these days. And people have been robbed coming out.

I empathize with the workers as I used to be one. It's harder and more stressful than it looks, because some customers are complete assholes.

[kentuck]

16. Take dollar bills and change to store with you..

So you can pay with correct amount, without carrying out money that might have just gone into the cash drawer, that might be contaminated.

[forkol]

19. My local fast food place

Has stopped taking cash, and will only do credit/debit. So, I've gone to that pretty much. I wipe down my card before and after using it.

[MarianJack]

17. Good common sense article.

RESIST

[Chiyo-chichi]

20. "Don't touch stuff you don't intend to buy."

I second this.
I recently say a guy in the grocery store pick up a tin of some sort of grooming product, open it, STICK HIS FINGER IN IT, and, deciding it wasn't to his liking, close it and put it back on the shelf!
I had no intention of buying the beard balm or whatever he was pawing, but still... one should not do this under normal circumstances, much less in the time of coronavirus!!

[C_U_L8R]

27. It's challenging with some fruits and veggies

I examined the pile of sweet potatoes and eyed the ones I wanted to take. All good until I grabbed one and it was broken up on the flip side so I didn't know what to do. Didn't want to buy it, felt awkward putting it back. Same with avocados. You used to need to give em a gentle touch to make sure they're firm.

[Chiyo-chichi]

29. That's a fair point.

[3catwoman3]

31. Perhaps put your hand into one of the produce bags...

...and feel the avocados, peppers, etc thru the bag?

[C_U_L8R]

33. Good idea! I'll do that.

[Coventina]

34. Yeah, sorry (not sorry) but I'm still going to inspect the produce.

I'm not going to buy a half-rotten apple because the bad side was turned away from me.

[MiniMe]

42. My housemate went to the store yesterday

Fruit was on her list, but when she got into the store she watched a bunch of women handling all the fruit, sniffing it, and picking up almost every piece. She decided to not get fruit yesterday. Not sure how you get around that other than having a dishpan of soapy water standing by and putting every piece of fruit into the water and wash the fruit well before ingesting.

[C_U_L8R]

43. We wash em as soon as we get home.

From door to sink. Sudsy bath and a rinse then set aside to dry. It's actually pretty quick and easy. I hope it becomes a habit post-virus.

[crickets]

21. Thanks for posting an excellent article!

Trimmed the link:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephenlaconte/coronavirus-grocery-store-employee-tips-safety-pandemic

And thanks to all of the people involved in making sure we still have groceries, as well as functioning grocery stores. Thank you!

[SheltieLover]

22. K&R

[StClone]

23. Working in the Industry for almost 20 years, I tend to agree

But have some alternate thinking on these:

8. Don't tell employees how "lucky" they are to work. This is no big deal. I would rather be at work, and the risk is lessened with many wearing masks, gloves, sanitizing like crazy and distancing. What I don't want to hear is "thanks" for all our hard work. We work hard all the time and it sort of sets us off for you just realizing we are working. Well maybe that's a little rough but it's mostly true.


10. And don't ask them to "check in the back" for out-of-stock items, either. YES! Ask to check in the back! We are getting more shipments and often don't even realize we have run out on the shelf when in fact it has arrived in receiving. Stores are actually slowing down. My store sales are over a million dollars a week, but sales are declining and we are glad for the change to take a walk to the back. At least, I am.

11. Don't complain to your cashier about having to touch the keypad to complete your transaction. Sanitize away, anything anytime, we really encourage it for your self and the well-being of others.

[Codeine]

24. Ah Buzzfeed; even a global pandemic is just clickbait fodder for you. nt

[sarge43]

25. Before you get cranky and all wound up, ask yourself ...

"Would I want to be behind this counter?"

On the best days, cashier is not the most fun filled job available. These are not the best days.

Be kind, be polite.

[DenverJared]

26. Great article

I'm going to post it in other groups I belong to

[LisaM]

28. I went on Sunday and people were fine.

Two of us went together, but we split up our list and met at the end, and only one of us stood on the checkout line. This reduced our time in the store.

[Initech]

30. In other words, don't be a dick. Got it.

[TomSlick]

39. That's the abridgement for which I was looking.

I would say don't be a putz but the same idea.

[Initech]

40. That should just be a general rule of society.

Even moreso in this new virus-stricken pandemic society in which we are living.

[TomSlick]

41. Absodamnlutely!

It's both harder and more important in stressful times.

[barbtries]

32. thank you

that's my son!
love the picture of the person stocking shelves with a sign on their back saying "Yes we're out!"

it's remarkable and kinda sad that i never valued his work so much until this pandemic happened. His work as it turns out is vital. He's my new hero.

[Moostache]

35. I find myself very torn at the moment...

I have been very much opposed to using the self-checkout lanes in my area...in part because it takes jobs away from people and is just another way for owners to profit without paying full freight on their businesses - in my opinion. I do not collect a check from the store, nor did I receive any incentivizing discount to check my own purchases, so until this week, I refused to use those lanes on general principle.

HOWEVER...I was relieved to have the option on my last visit just so I could know there was no one next to me in line, no one I might be infecting or might be infecting me and I was not putting any added stress on the workers in a time of really constant stress.

I now find it unbelievable that stores are placing employees at the door to check receipts - thus forcing an employee into close proximity to the customers...profits over people...I hate it.

[mdbl]

36. great article

The are all good but my favorite is "dont touch want you are not going to buy" I saw a lot of that last time I was at the store about 2 weeks ago.

[Skittles]

38. I do none of these things

I have had store employees tell me they miss seeing me in the middle of the night, though.