Grocery Work and the Coronavirus

[ooky]

11. So I have had a thought about the grocery industry and would like to know what you think about it.

First, let me say I totally empathize with your situation. I also worry about my adult children who have jobs that expose themselves daily to this virus. They are also essential workers who aren't fairly recognized, not so much in the community who I believe very much appreciates their skills, but more by their employers and industry, who need to do much more in terms of the compensation and commitment to their employees well being.

So my thought falls along the lines that many businesses are going to have to adjust their business models to be more thoughtful and consistent with our new realities. With respect to the grocery stores, I wonder if a change from the current "come in the store" model should (could?) be changed to "deliver to the parking lot" model. It would involve a re-deployment of resources from the checkout line to pulling orders and delivering the orders outside. It would be fully order and pay on-line, although I realize there are still a few customers who would have to adjust to that. But, most of the public I believe could do that now if needed.

I would think this would be safer for everyone, store employees and customers, as it would eliminate customers who are potentially infected from walking in and out of the store all day. I know there are stores doing curbside now, but is very limited in the volume they can handle, making it difficult for customers competing for available time slots for their pick ups. My question is what is your opinion (as an industry veteran) of that as an idea. Is it even viable?