'If you're sick, they don't care' (re retail workers)

[KY_EnviroGuy]

I can't imagine working at a cash register of any kind with people coughing in my face and handling their money and cart goods all day long during this virus pandemic. I would be morbid with fear no matter the wage.

Article on The Guardian UK today:

‘If you’re sick, they don’t care’: pandemic forces fast-food industry to review its policies
With only 15% of food workers guaranteed paid sick leave, employees are reluctant to take time off for illness

Read here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/12/if-youre-sick-they-dont-care-pandemic-forces-food-service-to-review-its-policies

(snips)

This brushing off of illness is common in many places within the food service and restaurant industry and has been for many years. But with the recent coronavirus outbreak, being sick is no longer something people can shrug off given the illness’s ability to spread rapidly and efficiently.

The culture around sick leave in the food service industry is that it is nearly nonexistent. The CDC says that 15% of food workers have paid sick leave. That means a bulk of people in the industry are part of the 32 million American workers who are without paid sick leave.

Poor sick leave policies are an “industry standard” in food service, particularly fast food, said Judy Conti, government affairs director for the National Employment Law Center. The US does not have a federal sick leave policy, with 12 states and Washington DC having paid sick leave laws. “Workers are getting low wage to begin with, so it’s really disadvantageous for them to take time off from work because they won’t get paid,” Conti said.

Let's all be extra compassionate to those who serve us during this horrible time, perhaps tipping even when we normally wouldn't demonstrate our appreciation beyond a "thank you".

KY........ ..........

[True Blue American]

1. For Grocery Clerks

It is worse. Seeing the panic buying yesterday reminded me of the Holiday Season where everyone goes crazy they will not get that bargain that stores are trying to unload. Older models ,last years clothing,etc.

[dewsgirl]

5. I think it's even worse...I had to park in Sam's parking lot,

there were no free carts anywhere. It was actually kind of scary.
It reminded me of hurricane shopping on steroids, I have never seen anything like it. This afternoon they were out of a few things, in about 5 hours things changed dramatically.

[Sherman A1]

7. I worked Grocery for over 4 decades before retiring

and I can absolutely assure you that we were considered expendable by the company. "Get your backside to work and get the stock on the shelf" was the only consideration. Taking a sick day, no matter how obvious it was that you were really sick was a week long guilt trip.

I have talked with former co-workers who are not only frightened of contracting the virus themselves from customers but of customer behavior. I suggested to one that she keep several canned goods nearby in her work cart to use as a defensive tools (we were always picking up strays around the store that customers left about) and to be sure her box cutter is in her pocket with fresh blades. The shoplifters have been getting bolder and bolder recently anyway to the point that they have threatened the employees on more than one occasion, this will only make matters more difficult.

[True Blue American]

10. The last time

Volunteered at the polls we had 20 Diebold machines and 4 Memory Cards. We had 2 lines, one to register, the second unhappy people waiting on cards. That was on off year.

It is much better now,if you are computer literate!

[SWBTATTReg]

2. And I suspect that sick workers making contaminated meals that make customers sick as a ...

result would force the industry to pay sick leave for their ill workers. If they can't keep workers, they go out of business. Good thought on thinking of all of those on the retail side of all businesses that have to face the public every single day. Think of them, tip them, be compassionate too, for they probably don't want to be on the front lines anymore than you do.

Dealing with the public on daily basis is not easy, as my other half will attest to readily (and I'm sure tons of others will do so here on DU).

[KY_EnviroGuy]

3. Yes, and I feel DU is one of the most compassionate places on the web.

Fast-food and quick stops seem the most vulnerable. It may come to a point where they can operate with drive-through only so they can control contamination of their products and limit exposure of the employees.

As you said, if it gets bad enough, they will have no one left to open the doors. Because of the high rate of customer flow, quick-stops may be the worst. If they can't get help, gasoline availability could be limited.

Hell, maybe DUers should be running Homeland Security.....

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Heck, I think you're right, being some of the screw ups that rump and his dogs have caused on the...

border and other localities (Homeland S.)...Be safe in the days to come!

[Scarsdale]

14. None of us would pass the test

for any job in the tRump administration. Must be incompetant, and swear loyalty to the big orange ass. No way could I ever do that.

[Luz]

6. I work as a janitor. I pass by every person in my building

every office and cubicle. My worry is catching it from one person then being typhoid mary to the whole lot.
PS..I have no sick time, no vacation time and IF I called in sick would likely lose my job. And I'm over 60.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

8. I hope you're allowed to do your work safely.

Wearing gloves and a mask may help but no guarantees. Keeping a distance from people and not touching our eyes, nose and mouth is a challenge. Your employer should help with those safety items.

My son-in-law is in the same situation working as a janitor and maintenance in a church, my daughter (his wife) is a public school teacher and their daughter (my only grandchild) is in public school. So, I'm very concerned about them. Thank goodness school is out for a while.

Work safe and best of luck to you!......

[Sherman A1]

12. As previously mentioned

Do your best to stay safe and best of luck to you. I do light maintenance and janitorial work as a volunteer at a local historic house and while the traffic is very light I understand your situation.

[Luz]

20. Thanks. I want to remind ppl how dirty office bldgs really

are. Janitorial can only do so much, and i fear its way to little. Hand washing is lax from what I see.

[pat_k]

9. Do we dare hope this crisis brings some permanent, positive changes?

People are talking about their experiences, and those experiences are getting press -- for a change.

Like the fact that many restaurants -- both small businesses and franchises in bigger chains -- don't "allow" you call in sick if you haven't, personally, found someone to cover your shift. Can't find someone to cover? You show up and work sick, or risk losing your job.

Maybe if people get it into their heads that they have long been supporting an industry that motivates people who are ill to keep preparing and serving food until they are physically unable to, they will recognize it's a worth a few more dollars to support a system that pays people to stay home when they are ill.

I don't know how keen patrons will be to support businesses that put customers at risk. Not only in times of crisis. This isn't just a problem in an outbreak of a "novel" virus. The fact that workers are pressed into work when they are ill with who knows what, is a public heath threat throughout the year, every year.

At a minimum, perhaps we will come out of this with paid sick leave across all industries and all types of workers ("gig," temporary, or part time). Public health demands it.

[Sherman A1]

11. The old saying about every cloud having a silver lining

I hope that this storm cloud will have many, many silver linings that are of benefit to those who survive it’s passing.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

13. Unregulated capitalism doing its nasty work.

When our fast-food company primary motives are profits and their hamburger being competitively priced against the joints down the street, that's the result we get.

The drive for fair minimum wage is great but what about.....

* fair minimum job security,
* fair minimum job workplace safety and health protections,
* fair minimum healthcare provisions, and...
* fair minimum non-discrimination rules.

I feel the majority of Americans would be willing to pay more for their meal in a sack if all those provisions were executed. In fact, if most Americans could just see what goes on behind the scenes with these chain restaurants, they might even insist on it.

As you said, this disaster may well result in some improvements along those lines. But considering our experience with Wall Street and the GOP, I won't bet the farm on it.

KY......

[Scarsdale]

15. I just realized

a silver lining in this. tRump eats fast food daily. Gee, I hope nobody at the places where he orders his food gets sick. I have a theory that the spray tan, or makeup he slathers on must kill any virus that comes within 5 feet of his lardass.

[pat_k]

16. You're tapping into...

...the type of evil that has visited me.

I hope our collective hearts are better than the ill will that has been coming up for me.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13092479

[KY_EnviroGuy]

17. From what we're hearing, if anything the worst danger may be....

One of Trump's minions carrying the virus TO a fast food place in D.C. or Florida.....

As someone said: "Everything Donald Trump touches dies."

[SWBTATTReg]

22. So far, four of rump's minions have tested positive for the CV (3 were at his place at ...

Maga a Losers in FL).

[KY_EnviroGuy]

23. Wow, had not heard that one. The list grows and grows.

Here's another new potential exposure....

Link to tweet

I guess they all thought their political power made them immune!.....

Narcissistic assholes, every single one.

KY........

[SWBTATTReg]

24. YES! to your statement: Narcissistic assholes, every single one.

A short, yet concise, right on the nail head, statement!

Be safe.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. There will be changes only if we push for them.

[Shell_Seas]

18. American capitalism can't handle the coronovirus

[hatrack]

21. I waited tables full time all the way through college . . . .

Sick days? Puh-leeze.