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Interviews with

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Morgan Hannah
Life & Style Editor

 

he virus struck around Christmas time. It only intensified during Chinese New Year. It was a full-blown epidemic by Saint Patrick’s Day. Life is
decaying in neighbourhoods all across the world... and it’s hard to say who has been hit the hardest. But we do know that many that are working
their hardest right now are the essential service workers.
In World War I and World War II, it was the soldiers that we tipped our hats to and saluted. In this war against a virus, the front lines are essential
service workers such as healthcare, bus drivers, grocery store workers, bank tellers, car repair, police, and certain construction crews—to name a few.

INTERVIEWS WITH GROCERY WORKERS

“Blush Lane is one of the few essential services, so I’m one of the few
people with job protection, provided | don’t get sick. It’s as chaotic as
the internet makes it out to be. Luckily, our regulars and most people
are good—but there are so many assholes. It’s been a stressful couple
of weeks on all fronts,” said Roxanne Elizabeth, a produce clerk from
Blush Lane Organic Market in the South West of Calgary, Alberta in an
interview with the Other Press.

Getting back to BC, we asked a produce manager at a Maple Ridge
Save on Foods location (who requested his name be omitted) about the
most obvious differences at his grocery store now compared to before
the outbreak. He announced that sales have been doubling, there are
stricter cleaning regimes, and social distancing is a must whenever
possible. He stated that a lot more customers are wearing masks and
gloves, and that they are definitely much more paranoid, resulting in :
frequent panic shopping and hoarding. The top five shopped for items navi
were not surprising; it’s the usual toilet paper, hand sanitizer, paper =
towels, and tissue paper. The sixth though, maybe unknown to some, is
eggs.

Tasked how this produce manager felt about his position nowadays
and whether he felt any different than he did during calmer times, and
his response is this: “I feel the same about the position for the most part,
it’s a lot more stressful mentally and physically. You go home exhausted
and full of aches. I have little ones so it can be even harder at times. I’m
just happy to have a job during this pandemic. Having a mortgage and
family to take care of, I feel lucky I’m still working.”

Job security is certainly valuable in a time like this. When asked r A ries
whether he thought there would be any lasting changes to grocery ae as
stores after the pandemic, this produce manager talked about the strong
safety and health programs that all Save on Foods locations launched.
He did state that he thinks that they will be “even more thorough given
this pandemic and its effects.” I asked him how long he planned on
working for, and whether he had any plans to change careers at any
point—to which he replied: “The company has been good to me, I plan
on working here until J retire. I think we will be working through this
whole pandemic. No self-isolation for me.’

 

AWFUL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES the customer frustrations.’ The common theme at various grocery store locations

A topic that I had to ask for this produce manger’s opinion on—toilet paper nowadays seems to be stress. And, a lot of times, this stress seems unnecessary.
hoarding—earned this response: “It’s crazy how everyone has gotten over toilet paper. I asked how the staff handled tough customers before the pandemic, and

Skids will come in and they are gone within the hour at times. It’s actually sad as it isa apparently there were simple protocols to follow. Things must have changed now,
need for everyone and customers come in saying they have been to so many stores and though? The response to this question was disheartening: “I wish I could say that
have none at home and don't know what to do.’ This didn’t surprise me, as I found customers for the most part have been great—but to be honest, it has shocked me
myself in a similar situation last week—only three roles left and no stores seemingly how they have treated us. Seeing how people deal in these circumstances has left me

stocked up. And I wasn't eager to wake up for the 7am mad dash through a grocery jaded. The rudeness and selfishness can be appalling. But I know workers will not
store for my household quantity either. accept being talked down to as well so that aspect is changing. Before, the customer

When asked to describe a typical day at his was always right. In the end, we are the front line and we are exposed
job, the Save on Foods employee told me how while helping these customers bring food home in this pandemic.’

Al i Ow y M things are typical even during the pandemic. ny | Ow 2 M It seems as though the only thing that can be done is to explain to

“Come in, write an order, and try to predict customers that we are all enduring difficult times together and the

ote staff at Save on Foods, other grocery stores, and other essential services
TS edly ae ne ee era en globally are doing their very best. There isn’t much else to be done or
N h Oo @) p ers says that “it’s just more intensified now.” Healso (Ws a] Oo p p a as said.
says that “there have been so many shorts as
the supply chain can't keep up—we just accept
the holes in departments and try and deal with

 
 
 
  
  
 
  

 
 
 
  
 
  

Lastly, the produce manager wanted me to pass along the
importance of thanking the employees that each of us interacts with the
next time we shop as it can brighten their day.