Okay, so for starters, we are getting paid pretty well right now. We're currently getting an additional $5 per hour, which totals over $20 per hour from the original $15 per hour. Not bad for retail grocery really. The problem is that it will only last for three months. But there's been rumors from other grocery store workers [within and without our union] that somehow the union will prolong the additional pay period. I'm skeptical but hoping it will happen. You never know. This pandemic isn't going to end soon so it makes sense for the workers to think this way.
In the beginning of the pandemic my pay was so low and I was getting such low hours that I qualified for EBT. However, at this current juncture, I've somehow made too much money, and my EBT has been cancelled. Bummer. But it's good to be making great paychecks.
In addition, because of the increased $5 pay, management and upper management have decided to lower hours of all employees significantly in addition to our company closing stores in Long Beach and LA. This has affected most of the staff that doesn't work on the front end the worst. However, because I know how to operate a register, I've somehow been getting increased hours. It pays to want to cashier and be good at it and have a good attitude.
The front end is the worst affected department out of all at this current stage of the pandemic. That department, the online delivery department, and the deli as well. Many people have quit the deli department so they're always short staffed. It's a very disorganized department. Every night there's only a few people to help our many many customers on the front end. When I left tonight there were only four people that were working the afternoon to night shift. That's hardly enough. Customers were unruly, they were getting aggressive and they complained like there was no tomorrow. It was a bad scene man. Even when I helped the customers a lot of them were still super aggressive towards me. It is what it is.
The online delivery pick up department has been the second worst affected department. The manager works the 6 am shift and then he has one other person come in at 1 30 pm, and another employee comes in around 3 or 4, and that's it. That's a hardcore breakdown of hours and staff. In the beginning of the pandemic that was the most desired department because the employees didn't want to operate registers so it's easy non-comital work and you shop for other customers who order things online and bag it and bring out the bags to the customers' car, its the easiest job in the entire operation. You don't have to deal with customers too much first hand. It's a shame that the department has ended up so short handed so recently. I would've liked to see it stay a big department. It was doing so well until they cut hours and everybody quit and/or went to other departments. Not to mention staff reducing the staff's hours to about 20 per week. C'est la vie.
Our store director gave the employees an incentive to get the Johnson and Johnson vaccine through our store. The deal is that you get the vaccine and you show the store director your vaccine card and you get an additional $100 on your paycheck. It's a great incentive. But because it hasn't been advertised at all not many employees have taken up the great opportunity. Consequently most of the employees are still working without having been vaccinated. A lot of them come from Hispanic backgrounds and may be fearful of vaccines because they are scared of the side affects and missing days of work if they get severe side affects. Honestly I can't blame them but the way upper management is doing it is wrong headed, meaning they aren't advertising vaccination at all, meaning most of them aren't going to get vaccinated, meaning some of them are still getting COVID and potentially spreading it to other employees and/or customers! Not good. A few people have caught COVID recently. That hasn't stopped.
It's been pretty stressful. Most of the staff are tired, exhausted. Most of them have their hours cut. Honestly, I might be one of the few people who's hours somehow went up at this current stage. I even asked around to see what kind of hours my coworkers were getting and most of them were getting pretty low hours, something like 24 hours, or more, but barely more, maybe 28, if even.
I would say this is a pretty bad time for the store. The front end department [cashiers/baggers/combo clerks] are getting overworked with not enough help at nearly every shift, be it morning, day, or night. Supposedly the pandemic is getting better, but anyone who's actually intelligent knows that this pandemic won't go away soon. It'll get worse before it gets better. This summer is going to hit hard with COVID. Anyone with a brain knows that. If you're reading this pray for all grocery store employees. Tip anyone who helps you out to your car. Don't be a whiner and complainer. Be a mensch. Do some mitzvahs for them.
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