Supermaket worker. Coronavirus perspective
Discussion
To complement Seanrof’s Supermarket delivery driver thread, this one is from my perspective of working in a supermarket as a temp during the pandemic.
After 30+ years in IT I hadn’t been working this year, but that’s another story.
I was open to trying a new direction. Cue COVID-19 and a major supermarket advertising for temporary roles. I thought it a good opportunity to help out. I applied online on the Thursday evening, got a phone call Friday afternoon, attended an interview Saturday morning, was made an offer on Saturday evening for a role to start on Monday morning!
There was small hiccup as I developed that “new and persistent cough” over the same weekend but I started a week later.
After the briefest of inductions (needs must, so that’s not a criticism) everyone got a quick demo of operating the tills and got a spell doing it. It’s not something I imagined I’d ever do, but it was a novelty and I rather enjoyed it. You need to be fast at that game so I’ve a new-found respect for check-out operators.
It was clear a large number of other temporary staff were already in place and doing all variety of roles. I’m sure it was all a challenge for the existing staff too as they didn’t know how the pandemic was going to impact their own life and work, how many colleagues might take absent, or how to make best use of the intake of temps.
After a few days of various tasks they gave me a try-out walking the store assessing the number of people and reporting back via walkie-talkie so the front door temp could safely manage the numbers in store. It took a couple of days but we found how to keep the balance between giving customers enough space and keeping the queues outside moving. They kept a few of us on the Social Distancing Team. Our wee team drawn from people from all walks of life worked together so well. There are so many variables to consider : fast moving order pickers, slow-moving elderly during priority hours; Easter egg shopping followed by Easter egg sale; a clothing sale; disruptive customers; people seeing a friend and standing around for a chat. I know you might read that and think “Meh, you were only working in a supermarket”, but it became a great big strategy game to me.
Temps started getting released after a few weeks as I assume fewer existing staff fell absent than was first expected. Some took transfers to other stores. Many were transferred to picking customer online orders. Online orders have been DOUBLED since the pandemic started. To reduce personal shoppers from impacting in-store customers most of them now start at 4am or even earlier. Even then, they can get in the way of the army of shelf-stackers who replenish the shelves overnight. Remember that if you want to complain about them getting in your way.
I was there for 2 months and my own run came to an end, but it was a great experience. I met some great people, especially so many temps who took the approach of being there to do whatever was needed. Most of them were students and I’m impressed that so many kids knuckled down and got on with the tasks they were given. I enjoyed the public too. A few were selfish and arrogant, but only made fools of themselves. I’ve seen a 17 year old girl doing a great job reduced to tears because a grown man was abusive to her. A few barged around like social-distancing wasn’t a thing. Others took care and were extremely nervous about coming too close to others. Even more were appreciative and complimentary. Some left us gifts and cards with good wishes.
There have always been good people and arrogant, entitled people. COVID-19 made them more obvious
[Apologies for thread title typo which I don't see how to correct]
After 30+ years in IT I hadn’t been working this year, but that’s another story.
I was open to trying a new direction. Cue COVID-19 and a major supermarket advertising for temporary roles. I thought it a good opportunity to help out. I applied online on the Thursday evening, got a phone call Friday afternoon, attended an interview Saturday morning, was made an offer on Saturday evening for a role to start on Monday morning!
There was small hiccup as I developed that “new and persistent cough” over the same weekend but I started a week later.
After the briefest of inductions (needs must, so that’s not a criticism) everyone got a quick demo of operating the tills and got a spell doing it. It’s not something I imagined I’d ever do, but it was a novelty and I rather enjoyed it. You need to be fast at that game so I’ve a new-found respect for check-out operators.
It was clear a large number of other temporary staff were already in place and doing all variety of roles. I’m sure it was all a challenge for the existing staff too as they didn’t know how the pandemic was going to impact their own life and work, how many colleagues might take absent, or how to make best use of the intake of temps.
After a few days of various tasks they gave me a try-out walking the store assessing the number of people and reporting back via walkie-talkie so the front door temp could safely manage the numbers in store. It took a couple of days but we found how to keep the balance between giving customers enough space and keeping the queues outside moving. They kept a few of us on the Social Distancing Team. Our wee team drawn from people from all walks of life worked together so well. There are so many variables to consider : fast moving order pickers, slow-moving elderly during priority hours; Easter egg shopping followed by Easter egg sale; a clothing sale; disruptive customers; people seeing a friend and standing around for a chat. I know you might read that and think “Meh, you were only working in a supermarket”, but it became a great big strategy game to me.
Temps started getting released after a few weeks as I assume fewer existing staff fell absent than was first expected. Some took transfers to other stores. Many were transferred to picking customer online orders. Online orders have been DOUBLED since the pandemic started. To reduce personal shoppers from impacting in-store customers most of them now start at 4am or even earlier. Even then, they can get in the way of the army of shelf-stackers who replenish the shelves overnight. Remember that if you want to complain about them getting in your way.
I was there for 2 months and my own run came to an end, but it was a great experience. I met some great people, especially so many temps who took the approach of being there to do whatever was needed. Most of them were students and I’m impressed that so many kids knuckled down and got on with the tasks they were given. I enjoyed the public too. A few were selfish and arrogant, but only made fools of themselves. I’ve seen a 17 year old girl doing a great job reduced to tears because a grown man was abusive to her. A few barged around like social-distancing wasn’t a thing. Others took care and were extremely nervous about coming too close to others. Even more were appreciative and complimentary. Some left us gifts and cards with good wishes.
There have always been good people and arrogant, entitled people. COVID-19 made them more obvious
[Apologies for thread title typo which I don't see how to correct]
Edited by DWDarkWheels on Tuesday 23 June 18:39
The influx of new/temporary staff in my local supermarket seem to be made up entirely of attractive teenage girls who all seem to be in competition with each other over who can wear the tightest black leggings.
It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
Interesting, I think supermarket workers have been one of the more underestimated groups during this whole saga, especially during the initial stages; extremely high exposure to the public, minimal ppe coupled with what I guess are less than stellar wages. It will be interesting to see if their infection/mortality rates are higher than average. I wonder if they will be rewarded with redundancy as people stick with the self scan readers that they have been urged to use.
steveo3002 said:
did any co workers catch covid ?
Not that I'm aware of in our store or within our area, not that I'd be best placed to hear of it. It appears to me many temps were taken on in anticipation of existing staff developing symptoms, that luckily didn't happen, or self-shielding due to pre-existing conditions of their own or their immediate family.
Edited by DWDarkWheels on Tuesday 23 June 19:31
A colleague at my other half’s store passed away from Covid. However he had other health conditions and really shouldn’t have been out delivering shopping but that was his own choice.
She got an extra weeks wage in this months wage as a thank you - only eligible if you weren’t off sick for any of the first 12 weeks
She got an extra weeks wage in this months wage as a thank you - only eligible if you weren’t off sick for any of the first 12 weeks
wolfracesonic said:
Interesting, I think supermarket workers have been one of the more underestimated groups during this whole saga, especially during the initial stages; extremely high exposure to the public, minimal ppe coupled with what I guess are less than stellar wages. It will be interesting to see if their infection/mortality rates are higher than average. I wonder if they will be rewarded with redundancy as people stick with the self scan readers that they have been urged to use.
Looking back to my interview I looked at the number of people in store I wondered if I was wise even being there.When I started, watching people use their entire brain power browsing and none of it on staying distant from others was head-in-my-hands frustrating.
The one-way system made it so much simpler for people to stay distant, and for Social Distancing Team to read what was going on throughout the store.
Quite a lot of temps were offered roles beyond the planned 13-week contract, mainly as order pickers as online ordering is "the way the business is going".
The self-scan thing reduces the need for a check-out person to an extent. However there are still staff to assist at payment time , so it's not entirely hands-off.
Edited by DWDarkWheels on Tuesday 23 June 19:44
Edited by DWDarkWheels on Tuesday 23 June 19:49
mike74 said:
The influx of new/temporary staff in my local supermarket seem to be made up entirely of attractive teenage girls who all seem to be in competition with each other over who can wear the tightest black leggings.
It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
Tesco Aylesbury? It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
BMR said:
A colleague at my other half’s store passed away from Covid. However he had other health conditions and really shouldn’t have been out delivering shopping but that was his own choice.
She got an extra weeks wage in this months wage as a thank you - only eligible if you weren’t off sick for any of the first 12 weeks
It’s hard to know If that’s better or worse than getting nothing, I’d imagine the actual cost and discussion over it ran into the thousands at head office She got an extra weeks wage in this months wage as a thank you - only eligible if you weren’t off sick for any of the first 12 weeks
Well done for stepping up and doing the necessary, both for yourself and for the public in general
My wife's business had to close due to lockdown and she was ineligible for any government support so she went and got a job as a domestic at the local hospital. As she used to work with children and had enhanced CRB (or DRS or whatever it's called nowadays) they put her on paediatric intensive care covering a member of staff who is shielding.
I don't envy the staff working in that environment
My wife's business had to close due to lockdown and she was ineligible for any government support so she went and got a job as a domestic at the local hospital. As she used to work with children and had enhanced CRB (or DRS or whatever it's called nowadays) they put her on paediatric intensive care covering a member of staff who is shielding.
I don't envy the staff working in that environment
mikees said:
mike74 said:
The influx of new/temporary staff in my local supermarket seem to be made up entirely of attractive teenage girls who all seem to be in competition with each other over who can wear the tightest black leggings.
It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
Tesco Aylesbury? It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
singlecoil said:
mikees said:
mike74 said:
The influx of new/temporary staff in my local supermarket seem to be made up entirely of attractive teenage girls who all seem to be in competition with each other over who can wear the tightest black leggings.
It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
Tesco Aylesbury? It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
Hoofy said:
singlecoil said:
mikees said:
mike74 said:
The influx of new/temporary staff in my local supermarket seem to be made up entirely of attractive teenage girls who all seem to be in competition with each other over who can wear the tightest black leggings.
It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
Tesco Aylesbury? It's a big improvement uniform wise over the usual frumpy shapeless trousers that the regular staff wear.
Spare tyre said:
It’s hard to know If that’s better or worse than getting nothing, I’d imagine the actual cost and discussion over it ran into the thousands at head office
Pre lockdown takings were up about 45% on normal so back then they could definitely afford it. As times went on and limits on store numbers the takings are definitely down. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff