ALBANY— At the start of the pandemic many grocery store workers received a two-dollar per hour pay increase, but that extra pay ended in July. For many workers it isn't coming back, even as infections surge in the Capital Region higher than they did in April.
“This second wave is worse than what it was the first time, yet employers that are seeing record profit don’t want to put that back into the hands of the employees that are risking their lives every day,” said Frank DeRiso, the president of United Food and Commercial Workers Union’s local district one.
Trader Joe’s is one of the only grocery stores in the Capital Region that is keeping their “thank you pay” until at least the end of March of next year. Shoprite is providing employees with retroactive hazard pay ahead of the holidays, which covers hours worked between July 26 and Aug. 22. Whole Foods and Walmart employees will receive a pandemic bonus. Price Chopper, Hannaford, and Tops are not bringing back the pay increase they had earlier this year, at least not yet.
"As an essential business that is relied upon to sustain the customer-facing side of the supply chain, we’ve prioritized creating a safe environment for our teammates, customers and trade partners by way of substantial new safety and sanitation equipment and protocols," said Mona Golub, vice president of public relations for Price Chopper/Market 32. "We continue to invest in best practices as they evolve along with guidelines and mandates, and to extend various rewards and benefits to our teammates, along the way."
"The feedback we’ve gotten confirms that our teammates, who take pride in the essential role they play, appreciate our efforts to keep them safe," Golub added.
"We did, early in the pandemic, temporarily offer appreciation pay to retail associates as a “thank you” for their commitment and hard work, at a time when many other businesses were closed," said Ericka Dodge, external communications manager at Hannaford."Today, with most other businesses operating, we are committed to offering competitive pay and benefits, by constantly evaluating compensation levels within our business and across the market."
Walmart and Whole Foods employees will receive the same amount for their bonus: $300 for full-time employees and $150 for part-time employees.
“As we come to a close on this historic year, I’m filled with gratitude for how our associates have led through one of the most trying periods for our company and country,” said John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart U.S., in a statement released Friday. “Our associates have stepped up to serve our customers, communities and each other when it was truly needed most..."
Some others also say the pay supplement is justified.
“The hazard has not gone away. It is not any different than it was back in May. The pay should still be coming in,” said Michelle Maloney, who is a manager at Tops Supermarket, which has locations in Greenville, Coxsackie, and Hoosick Falls, as well as Bolton Landing, Warrensburg and Chestertown. “It almost makes you feel disposable.”
Some grocery store workers who are a part of the UFCW union say they are also concerned with Covid-19 safety precautions not being enforced in stores.
“It has gotten a little bit lax,” DeRiso said. “I’m not accusing any of these stores of not trying to do their best, but I believe that no matter what they do they could always be doing more.”
Maloney said some of her part-time employees decided to leave the job at the start of the pandemic because they didn’t want to take the risk of being exposed to coronavirus while working in the store.
“It’s stressful, it’s trying, it’s frustrating,” Maloney said. “Why are we letting customers in that don’t wear their masks or don’t wear them accordingly?”
Grocery stores being such large indoor spaces is one reason it is hard to enforce social distancing procedures at all times, said Ron Stratton, the store manager of Shoprite located on Central Avenue. Not all customers walk in and respectfully follow all the procedures the store has in place, he said.
“We don’t have the power to say you have to have a mask on,” Stratton said. “What I can say to most of my customers is stay six feet away, the store is big enough to do that.”
“If a person has a medical condition, I’m not in a position to qualify or disqualify if that person does or not,” Stratton said about mask wearing enforcement. “Unfortunately, other customers don't know that so when they see a customer without a mask it is an immediate management police (issue). I’m not going to police anyone.”
Stratton stressed that his job is to make sure all of his employees wash their hands, wipe down everything on check out conveyor belts, make sure maintenance staff is cleaning all around the store, and make sure all employees are wearing masks.
“I think we do a very good job, but not everyone feels that way,” Stratton said. “In a panic state of mind, nothing is going to be good enough.”
Some grocery store workers also stressed that they don’t feel appreciated the same way people in hospitals are appreciated during the pandemic, and many said they will be keeping their job no matter if hazard pay comes back or not because they need the income.
“No one is recognizing the hazards that we deal with catering to humanity every single day,” Stratton said. “I think people who work in retail need to be looked at differently... No one comes in and says I appreciate you all. It’s just 'I need this and need it now.'”
claire.bryan@timesunion.com
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Grocery store employees want hazard pay back, but not all employers deliver - Times Union
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