With the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States rising, food retailers are experiencing dramatic increases in demand for groceries and e-commerce delivery at the same time as interruptions in the supply chain and shortages of products such as hand sanitizer and toilet paper.
To deal with the crisis, grocers are also having to balance an increased demand for workers with the needs of employees who may need to take time off because they (or loved ones) are sick. And retailers will likely be in this situation for months as the outbreak drags on.
The White House and congressional leaders are working on an economic stimulus package that may provide paid sick leave to workers affected by the virus. In the meantime, food retailers such as Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, H-E-B, Walmart, Amazon and others are retooling their policies to help employees (and customers) reeling from the coronavirus crisis.
Here’s a look at what major food retailers and other related companies are doing for now: KROGER is “encouraging associates to closely monitor their health and wellbeing.” Kroger is also: Providing hand sanitizer and tissues in breakrooms and meeting rooms; Asking associates to stay home if they, or someone in their household, are sick; Providing financial support from the Helping Hands fund – a company-sponsored employee assistance fund – to associates who may be directly affected; Suspending business air travel for associates through March 31 and recommending virtual meetings
This story is from the March 2020 edition of Progressive Grocer.
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This story is from the March 2020 edition of Progressive Grocer.
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