I have worked at my local grocery store for five years. During this time where colleges around the United States are closing, I decided with my newly found weekend free time I would go back to the place I've worked for years. Bad timing, considering that the grocery store is probably the last place to be during this time, yet I knew my team would need my help, so that's what I gave. Do you wonder what is behind the scenes of the empty shelves and pandemonium you are seeing?
There really isn't any toilet paper, but we are trying the best we can.
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
There really isn't any toilet paper. It's not that we are hiding it in the back or it is being sold out in 30 minutes. The fact is we can't get it. There could be a 50/50 chance of us actually getting toilet paper in. If it doesn't come in, our warehouse is out. Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do other than when it does come in to put a limit on these paper products.
We are actually working.
Photo by Rob Maxwell on Unsplash
Don't let the empty shelves fool you, we are actually working. By that, I mean working hard. If we don't have the product to fill the shelf with, we are constantly searching the store for it. We're tearing down displays to get those items onto the shelf. The shelves are simply so empty because we do not have the product since it is flying off the shelf when we do have it.
Don't take it out on us, we're working, not panic buying.
Photo by John Cameron on Unsplash
Please don't get mad at grocery store employees. While we are working, we can't be the ones buying the groceries since we are on the clock. We are not the reason the rice is empty that day or we don't have the juice you want. We do feel bad that we don't have your products, but please don't take it out on us. It isn't our fault. In my experience, I only have been met with love and positivity from customers. They understand and they are not mad at us. That doesn't speak for all of the reports I've read about from big companies like Costco. Please, just remember to be kind.
We are tired.
Photo by Richard Burlton on Unsplash
We aren't on the front line, and we respect all people who are working to protect and combat COVID-19, however, everyone has to eat and everyone goes to the grocery store. We are tired, probably overworked during this time, and we're exposing ourselves to germs since we are unable to practice social distancing at work.
We're most likely in pain.
Photo by Giuseppe Argenziano on Unsplash
Physically, I mean. The average person walks about two miles per day. Last weekend, I walked over 15. Between the heavy lifting and constant running around, I don't think I have ever been that sore, even when I hiked last summer for two days straight at Turkey Run State Park.
We are just as shocked as you are.
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
Last week, we had zero eggs. Seriously, no eggs in the whole store. As the product continues to fly off of the shelves and our store is empty, we are just as baffled as you are. Between working alongside one another and helping customers, we are most likely gossiping about how shocked we are at how empty the store is and how we don't have the products we need.
Despite all of this, we understand how important it is to continue to stock the shelves and help customers. We understand how important it is to continue to deliver the lowest prices we can during this pandemic. We work hard to provide what we can because everyone has to eat. While we are working hard, just recall this list and know that we are doing everything we can to help.
