Toronto – April 18, 2020 – UFCW grocery members continue to work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and are doing their best to ensure that Canadians and their families get the food, beverages, and supplies they need to stay healthy and safe during this crisis.

But in working through the pandemic, members are understandably concerned about their health, and they need employers to take action to protect workers’ health and safety and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Here are three things that food retailers can do to help contain the coronavirus and make sure that grocery store employees are able to work safely during the COVID-19 crisis:

Ensure Physical Distancing: The number of people allowed into a store should be constantly monitored to satisfy physical distancing recommendations (keeping 2 metres between yourself and others).

Zero Tolerance for Harassment: Any berating or harassment of workers should result in the automatic removal and temporary ban from the store of the offending customer(s).

Premium Pay: Considering the threat of COVID-19 exposure to front-line workers, employers should apply a premium pay increase to wages to recognize the vital work of their staff. 

By following these simple steps, food retailers can protect the health and safety of staff, show respect for their work, keep customers safe, and help stop the spread of COVID-19.