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The lives of retail-workers rough draft
English Composition II (ENG123)
Southern New Hampshire University
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The lives of retail-workers in midst of the Coronavirus pandemic
Isabella Mauro
Southern New Hampshire University
ENG 123: English Composition II
Professor Cynthia Mutterperl
October 16, 2020
Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic, tension and stress are at an all-time high. In
the center of this growing pandemic is the newly essential workers. Once simple cashiers and
stockers are now in high demand as many are falling under the stress and anxiety. These
essential workers were initially praised for their heroism and hard work are now being verbal,
emotionally, and physically abused by customers. Supermarket employees are feeling
overwhelmed, overworked, and expendable as they continue to navigate the situation. Workers
the already stressful day has become worsened by the new responsibilities of the virus. New
regulations have been laid down on stores all over the world to help stop and prevent the spread.
Minimum wage salary workers have become the enforcers and are now forced to face the
consequences. The morale of a workplace has plummeted since the reopening of the country as
many workers find themselves at their breaking point and seeking new employment. The
Coronavirus is a serious threat that has taken a deadly toll on the war against depression and
other mental illnesses. Retail workers are falling under pressure and, it will take a group effort to
evoke change for the ideal worker and customer experience.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) regulations have been placed on every
business in the United States in an attempt to slow and prevent the spread of Covis-19. When
entering a building or attending a public event you are required to wear a mask and remain six
feet apart from everyone. These are the new rules that many employees are required to enforce.
At a small Indiana Kohl’s is a retail worker, she asked to remain anonymous. She explained that
her job has become harder than ever now that she has had new obligations added to her job.
She works in pretty much every area of the store and is familiar with the new regulations and
the importance of them. Fitting rooms are to remain closed and customers are not allowed to try
(Martinez, 2020). Many lives have been lost since the beginning of the virus. Some from Covid-
19, some not relative to it, and some that is an effect of the stress that has settled on the world.
The behavior store employees have been receiving is causing them a lot of mental and
emotional stress. “From June 24 to 30, the CDC reports that U. adults reported mental health
conditions in higher numbers due to COVID-19” (Czeisler, Lane, and Petrosky, 2020). The CDC
reports that 40% of adults say that they have felt the mental effects of the Coronavirus. They
advise anyone feeling more depressed or anxious than normal should reach out and find help.
Research consistently shows that those in a customer service job are often emotionally exhausted
at the end of their shift after smiling while being yelled at and looked down upon by the people
they are waiting on. Grocery workers have been screamed at and assaulted for reminding
shopper of the new protocols that they are required to be enforced to remain open. A mid-level
manager at a Kentucky Kroger stated that “The pressure is wearing away at us in great chunks,
we’re getting it from both ends customers and corporate” (Bhattani, 2020). Workers who feel
unwell are coaxed into coming to work instead of resting. They said that even if they are unwell
they come in for their shift as they fear losing their job. The amount of stress is causing workers
to lose self-esteem and are beginning to lose hope as they are overwhelmed, stressed, and
mentally exhausted. This has caused a lot of workers to quit and seek other employment
elsewhere to escape the abuse. At this rate, stores will have a difficult time keeping employees
for long periods.
In addition to the strain the virus is having on working employees, business owners are
also feeling the pressure as they continue to lose money and any financial growth they have
earned. Small businesses are being forced to close their doors as they are unable to keep up with
the ever-growing pile of bad news and bills. “Yelp data shows 60% of business closures due to
the coronavirus pandemic are now permanent” (Sundaram, 2020). It isn’t just small businesses
feeling the heat. While many stores have been struggling financially, for years the Coronavirus
has been the breaking point for many small and large businesses as they are losing money,
customers, and employees. Large retail stores such as Brooks Brothers, JC Penny, J Crew, Lord
and Taylor, Pier One, Stein Mart, and so many more are forced to close their doors for good as
they are unable to afford the daily expenses of a storefront. The virus has caused many shoppers
to stress as they will no longer be able to shop at their favorite stores and will now have to look
for replacements of their favorite brands. As for the businesses that have begun to recover, they
are eagerly waiting for the holiday season as this will be the most important one yet. Shelves are
being socked and prepped for eager shoppers. Although, many stores will remain closed on
Thanksgiving and leaving black Friday to be announced, as many retailers are continuing to offer
their shoppers Black Friday deal online in October to prevent the spread of the virus.
Allowing shoppers to finish their list early while remaining safe as retailers are expecting a
large outcome this year.
Retail-workers have been verbally and physically abused by their employers and
customers. They are exhausted and growing frustrated and depressed in their work environment.
They have gone from heroes to villains to enforcers of regulations they had no part in creating.
Many people have been assaulted or even killed for enforcing these new rules. Keep in mind that
retail workers are not the source of the problem and are only doing what is required of them for
their job. As one navigates their way through these hard times we must all work towards a
References
Abha Bhattani. (August 12, 2020). Grocery Workers Say Morale is at an All-Time-Low: ‘They Don’t Even Treat Us Like Humans Anymore’. The Washington Post. washingtonpost/business/2020/08/12/grocery-workers-coronavirus/. Retrieved October 5, 2020
Amanda Mull. (March 11, 2020). The Coronavirus Customer-Service Crisis. The Atlantic. theatlantic/health/archive/2020/03/customer-service-workers-are-charge- pandemic/607801/. Retrieved October 5, 2020
Craig McCarthy and Lia Eustachewich. (July 29, 2020). Duo Arrested For Attacking Trader Joe’s Workers Who Asked Them To Wear Masks. nypost/2020/07/29/duo-attacked- trader-joes-workers-when-asked-to-wear-masks/. Retrieved October 5, 2020
Karen Belz. (2020). Target Employee is Punched and Beaten by 2 Customers For Asking Them to Wear Masks in Store. Wild Skye Media. littlethings/not-wearing-masks- target/1 .Retrieved October 5, 2020
Peter Martinez. (May 5, 2020). Security Guard Fatally Shot After Enforcing Face Mask Policy, Prosecutor says. CBS News. cbsnews/news/calvin-munerlyn-michigan- security-guard-shot-dead-family-dollar-face-mask/. Retrieved October 5, 2020
Eve Batey. (July 6, 2020). Oakland McDonald’s Employee Attacked After Asking Customer to Wear a Mask Up. Vox Media. sf.eater/2020/7/6/21314993/oakland-mcdonalds- attack-mask-osha-coronavirus. Retrieved October 5, 2020
Czeisler MÉ , Lane RI, Petrosky E, et al. (August 14, 2020). Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020**.** The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm. Retrieved October 5, 2020
Emily Pandise, (May 15, 20020). From Century 21 to Lord & Taylor, Main Street bankruptcies continue as pandemic deepens, NBC News, nbcnews/business/consumer/which-major-retail-companies-have-filed- bankruptcy-coronavirus-pandemic-hit-n1207866. Retrieved October 18, 2020
Anjali Sundaram, (September 16, 2020), Yelp data shows 60% of business closures due to the coronavirus pandemic are now permanent, cnbc/2020/09/16/yelp-data-shows- 60percent-of-business-closures-due-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic-are-now-permanent. Retrieved October 18, 2020
The lives of retail-workers rough draft
Course: English Composition II (ENG123)
University: Southern New Hampshire University
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