Giving Compass' Take:

• Grocery workers are on the frontlines of COVID-19, but do not see many benefits, and need more protective measures from the government in order to keep doing their jobs. 

• How can donors help play a part in supporting grocery workers? 

• Learn more about grocery workers need during the pandemic. 

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) rapidly spreads across the world, Americans are flocking to grocery stores to stockpile essential goods as they self-quarantine in their homes. Despite the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) public advisory to avoid crowds and to practice physical distancing, grocery store workers across the country continue to work tirelessly to provide food for the public. They have become the unsung heroes of the pandemic.

“It’s time for those employers to recognize how valuable their employees are and offer protections to their employees when they need it most,” Mike Roberts, Field Director at United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 881, tells Food Tank.

Grocery store workers have always worked under precarious economic and health conditions. Wages are low, health insurance is lacking, and scheduled work hours for part-time employees are inconsistent. The majority of workers were also not entitled to paid sick leave until the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was passed.

The lack of worker protections makes employees more susceptible to catching the virus. Especially now that panic buying is sweeping across grocery stores, employees are scrambling to meet the demands of customers.

Read the full article about grocery workers by Aaron Mok at Food Tank.