In comparison...

Ali831 · Post by **Ali831** » 24 Mar 2020, 01:37

Ok I will probably get shot down for this but I think as posties we have it better then some other key workers. My wife works in a large extra size supermarket. She is in close contact with colleagues as we are, staff on checkouts sit back to back & if they turn to the cash drawer at same time, they are as close as we are in a van share. However, we then go into the fresh air. On the other hand she is couped up inside, we touch gates, letterboxes & of course the mail but we can get distance from the public & have very little interaction with many of them. She on the other hand has to scan hundreds of items that have all recently been touched, coupons & of course cash. The customers are just a foot or so away despite tape marking safe zones on the floor it just gets ignored.

She also has not been issued with any PPE, the hand gel she uses she supplied herself.

On Sunday morning which was supposed to be a special session for NHS staff, the store was so packed they had to close the doors twice & still the queue stretched around the carpark. So many customers stood nose to tail you couldn't actually see any floor space for sheer numbers of shoppers. They even had to start before the legal 10am trading time to get them moving. A male nurse at her checkout started to have a panic attack. She got abuse many times because she refused bulk buying of loo roll,eggs etc. She was so distraught when she got home she broke down in tears & was inconsolable. She is scared about her own health & the family's but the nation has to be feed. Such a terrifying time we are in at the moment. Makes you think doesn't it. Stay safe all of you.

Ren Hoëk · Post by **Ren Hoëk** » 24 Mar 2020, 05:57

Others issues are for them to work out. Our issues are for us to work out. No point making comparisons.

postieblueshirt · Post by **postieblueshirt** » 24 Mar 2020, 06:00

I hear you my wife does the same job.apparently some NHS staff have been threatened and there id badge taken from them just so people can get in early to shop.

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 24 Mar 2020, 07:41

Ali831 wrote:On Sunday morning which was supposed to be a special session for NHS staff, the store was so packed they had to close the doors twice & still the queue stretched around the carpark. So many customers stood nose to tail you couldn't actually see any floor space for sheer numbers of shoppers.

People complain about Royal Mail making them work close to other people.... but nobody cares about social distancing.

We had a meeting at work where we were all standing 2 feet apart. A postie spoke up and complained, we all cheered his complaint and then carried on standing 2 feet apart for another 10 minutes.

Then, as you say, people don't care about being 1 foot apart in a supermarket, but in a supermarket it is next to impossible as they are so busy and if you only let half the customers in at a time then the queue would be even more ridiculous.

viking1488 · Post by **viking1488** » 24 Mar 2020, 07:51

norris9 wrote:
Ali831 wrote:On Sunday morning which was supposed to be a special session for NHS staff, the store was so packed they had to close the doors twice & still the queue stretched around the carpark. So many customers stood nose to tail you couldn't actually see any floor space for sheer numbers of shoppers.
People complain about Royal Mail making them work close to other people.... but nobody cares about social distancing.

We had a meeting at work where we were all standing 2 feet apart. A postie spoke up and complained, we all cheered his complaint and then carried on standing 2 feet apart for another 10 minutes.

Then, as you say, people don't care about being 1 foot apart in a supermarket, but in a supermarket it is next to impossible as they are so busy and if you only let half the customers in at a time then the queue would be even more ridiculous.

well if people dont follow what we have been told to do 2 meters apart stay at home unless shopping/chemist only travel back and to work if critical dont go outside unless its for a little exercise the government in the next week will just come down harder on us all for the few who in my eyes are being selfish and idiots and as for business who are open and not following or cant follow government guidelines they will find themselves in a whole pile of s**t or closed..... this generation dont like being told what to do fact..... like to add my mrs is a real keyworker and they have been issued letters to show if stopped in lockdown to say who they are and there reason for travel and what they do....... carried on standing 2 feet apart for another 10 minutes well there it is cant follow basic guidance this is up to you as a individual to do what you are told .....you are not sheep ..... in that case one jumps of a cliff the rest will follow wake up follow the guidelines if one person has this virus in your office he has now given it to 3 of you then the rest of you will pass it on ..... stupid selfish practice

Post by **baldrick** » 24 Mar 2020, 07:51

A bit late, but some supermarkets are going to install protective screens around checkout staff

Screenshot 2020-03-24 at 07.46.55 - Edited.png

viking1488 · Post by **viking1488** » 24 Mar 2020, 07:54

baldrick wrote:A bit late, but some supermarkets are going to install protective screens around checkout staff
Screenshot 2020-03-24 at 07.46.55 - Edited.png

at least there doing something to protect there staff dont knock it

Flashman_ · Post by **Flashman_** » 24 Mar 2020, 14:41

I really do feel for checkout staff, it seems to me they are, as at risk as NHS staff given that they have no ppe from what I have seen.

nikrad · Post by **nikrad** » 24 Mar 2020, 15:22

I’m sure in Wuhan the supermarket staff were wearing either full hazmat suits or full face ppe equipment. Honestly folks really don’t get the scale of how bad this could be.

PostmanBitesDog · Post by **PostmanBitesDog** » 24 Mar 2020, 15:30

nikrad wrote:I’m sure in Wuhan the supermarket staff were wearing either full hazmat suits or full face ppe equipment. Honestly folks really don’t get the scale of how bad this could be.

They certainly were and still are. This is a staff worker at the Wuhan Zhongnan Supermarket last month:

Wuhan Supermarket.jpeg

Customers check out at a cashier at the Wuhan Zhongnan Supermarket in Wuhan on Feb 12. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, supply of daily necessities is stable in Wuhan. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily]
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202002/ ... 79b82.html

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 24 Mar 2020, 15:47

PostmanBitesDog wrote: They certainly were and still are. This is a staff worker at the Wuhan Zhongnan Supermarket last month:

Lots of fresh vegetables but i still can't see any toilet roll.
Incidentally I have a tattoo that looks exactly like one of the signs up in the shop.
The tattooist assured me it was "ma vie mes regles" translated into Chinese but now it appears I've got "Marmite half price." tattoed on my arse.