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Mediator is exactly
Service Industry
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2021-03-21
When Workers Stand Together in Collecive Bargaining, There's Power.
Verified When workers stand together in collective bargaining, there's power. Every benefit, from the minimum wage to the 5-day work week, was earned when people organized. It’s never easy. But workers at an Amazon warehouse in Alabama are standing together right now and if they win, it will send a shockwave throughout this country. -
2020-09-22
Unintended Consequences Part II
This article, "From Equality to Global Poverty: How Covid-19 is Affecting Societies and Economies," includes much information. It covers things like the fact that millions of kids may not ever go back to school after this. The article talks about how poverty has increased since the outbreak and how clean energy progress has stalled. The article ends by talking about the investments needed. But all in all there is a lot of important information here on unintended consequences. -
2020-08-03
Food Service Workers Rally For Justice
"Businesses always like to emphasize the family aspect of working in their space. However, they fail to recognize we can choose who we want to dedicate our time and energy to. Because even family can be toxic and unsuitable for our livelihoods. To be transformative in this industry, it shouldn't be 'here is 50% off your meal 'or 'pizza for working with us for 10 hours today'. Instead they should talk about how we can be a community. Cause in a community, we protect, we listen, engage, act justly, we care, and we work to be better." Brenda Montes, Waitress, Rival House Sporting Parlour Restaurant Opportunities Center of Minnesota is demanding these collective protections for restaurant workers: Worker health and safety to come before profitability and customer expectations Livable and equitable wages for all staff across the industry: no more wage theft Cultural & structural change in the industry that fosters equity, inclusion, dignity for all workers Visit @rocmn612 for more information or to get involved. Photos from Food Service Workers Rally For Justice, July 28, 2020 -
2020-09-20
Workers From Fiver Spyhouse Locations Went on Strike
Workers from five Spyhouse locations went on strike to demand recognition of their union, Unite Here Local 17, and improve COVID-19 safety conditions. Spyhouse owner, Christian Johnson, has hired a PR firm and lawyers with the intention of disrupting the unionization effort. The owner, through a PR firm, declined to comment on Saturday's strike. Spyhouse workers are part of a growing new labor movement of hospitality workers in Minnesota. In recent months, workers from Tattersall, Lawless, Surly, Fair State, and Stillheart have collectively organized into a union to create more equitable workplace environments. -
2021-03-03
Fast-food workers in LA face unmasked customers and unsafe workplaces, and are punished for speaking up about COVID-19, a damning new report says
Fast food works in Los Angles have been found to be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. This is because of a whole host of factors, including unmasked customers and lack of protocols. When employees raise a complaint about the issue, the restaurant punishes them by cutting their hours. -
2020-03-12
Empty shelves during the beginning of the pandemic
I am sharing a video I took at the beginning of the quarantine period. People were panic buying food and other necessities while leaving empty shelves for others. I remember entering whole foods to pick up some bread, pasta, beans, and non-dairy milk because I can't have dairy. As soon as my cousin and I entered Whole Foods— the baked goods were fully stocked but the non-perishable foods were almost gone. I remember turning to my cousin in shock because the fresh fruits and vegetables in the lower level were fully stocked. I asked an employee where the bread and non-dairy milk was and they said, "I don't think we have any more bread. I stocked it a couple of hours ago and when I went back o check there were a few bags left". The employee guided us to the bread section and it was indeed empty. I thanked them and decided to look through the other aisles and the aisle that was the most apparent was the one I recorded. There were people with professional cameras taking pictures of this aisle and others (such as myself) with our phones recording. So many people were just as taken aback by the lack of food in many of these aisles. I already knew that this virus was serious but when I saw the number of people buying food and toilet paper and paper towels in bulk, I felt worried and nervous. I knew from the media that people were stocking up on non-perishable foods and that supermarket lines were really long. But seeing it first hand and seeing people coming to the aisle expecting to see a can of beans available or a bag of bread, only for it to be empty. This is a moment that I won't forget and the overwhelming feeling that this virus could affect anyone. -
2021-02-14
Essential vs. Expendable Workers
When the pandemic broke out, I was caught in the whirlwind of being an essential worker. I was a manager at my local McDonalds, so I've seen just how cruel people can be, and how corporations have continued to neglected their workers. Many people are minimum wage workers, and its frightening to know that such a large population is suffering so much, only to receive little appreciation and change. Through my personal story, I hope to have readers step in the shoes of a minimum wage worker than a pandemic, so when they step out, they'll raise awareness on the issue of lack of support and care for minimum wage workers. -
2020-11-11
Paid Leave Approval for COVID-19
My entire family had contracted COVID-19 and in accordance with company policies I was required to apply for mandatory paid leave for a minimum of 2 weeks and a COVID-19 test after that 14 day period. COVID-19 had a large impact on both my job and my family. -
2020-09-01
Essential Workers
When I think about this past year, what first comes to mind is my food service job. Then, I think of my coworker Alex. For almost a year we worked together and she ended up being a great friend. At the end of the summer, she quit to find a better-paying job. In this picture, we were goofing off at the end of our shift, cleaning the bathroom and listening to music. It was our last day together and we wanted to end on a good note. Food service has definitely been a challenge during this pandemic, but I’m grateful I got to work with a friend through most of it. I definitely miss her :) -
2020-06
Dear Anti-Maskers
One common sight to behold during the pandemic was the signs posted within business’ storefront windows mandating masks to be worn to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In early June 2020 as the city of Chicago entered their Phase 3, which allowed for local businesses to reopen, some store owners used creative messages such as this one to enforce required mask mandates. The sign above, which I noticed on the Chicago Bagel Authority’s Belmont location—six miles north of the Chicago Loop—is a symbol of the city’s efforts to mask up, specifically targeting groups known as “anti-maskers.” -
2020-02-18
Green Mill Once Again, in Winter
An image of this bar front was shared on this archive almost a year ago, on March 31, 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic: https://covid-19archive.org/s/archive/item/11917. On February 10, 2021, I passed by this bar on my way home from an errand and remembered it being shared on this archive. It looks different now, so I wanted to document it. Aside from the weather depicting a more solemn image, the next noticeable difference is in the fact that in this posting, the bar's front window is boarded up, with a most likely spray-painted tag in green ink. The boarding up is most likely a remnant from 2020's late spring/early summer protests that took place around the country in response to racial violence, which was kickstarted by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN. In addition, Green Mill also has posted a flyer in the circular window of their front door. In March 2020, the pandemic was still so new that many didn't know what to do besides close their doors for the time being. Now, in 2021, with more understanding of COVID-19's severity, many businesses have some sort of signage indicating that they are closed and encouraging readers to follow the social distancing guidelines set forth by local, state, and/or federal governments. This is most likely the sign posted in window. Hopefully, in another year's time, we'll get to see Green Mill open and lively with the sounds of jazz music, the coronavirus pandemic only a memory of the recent past. -
2020-03-20
Hope
My plague year story of the covid-19 pandemic is honestly quite a normal one. For me covid was not a barrier. It was an obstacle that I learned to get around. I did not let anything hold me back from trying to make the best of my situations. Nothing was ideal in any way possible. I never imagined my final months of highschool being spent at home or starting college online. But I always remembered to take a step back. To distance myself from the chaos and most importantly enjoy my time to the best that I could. Because as humans we have limited control on what happens in our life. It all really depends on how you react to what is happening. You can let the confusion surround you and hold you back. Or you can step out and keep strolling on your path to success, happiness, and love. So like I said my situation in life at the time of the beginning of the outbreak was not ideal. I was in my final few months of highschool and looking forward to graduation, prom, and moving on to college. Unfortunately those milestones did not occur according to plan. My highschool experience was cut short. Way too short. I was forced to adjust to online schooling in very little time. The teachers were still confused on how to teach online and kids were confused on how it worked. My school did not utilize google meets or zoom at the time. So my only connection to my teachers was email. The situation was pretty sad. I missed my friends from school and I missed my teachers that used to fill my day with fun. But I adapted quickly and got my work done. I did not let the communication gap stop me from finishing school on a high note. I utilized the extra free time I was presented with by working. All the time. I work at Target. So I am considered an essential worker for an essential business. So I was desperately needed at the store all the time to help out. I was working forty hour work weeks all while still making time for friends and finishing school work. I worked later shifts, came in on off days and came in earlier to help when they needed. I will never forget the benefits of the work experience I got during the first few months of the pandemic. It taught me a lot about managing my time and money well. I also made great connections with my coworkers and customers who came into the store. These experiences will help me greatly when I move forward in my life in many ways I do not even realize yet. I worked a ton, finished highschool, enjoyed my summer; which I still found a way to make memorable and started college. I may not have gotten the experience I had hoped for when I first came to my campus. But as I’ve said many times, I did not let the obstacles stop me from enjoying my life. I built the greatest support group of friends and I could not have asked for a better outcome. My group and I made the best of college campus life. We always find ways to have fun and still get our work done. So far college has been a fun time and I am glad I came. Again, my story may not have the same hardships as a lot of people may have gone through. My story has been pretty hopeful. So here is to passing the hope on. I hope I continue to grow and thrive and if you may not have had the best experiences yet, here is to hoping you can break free from the chaos and live life to the fullest capabilities right now. Life is not about how hard things are, it is about how you are able to overcome difficulties in your path. -
2021-01-31
Distracting Myself with Latte Art
At the moment, the only reasons I leave the house is to shop for essentials and for work. As a barista, my job can get fairly uncomfortable, as there is often a struggle between me and the customer, as they immediately want to remove their mask and take a sip of their drink instead of waiting until they are at a table or outside, or they don't want to wear one at all and refuse to comply when we ask. We also have pushback against limiting indoor seating and maximum capacity of the store, as we do have a small shop that makes it difficult to distance. It has led to tense interactions and anxiety leading up to shifts, and I have been struggling to find reasons to enjoy work. Because of this struggle, I turned towards improving my latte art as a way to both improve my craft and distract myself from the complications and uncomfortable interactions that have disrupted my workplace. It has brought me a sense of productivity and calm, despite the issues pervading the shop. This is my progress so far. -
2020-06
A College Student Surviving the Pandemic
I chose my Target employee card from when I worked there over the past summer in my hometown, Venice, FL. I chose this object because it represents to me the pandemic when everyone was at their worst, during all the main lockdowns. I keep it in my wallet because I still somehow have an employee discount. But every time I pull it out, I am reminded of that scary summer of when no one knew what was going on or what was going to happen. -
2020-12-09
Through the Eyes of a Waitress
This is a little bit about how I feel while working in a restaurant during Covid. It has been an interesting experience, and I have learned a lot of lessons both from working with the public in general, but also working with the public specifically during a pandemic. I haven’t been able to see my friends that much since the pandemic began, so working in the restaurant has helped because it gets me out of the house and working towards a goal of getting an apartment with my friends, from the money I'm saving up. This journal entry demonstrates something significant to my generation because while we might not be able to see friends, people can focus on themselves and work hard whether it be at school, work or both. Some people have seen their friends, and met up at Loretta for lunch outside, and this has been a way to catch up in a safer way. My journal entry focuses on what I have seen while working, the way people have acted when they come out to eat or pickup their takeout. This is important to me because it is my own words and observations from the past couple of months. -
2020-12-14
Working in a pandemic
This was an email sent out to employees about a coworker that had been infected with Covid-19. This is important because it shows that stores are now required to inform employees when another person that works there is confirmed to be covid positive. However, as this is a personal experience the company did not inform employees that there was a suspected case prior to the confirmation. This shows how money hungry corporations are even in a pandemic. They may say that they had the employee's best interest in mind but their actions speak louder, than a lousy email sent out. -
2020-12-08
Helping residents of N.W.T town get cheaper groceries during the pandemic
A Northwest Territories man's new business involves driving back and forth to the Alberta border to pickup lower priced groceries for the residents of Hay River. -
2020-12-11
Heightened grocery store sales in Nunavut highlight food insecurity.
Relief funding for the COVID-19 pandemic has been effective in increasing access to food in remote northern communities — but it's also revealed the true extent of food insecurity that Nunavut households face. -
2020
COVID-19: Impact on Canada's pharmaceutical and retail pharmacy industry
The coronavirus pandemic has affected Canada’s pharmaceutical and retail pharmacy industry across four main areas: product sourcing and procurement, product launch and distribution, acquisition and access, and treatment and care management. Based on challenges in these areas, this report offers a perspective on potential solutions and considerations. -
2020-11-18
Staying Safe In Restaurants And Bars
As bars and restaurants continue day to day operations all over the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers consideration on their website in ways they can reduce the risk for employees, customers and the community. These establishments will collaborate with their state and local health officials on how to implement these considerations. When considering these ideas they are meant to supplement and not replace any state or local health and safety laws. The longer people interact with one another the higher risk of spreading covid-19. One key take away from the article that stuck out to me was the spacing that the CDC recommends and that I see mostly in restaurants and bars today. Capacity has been reduced and tables have been moved six feet apart to slow the spread. -
2020-12-05
Why Sobeys is saying yes to ‘hero pay’ and no to gouging suppliers: meet the man who’s putting values first in a time of crisis
Sobey's agreeing to pay hero pay -
2020-12-04
Walmart Canada to give 85,000 workers cash 'appreciation' bonus as COVID-19 surges
Article about how Walmart a large retailer will pay its employees more -
2020-11-14
Be ready for new panic buying and shortages as COVID cases surge
Article on panic buying -
2020-12-08
Canadian Foodservice Businesses in Turmoil Amid Potential Delays for COVID Vaccinations
Article on the effects on the food service industry -
2020-12-08
SARS didn't prepare the hospitality industry for the prolonged impact of COVID-19
Article discussing the effects of the pandemic on the hospitality industry -
2020-12-08
Being Lowe’s safe by wearing our mask.
Sometimes social distancing is hard to do at all times. It is especially important to wear a mask when unable to stay 6 feet away from others since covid-19 spreads mainly from people who do not acknowledge the 6 feet requirement and have close contact with one another. While masks offer protection to yourself it also provides protection to those around you. Lowe’s provides its employees with Lowe’s specific make to stay safe. Lowe’s also provides masks to the public who do not have a mask. All one has to do is go to customer service and ask for a mask and we will happily provide one. With this there are some customers that come into the store without a mask and refuse to wear one. We still have to provide great customer service while being safe. In these situations we have to do our best to practice social distancing. -
2020-12-08
Staying Lowe’s Safe During COVID-19
This is one of the many ways Lowe’s is doing its part to make sure their employees and customers are safe. Throughout the store these signs are a great reminder that everyone needs to comply with the requirements of maintaining a 6 foot distance to protect themselves and others from the spread of the illness. The placement of these are in prime locations where the store sees the most traffic. Social distancing is important for not just everyone but especially those who are at higher risk for severe illness for coronavirus. Social distancing crushes the curve, which means that these protective practices slow the rate of infection. As employees we are motivated everyday by our managers to enforce social distancing as much as we can to make customers feel safe while shopping in our store. Along with the signs we also have an automated message that plans periodically to remind the customers to social distancing and how important they are to us and always to have a Lowe’s safe day. -
2020-12-07
The impact COVID 19 has had on workers in the service industry
The Phenomenon our group is providing insight into is the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers in the service industry. We will discuss the number of jobs lost/created and look into the workers’ treatment in the service industry. We are focusing on the personal experiences of some of the members of our group and others who are working during COVID 19. Some of our group members work in the service industry and have to work during this difficult time. The essay will provide first-hand insight and shed light on the issues that essential works are currently facing. -
2020-11-02
Safe Shopping
This is an image of storefront posters designed by West Roxbury Main Streets. In recent years, there has been a push for shopping at local businesses to stimulate local economy. At first glance that’s exactly what these look like until you get to the third one. As per local and state ordinances, masks are required to be worn in public. With the holidays around the corner retail services will be in high demand and operating businesses safely is on most people’s radar. Last year if I said, “oops I forgot my mask,” that would not mean anything, and people would probably think I was crazy. Now that’s just the way life is and to shop you are required to wear a mask. Now, not everyone does this and not every business will enforce this, but some will. The #lovelocalsafely will hopefully be used so all those posts can be looked at in the future, but it also shows how much local businesses care about the customer. -
2020-12-02
Food Service Workers Experience Increased Sexual Harassment during Pandemic
These are screenshots from the timesupnow Instagram page. A December 2020 report on food service workers in NY state found that they are experiencing decreased tips when they attempt to enforce social distancing rules and increased incidences of sexual harassment. -
2020-12-03
A Beloved Job that is Dying
I work at a great dog daycare in West Roxbury. We used to be very busy, and even during the holidays were forced to turn people away. Now my dog daycare is an empty building most nights, we have plenty of vacancy for Thanksgiving break, and I am forced to work an overnight shift so I can still attend college. I go into work at 10 p.m., there I ask, “how many dogs?” Often, I get witty remark like 22 dogs, but 20 are missing. Normally 22 dogs on a Sunday was normal, now I take care of 3 or 4 dogs. Sometimes I am lucky, and I will have almost 15 dogs to care for. I clean the building and I look at the whiteboards, where the dog names should be written. Instead all I see is a blank board and faded Sharpie marker. I miss being able to in on weekends and enjoying Sundays. Now all I do is sleep during the day and work at night. Sometimes I am lucky, and I can get a few hours of rest before my 8am Zoom classes. -
2020-11-24
Mother and employee
Dana Adkins is a Mother that works at a summertime resort. She discusses how the pandemic impacted her job. Also discussed is how her children handled the changes to their routines. -
2020-11-22
Interview with Brad and Christina Long: Restaurant and Food Industry
The contributor of this item did not include verbal or written consent. We attempted to contact contributor (or interviewee if possible) to get consent, but got no response or had incomplete contact information. We can not allow this interview to be listened to without consent but felt the metadata is important. The recording and transcript are retained by the archive and not public. Should you wish to listen to audio file reach out to the archive and we will attempt to get consent. -
2020-11-20
大型セール“ブラックフライデー”仏で1週間延期へ(2020年11月21日) - Large sale "Black Friday" postponed for one week in France (November 21, 2020)
厳しい外出制限が敷かれているフランスでは、ブラックフライデーの大型セールを1週間延期することが決まりました。 フランスでは新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大を受けて多くの中小の小売店が閉鎖されています。一方でアマゾンなどネット通販大手は営業を続けていて、ブラックフライデーのセールが27日から始まることに小売店からは不満の声が高まっていました。それを受けて政府は20日、ブラックフライデーの大型セールを27日から1週間延期し、それまでに小売店の営業再開を認めることを発表しました。 In France, where strict outing restrictions are in place, it has been decided to postpone the big Black Friday sale for a week. In France, many small and medium-sized retail stores have been closed due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection. On the other hand, major online shopping companies such as Amazon are still in business, and retailers have been complaining that the Black Friday sale will start on the 27th. In response, the government announced on the 20th that it will postpone the big Black Friday sale for a week from the 27th and allow retailers to reopen by then. Video translated by Youngbin Noh -
2020-03-30
From Dine In to Takeout: Staying Connected With Thai Dee Restaurant
For my friends and I, Thai Dee is our most cherished gathering spot. It is a local San Antonio restaurant that is tucked away in a small building next to a convenience store. The restaurant is centrally located and 15 minutes away from where we all live and work. Thai Dee is the community dining room for my family and friends. We celebrate all our special occasions here in addition to frequenting the restaurant on a weekly basis. It is both a treat and a part of our daily lives to eat at Thai Dee as it is for hundreds of other customers. These last few months have felt strange not being able to eat inside their restaurant. The pandemic hit Thai Dee hard at first. In March they had to lay off all their waitstaff and close their busy dining room. I was laid off from my full-time job too, but I continued to support them with the little money I earned from my part-time job. I turned my weekly dine-in visits to takeout orders. I did my best to support them, but instead I found that they wanted to support me. The family who owns the restaurant has always treated me like a member of their family. When they found out that I had been laid off, the owner sweetly yet sternly told me not to leave them tips anymore. She advised me to save up all the money I had and assured me that they were okay. She would not process any tips I tried to leave on my card. Her son then told me that if I ever got to a point where I was hungry and had no money that I should call him. He would never let me go hungry. I thanked them and started crying as soon as I exited the building. I felt so loved and cared for in that moment. When I opened my bag of food, I found a complimentary order of mango and sweet sticky rice—my favorite dessert. They have since done this for me several times. Back in March I didn’t know if I would be able to return to my job, or if the company was just going to fold. I never shared these anxieties with them, and yet they helped ease them with their kind gestures. The closure of Thai Dee’s dining room saw business slow down at first. When this happened, I sent a text to my friends who immediately went and ordered food. My friends and other regular customers are now back in the habit of ordering Thai Dee’s on a regular basis. Thai Dee has many other loyal customers who love the restaurant and family as much as I do. The walls are adorned with Christmas cards, postcards, and photographs of newborn babies all given to them by devoted patrons. Even former San Antonio Spur, Sean Elliot, has several photos with the Thai Dee crew on the wall. For myself and other regulars, not a week goes by where I don’t go to Thai Dee. My visits give me a sense of normalcy. Even though I miss the social gathering space their dining room provided, I still get to eat the best Thai food in San Antonio and check in with my dear friends who own the restaurant. If I did not have regular access to them my pandemic experience would be miserable. Thai Dee is an icon of San Antonio and they have helped me through this time more than they know. Although Covid-19 disrupted my dining experience, it only strengthened my patronage and bond with the Thai Dee family. -
2020-03-17T18:07
Shutdown
The story of the photograph is one that many small businesses will no doubt have experienced. That is one of a thriving business faced with the threat of shutdown. The photograph is one of a small business being forced to face the threat of impending financial threat. -
2020-11-07
Coronavirus in Las Vegas
Covid-19 has affected everyone in the world, and the city of Las Vegas is not an exception. Las Vegas is considered to be a major tourism spot yet no one is here. Coronavirus did not just impact tourists, but locals as well. Seeing our city empty and looking like a ghost town is sad and it feels like our sparkle is gone. Although they are being empty because it is for our good to remain distant from others during these harsh times, it is still terrible to see our city empty and eerie. When we think of Las Vegas we think about the huge crowds at the strip, the casinos filled with people gambling or watching shows. Now the city that never sleeps is now an empty place that does not look like the city we know and love. Fichtel, C. (2020, April 22). Las Vegas workers push back after mayor's call to reopen casinos and hotels. Retrieved November 07, 2020, from https://news.yahoo.com/las-vegas-workers-push-back-022132572.html?guccounter=1 -
2020-11-06
Closed for Business
On the Las Vegas Strip, this image could normally be captured at the oddly specific time of never. Downtown Las Vegas normally is teeming with life, creepy people dressed in raggedy, unwashed costumes, bachelor and bachelorette parties gone and going wrong and overall people having a wonderful time. As the Covid-19 outbreak was beginning to hit its crescendo, everything in the state of Nevada was shutdown, making all in person operations cease to prevent the spread of this disease. This lead a town based around its overall tourism and wild nightlife in disarray, many people lost jobs and businesses struggled, leading some to never open again. The image here, to me, is something sad, T-Mobile Arena is a very nostalgic place for me, it is the place where I was able to see one of my favorite bands for the first time, and when me and my brother decided to drive the strip in the midst of isolation we had to stop and take the picture. T-Mobile Arena was an extremely lively place that always had live music and sporting events, as heartbreaking as it was to see it dormant, it had to be closed, the spread of Covid-19 had to be prevented. In my opinion, Governor Sisolak handled the crisis well, despite how painful it was for many citizens, I know we as a city will recover and the city will live once again. -
2020-11-06
COVID-19 and strip club dancers
I met with a Historian's Craft Class from Loyola University in New Orleans, and we talked about the JOTPY archive and silences. One student mentioned sex workers and dancers who lost their income when the lockdown orders were issued. Coincidentally, this video came across me TikTok feed, so I uploaded it share a story from a dancer going through new public health norms before work. -
2020-11-05
Covid at Work
In August, one of the employees that I worked with contracted Covid and our corporate failed to do anything about it at first. They had told us to "just wear our masks and wash our hands," and they had informed us that they weren't going to send out a cleaning team to deep clean the store. We all felt like our company failed us and didn't prioritize our wellbeing and safety. After this happened, I felt like there were other companies out there that react the same way to their staffs, and that the government, on both the local and federal level, should be enforcing Covid precautions and prevention processes with more urgency to protect all kinds of employees in their work environment -
2020-11-05
COVID Recovery for Local Hospitality - Victoria, Australia
Metropolitan Melbourne is emerging from its second lockdown. Here you can see workers laying artificial turf out the front of some hospitality venues. The turf covers car parks, but it will increase the outdoor seating capacity of these venues. This will stimulate the small businesses and reduce the risk of virus transmission, as customers will sit outside rather than inside. I believe that the approach here is modeled on the Open Restaurants initiative of NYC, USA. 37°51'47.5"S 144°54'17.0"E -
2020-04-16
“Is It Ethically Okay to Get Food Delivered Right Now?”
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, people began to grapple with moral dilemmas about the new, deadly situation that they found themselves in. These ethical dilemmas, which are the focus of a brief Atlantic Monthly article by Joe Pinsker, concerned the basic, but important issue of procuring food and drinks, which now ran the risk of infecting and possibly killing innocent essential workers and delivery drivers. To help soothe the troubled consciences of the general public, Pinsker consulted a variety of medical professionals, food scientists, ethicists, and moral philosophers to come up with answers to the ethical questions raised by these new circumstances. These questions included, but were not limited to: “How often should I go to the grocery store?”; “Is it ethical to get delivery?”; “How hard is it to figure out which businesses take good care of their workers?”; and “Is there anything I can do to help the people working at grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery companies?” In his answers to these questions, Pinsker implored readers to listen to the sound medical advice given by local health officials to reduce the risk of transmission and death, as this would protect both service workers and the readers. He also informed readers that it was better to reduce shopping trips to a once a week affair, as the more shopping trips one takes increases the risk of infection and transmission to innocent people. Furthermore, Pinsker advised those concerned about a restaurant or corporation’s treatment of their workers to research online if they provide workers with paid sick leave, and to tip workers a significant amount of money if they do not. Finally, Pinsker told readers that ordering delivery was not inherently unethical, as the money spent on delivery was money that would go into the pockets of workers, who especially need any help they can get during the current pandemic-induced economic recession. In brief, the questions presented and Pinsker’s responses provide an illuminating snapshot of how people grappled with the new moral dilemmas created by the COVID-19 pandemic. They display considerable consideration for the vulnerability of service workers, who are more exposed to COVID-19 than those working from their homes. -
2020-10-29
Kmart Online Booking System
My housemate and I looked in to opening hours once the stage four restrictions were lifted and retail could reopen. We were surprised to see that we could book online to get first preference in entering a Kmart store, which is a feature completely non-existent before the pandemic. Although necessary to ensure social distancing, booking online to enter a store further digitises our everyday lived experiences. This may not be an issue for people with access to the internet like myself, but it has the potential to further ostracise people with limited or no access to technology. HIST30060 -
2020-04-23
What grocery store workers say they’re facing during the pandemic.
This article is important to share because although I was not a Wal-Mart employee through the pandemic, the employees interviewed in the article are relatable as the company has never been proactive and instead reactive. While I understand that no one was prepared for the pandemic, the way the employees were treated during this time was very typical to the way our store employees were treated, and still are, in situations where health is being risked for the sake of a sale. “The manager’s response, according to Hall: “Wash your hands every 15 minutes, so you don’t need a glove or a mask.” ‘She just walked away from me and started laughing, like it was funny.’ Hall said.” The article also goes on to state that it wasn’t until employees began speaking out against conditions and fear for their own safety due to the company’s lack of procedures and precautions, that they started implementing safety precautions for customers and employees. -
2020-05-01
Walmart Associate Checks Coworker’s Temperatures
The day this photograph was taken was the day that my father, a Wal-Mart employee, was commissioned to begin taking the temperature of all Wal-Mart employees in the store. His regular duties were covered by another employee and each time a fellow coworker entered the building, they had to have their temperature read, recording, and asked a number of questions to ensure it would be safe for them to work their shift that day. This was never a procedure until COVID-19 spread and Wal-Mart employees were deemed “essential workers”. -
2020-10-29
San Antonio Family Bar
This news article is about the San Antonio Shiran family business during COVID-19. In July 2020, the family tested positive and the husband/father, Harvey, was in the ICU for the month. This forced the wife/mother, Lindsey, to take over the family business. I also attached another news article about a Bexar County grant program for bars and restaurants affected by COVID-19. -
2020-07-22
Black Friday for Walmart Employees
What I have submitted is important to me, because while I have worked retail and understand the important of everyone being able to share Thanksgiving with their families and friends and also the importance of everyone’s safety during the pandemic, I happen to be someone that did not celebrate Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving day. My family was always working and instead of being home alone on the holiday, I went shopping by myself, or if I was lucky, with a friend. I’m beyond ecstatic for retail workers that will finally get to spend the holiday with their families and friends as some have not had the holiday off in over 20 years. Perhaps this year, we as a family, will celebrate on Thanksgiving day for the first time in almost 15 years. -
2020-03-31
Retail Workers Rushing to Fill Non-Essential Shelves
When the panic at the grocery stores happened, essentials were the first to go, but shortly after everyone was forced to stay inside, many were looking for a way to fill their time in their homes. People were creating crafts, sewing masks together, exercising, playing board games, you name it. It’s important because while grocery worker employees were overwhelmed with the demand of essential items that were selling before they could even get them off the pallets, nonessential items were flying off the shelves as well, making their regular duties even more difficult to keep up with. -
2020-04-07
Permission Slip for Essential Workers
This photo was sent to me from a former coworker that was “served” a “permission slip” as she called it, for being an essential worker during the pandemic while working for Walmart. It’s important because while we would normally think of an essential worker as someone who is in healthcare or emergency services, grocery employees were considered essential for the items they sold that were in serious demand during the panic of the pandemic. All hands on deck is the most appropriate phrase here. -
2020-10-30
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
“Do you sell hand sanitizer?” asks nearly every customer that enters the door into the store that I work at. If I’m not busy, I’m usually kind enough to walk them down to the aisle they’re in (Aisle 12, Cleaning and Breakroom!), however, if I can’t take the time to, I tell them to follow the stickers we have on the floor that leads to that section. Sort of like the yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz led Dorothy and her gang to the Emerald City. Many stores nowadays have social distancing and directional stickers for aisles, but this is the only place that I have seen these types of stickers. This is something that I have come to associate with life during the pandemic; now learning to work during this.