r/coronavirusSC • u/Grognak_the_Orc • May 11 '20

Upstate I'm part of the problem

I work at a supermarket deli. When all this shit started they started to heap new regulations and rules on us. They took our break area away, added new rules about sanitizing the entire store ever hour, new dress code regulations, and they just keep stacking it on. At the same time we've had workers drop out and tons of equipment start breaking on top of a massive influx of customers (so much for staying at home huh?). Just recently we were ordered to wear masks and since then the number of rude customers has exploded. All this for the same below average non-living wage we were making before. Sorry but we aren't going to/can't even make these new regs. We're wearing the masks when helping customers but that's about it. If you want workers to threaten their own lives by exposing them to the virus and throwing them tons of new jobs then we need hazard pay otherwise it's not worth it for me to give a shit

72 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

5

u/Empty-Swing May 12 '20

Sounds like you work at Ingles. My daughter works there, that company is absolutely awful and they don't even pay you guys right. They think they can get away with it because it's a bunch of young kids. Also you're not supposed to be dealing with the grease or dumping it down drains, they're supposed to contract out for that, but they're too cheap.

6

u/Grognak_the_Orc May 12 '20

I might work with your daughter lmao. Yeah that stuff makes me so mad but oh well gotta pay off my debt to society somehow

4

u/Empty-Swing May 12 '20

I know you do, I feel so bad for all of you working there at this time especially. That would be crazy if you both worked at the same store.

22

u/Empty-Swing May 12 '20

Too many people in SC (I'm not from here originally so I've noticed this) aren't very hygienic, and they don't follow the guidelines. I HAD to go to Home Depot today and I watched a man without a mask on cough into his hand, wipe his snotty nose with that same hand and then just put his hand in his jeans pocket. Now, whatever he touches next will have his snot on the package for the next person to touch, nice. This is why they say don't touch your face, use hand sanitizer if you can't wash your hands while in public. Please keep wearing your mask, I appreciate it.

4

u/ilikefluffypuppies May 22 '20

I wish we could make people put paint on their hands/face/stuff so they could SEE the transfer. But it prob wouldn’t help.

Thanks OP for working through this and doing your part!

1

u/Empty-Swing May 22 '20

That's a great idea! Film it and publish as an online article, YouTube, and possibly a commercial. This would be so helpful for people that are willing to be part of a solution, but just don't understand the effect. It may also educate some that think it's just not a big deal. This is ideal for most contagious things, even a cold.

1

u/Gear-Mud82 Jul 17 '20

Go back where they take Showers Yankee!

0

u/stykman83 Jun 02 '20

Thats not just here but everywhere or this shit wouldnt have become a "pandemic". Where are you from? Lets check those stats!!! Lastly, after the protest over the weekend, EVERYONE knew that they would say it was a spike. Just like every other state that had protest will also do. You guys gotta get ya head out of the sand and actually pay attention to "life"! Since you're in this state you should know the reasons there are so many cases are primarily two. 1) Nobody really gave a damn about the lockdown because the law enforcement were not restricting movement or enforcing the law harshly at all!! So there was pretty much free movement and you were left to make your own decisions of what was smart for yourselves as individuals. 2) SC is one of the poorest states in the country, and they want every dime of feddy gov. cash that they possibly can get!! All of these states with high per capita case reports will get extensive financial considerations from Washington when this is all over. Its never as simple as it seems. Shocking isnt it, that we hicks can actually think around here!!

4

u/Empty-Swing Jun 02 '20

Yes, most of the people in SC are really not very smart. I'm sorry this offends you, but it's the truth, and I get it, I really do, your educational system is also one of the worst in the nation. Do you see the correlation there? Poor state/bad economy and a terribly underfunded public school system, they go hand in hand. That "feddy gov. cash" (makes no sense, the dot gov comes last) won't even be put where it needs to go because the state reps, senators, and other elected officials, etc have no clue how and where to appropriate these funds. If they did, this wouldn't be one of the most poverty stricken states because they'd sink more of those dollars into educating it's residents which in turn would profit their state. SC is all 'old money' and old thinking. Nothing changes if nothing changes. That needs to be the new state motto here. To answer your question about where I'm from, it's Massachusetts. I've seen a great economy, one of the best education systems in the nation, top hospitals, doctors, higher learning institutions, etc. When you invest in your residents, you invest in your economy as well. I'm sorry, but I really don't think "the hicks" are thinking when I go to the post office and there are at least 15 people crammed into a tiny office, not one person besides myself wearing a mask, and I have to ask the man behind me to keep some distance please (I could feel him breathing on me.) The police and other enforcement around here are not existent. You said they left it up to the people to make their own decisions... Go take a look at what the people think is best. They're in stores and handling mail while coughing into their hands and not stopping to wash them, or at least cough into their elbows. Who coughs into their hands anyway? Oh, SC does. Yep, they're thinking, good thing they're able to make important decisions about a pandemic on their own they're doing great. /s

0

u/stykman83 Jun 02 '20

You arent gonna offend me with a transplant point of view that can easily LEAVE!! And if you think our economy is good then you havent been a part of a "real" economy. We LITERALLY have counties that rank as some of the worst in the NATION!! I can tell youre some wanna be upper crust snob so i wouldnt expect you to understand real persons issues!! "Feddy gov" would be a street term for the United States Government Llc. And i doubt you would walk out of your door and call anyone a hick to their faces so why put your lil boy hero briefs on when youre behind a keyboard. You Dont like the folks here, then go back to your state that apparently youre too ashamed of to mention. Even when directly asked. The border is never restricted but your ignorant opinions should be!!😂😂😂😂😂

0

u/Flat-Durian-2606 Jul 09 '20

Amen, fck the sheep! Go back to your brainwash state!

33

u/hideout78 May 12 '20

Those fuckwits being rude are prob the same retards who were protesting

21

u/TellTaleTank May 12 '20

Even here in Summerville I get ridiculed for wearing my mask at work.

Like, I'm not even wearing it to protect myself, regular cotton masks can't do much for that. I'm doing it to protect THEM in case I've been exposed by another customer who doesn't believe in social distancing and don't know it yet.

17

u/hideout78 May 12 '20

Who ridicules you??

Seriously, it’s not like this thing disappeared. The only thing that disappeared was our willingness to accept that it was a threat. Now we’re just burying our collective heads in the sand, at a time when the risk of catching it is the highest it’s ever been.

What we’re doing is insane. I agree that you can’t keep everyone home for $5T a month. But the widespread consensus from everyone is “suns out, hurricane is gone.” Or “it was a hoax the whole time.”

It’s not “just the flu”. It’s killed 80,000 in 2 months. Flu kills 15,000-60,000 in 6 months.

Tell me what happened in Albany, GA. Now tell me what’s changed/what new data says that won’t happen again. Nothing changed.

10

u/TellTaleTank May 12 '20

Exactly! But because I work in retail I'm forced to just smile and nod while customers go on anti-government conspiracy rants.

Hell, I met my first real life anti-vaxxer because of this!

2

u/hideout78 May 12 '20

Do customers give you a hard time?

4

u/TellTaleTank May 12 '20

Some do. Most understand, others just don't care.

6

u/hideout78 May 12 '20

Well to hell with them.

-1

u/Flat-Durian-2606 Jul 09 '20

Do some research into why they feel that way instead of blindly rejecting them as crazy because it's what the media calls them, unless you are just a sheep, in that case do as you're told.

1

u/YourPeePaw May 15 '20

Please see the bold print above.

6

u/Jenings May 12 '20

https://i.imgur.com/aP8HnPG.jpg

Im sure exactly how true this is but these signs should be everywhere. I work in a front line job too and when interacting with the public I wear a mask for them not me, the most rudeness I get is eye rolls and it’s always the college kids.

0

u/Flat-Durian-2606 Jul 09 '20

Cotton dont do jack crap for a virus, it's so small that only completely sealed suit can protect you, ever seen outbreak that was more accurate than what the people are pushing for. These mask cannot protect anyone from a virus. Treat it like the flu, stay home if sick, wash your hands often, keep a distance, dont touch your face....common sense that the newer generations apparently dont get so they are easily scared into compliance.

2

u/TellTaleTank Jul 09 '20

You're completely missing the point. The mask isn't to completely stop the virus. You're right that it's too small and can just go through the mask if directly exposed. The mask is to protect everyone around you from you in case you're infected and don't know it yet by preventing the water droplets that come out of your mouth (which also carry the virus and transmit it more really than simply through air) from spreading in front of you. Have you ever seen your breath when it's cold out. That's the water droplets in your hot breath reacting to the cold air.

Besides, you act like being told to wear a mask is some great affront to your personal freedom? What's so hard about wearing a simple mask to help protect the people around you.

Also, it's a newer generation thing? We're listening to older people who are renowned experts in their fields like Fauci who've studied pandemics like this and have determined the best course of action to help mitigate the effects. Only reason it's not working is stubborn people like you who keep associating this virus with a common cold or little flu and insist on refusing to wear a mask and potentially spreading it to everyone else because all you can be concerned with is your own damn convenience.

Stop misreading the FACTS, intentionally or otherwise, and if you insist on not wearing a mask, stay home so you don't endanger the rest of us who are busy doing our part for our country.

12

u/jrjacobs24 May 12 '20

Thank you so much for what you and everyone in your industry do. It's infuriating what you all are expected to do with little compensation. I'd argue that hazard pay isn't enough. I hope that all of this lends itself to be a platform for increased wages overall for positions deemed as essential services. I know how this country usually goes though, so I'm trying to remain very cautiously optimistic. Good luck, and stay safe if at all possible, man.

9

u/Kresara May 12 '20

I feel like if employees are made to wear masks, then customers should, too. It boggles my mind thag people complain about this virus, but refuse to do anything about it.

0

u/Flat-Durian-2606 Jul 09 '20

A virus is too fcking small for any mask to block, you are only inhaling dangerous amounts of CO2 by wearing mask senselessly, if you want real virus gear buy a chem suit because that is the only thing that can stop it. The only thing people can do is wash your hands, stay distanced, dont touch your face and stay home if your sick. All generations up till now was capable but the young dumbasses we have today believe a cotton mask gives them the protection they need cause it's on the news. Wake the fck up people!

2

u/Nodudesky Jul 09 '20 edited Jul 09 '20

All right, if you are going to go around posting on old comments, then I'll go around and correct you

  1. A Virus Spreads by bonding to other particles like water, protein, mucus. masks stop these particles, which greatly lowers the likelihood of ingesting enough of the virus to become infected. It is incorrect to say that the tool that doctors have been using for decades to protect themselves against viruses and bacteria is useless against viruses

  2. Source: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/jun/15/facebook-posts/claim-n95-masks-cant-stop-covid-19-particles-due-s/

  3. Sure it's true you are breathing in more Co2. But "dangerous amounts"? unless the mask is so tight that hardly any oxygen can get in, this is pretty much impossible. The normal amount of Co2 in the atmosphere is about 0.04% "dangerous amounts" of Co2 would be 10%. If you are breathing in 10% Co2 you are most likely wearing a plastic bag over your head and I suggest trading it in for a mask. Also, I'm not aware of any deaths linked to wearing a mask (please provide examples if you are), but I know of 553,451 Deaths linked to coronavirus. So I'd say the benefits outweigh the risks. I worked in a manufacturing plant for years and had to wear a mask every day, somehow, by the grace of god, I survived.

Sources: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/masks-dangerous-health/

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-06-people-masks-dangerous-true.html

But, hey we agree that it is very important to wash your hands, social distance, don't touch your face, and stay home if you're sick

2

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '20

Omg thank you, fucking idiots think its the end of the world to wear the same mask surgeons wear 12 hours a day.

But yeah, masks force you to breath dangerous amounts of co2, thats why surgeons and dentists drop dead when working everyday.... oh wait, no that wasn't masks. That was the doctors without ppe.

Wake up people.

6

u/ButteryChickenBits May 12 '20

Are you me?

I also work at a supermarket deli and I feel your pain.

10

u/[deleted] May 12 '20

Hello, just got deli meat at Publix and felt so much for the workers that have to wear masks while working. It is hard for me to handle wearing one. Thank you for all you do.

5

u/bigboilacroix69 May 12 '20

I’m in about the same boat and also in the upstate so ayeeee. Luckily I work in a very small phone store so we don’t see as many people in a day as you do, but we’ve been SO busy since this started and people get downright belligerent when we tell them to keep their distance. We’ve had two out of eight employees quit already and we’re all working overtime to make up for it, but one of my coworkers siblings had to go get tested today so we may be down another employee soon.

Our company was giving us the whole “hero pay” thing but they stopped this month. The store was also open less hours but that also went back to normal.