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Coronavirus Made Me An “Essential” Worker
But Attitudes Towards Retail Workers Have Remained The Same
I’ve always worked in retail. From supermarkets to coffee shops, customer service is what I know. I also know how bloody hard it can be. So when I see or hear someone describing retail work as “unskilled,” or “easy,” it makes my blood boil, as this sort of ignorant assumption usually comes from someone who’s never worked a day in retail in their life.
Not all heroes save lives, some stack shelves
It’s been almost four months since the UK went into lockdown and “non-essential” businesses were forced to close. Suddenly, my colleagues and I found ourselves among a select group of occupations deemed “essential” to keep the country up and running during the pandemic.
Since lockdown began, I’ve witnessed some genuinely heartfelt moments between my colleagues and our customers. Numerous customers have stopped to thank me for continuing to work throughout the pandemic, whilst praising our hard work to provide as safe a shopping environment as we can. Some of my colleagues have been given flowers, chocolates or biscuits as a token of thanks.
Sadly, I’ve also been witness to my colleagues having their personal space completely disregarded. People reach…
