Five years after the coronavirus pandemic began, many frontline grocery store workers say they continue to feel its impact, according to a survey released Monday.
The survey of 476 grocery workers, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, showed that more than half of respondents felt that their lives had changed dramatically. About 51.7% of respondents said their mental health suffered, another 43.8% said they were worse off financially and 31% of people surveyed said their physical health has taken a toll.
UFCW Local 770 and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) conducted the survey last year between Nov. 12 to Dec. 15. UFCW represents nearly 30,000 members in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Riverside and Kern counties.
Grocery store workers were deemed essential employees similar to first responders, but “lacked the privilege” of sheltering in place, according to LAANE.
The two organizations also noted that while grocery store corporations made record profits during and after the pandemic, grocery store workers — especially Latina women — did not share in those profits.
Survey results also showed that employers failed to provide emotional support resources for workers who dealt with difficult customers and exposed employees to COVID-19 through a lack of timely and effective protective measures.
Key findings of the survey found the following:
— Mental health impact on workers came as a result of contracting COVID-19, which brought physical, mental and health challenges. Mental anguish often outweighed the physical strain of the illness itself;
— There was a high number of workers infected at work, as some employees got COVID-19 more than once;
— Many grocery store workers reported being worse off financially now than before the pandemic;
— Nearly 50% of workers felt customers treated them worse during and after COVID-19; and
— Workers reported that employers failed to inspire confidence that worker safety was a priority.