COVID and Retail
Dublin Core
Title
COVID and Retail
Description
The retail world was a stress and fast paced place before the beginning of COVID-19. Once COVID-19 hit, it was uncharted territory for many retailers that increased the stress and the speed that things happened. The situation became fluid and changed daily. Businesses either shutdown or went to shorter hours. Big box retailers had to set-up temporary policies to protect their people and business. The question of who was an essential worker came into play. People still needed their groceries and if something around the house went awry, such as the water heater going out, people need them replaced. Grocery stores and home improvement retailers fell under essential workers.
This collection shows how one retailer responded to COVID-19, and adapted to the situation. From continual staff updates, to social distancing stickers and plexiglass. They adapted to the situation and business continued. The company also took care of its employees by ensuring that there were policies in place to protect them at work, such requiring them to wear masks and clean and sanitize work areas, and if they got sick, such as giving them off with pay and sending a care package. The policies are also in place for the protection of the customers as well. Social distancing stickers spaced out by six feet and masks readily available at the entrances for those who want them, and by introducing new procedures not used by big box retailers, curbside pickup.
As the situation continued to evolve, retailers changed with it. Soon, what people thought would be a temporary change became a consistent one. Policies being extended from a few months to a year and changes in the way some of the new procedures were carried out to ensure efficiency and to fall in with guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The items collect reflect on a year of turmoil, change, and how it was dealt with by one retailer to assist and protect its business, customers, and employees.
This collection shows how one retailer responded to COVID-19, and adapted to the situation. From continual staff updates, to social distancing stickers and plexiglass. They adapted to the situation and business continued. The company also took care of its employees by ensuring that there were policies in place to protect them at work, such requiring them to wear masks and clean and sanitize work areas, and if they got sick, such as giving them off with pay and sending a care package. The policies are also in place for the protection of the customers as well. Social distancing stickers spaced out by six feet and masks readily available at the entrances for those who want them, and by introducing new procedures not used by big box retailers, curbside pickup.
As the situation continued to evolve, retailers changed with it. Soon, what people thought would be a temporary change became a consistent one. Policies being extended from a few months to a year and changes in the way some of the new procedures were carried out to ensure efficiency and to fall in with guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The items collect reflect on a year of turmoil, change, and how it was dealt with by one retailer to assist and protect its business, customers, and employees.
Creator
Aaron Krebsbach
Date
January 25, 2021 to April, 2021
Contributor
Aaron Krebsbach
Collection Items
Social Distancing Sticker
A social distancing sticker on the floor of a retailer. These are spread throughout the store and have been there since April 2020 replacing the tape “X’s” on the floor. They have been replaced many times due to damage from people trending over them.…
Curbside Pickup Sign
A curbside pickup sign in the parking lot of a retailer. A customer pulls up and calls, texts, or uses the app to notify the store they are there. An associate then comes out with their items and loads them in their vehicle. Sometimes the customer…
Cleaning Checklist
Every three hours everyone is required to clean and sanitize their work area and sign off on the checklist and at the end of the day turn it into management. Each department is responsible for cleaning its area and everyone is responsible for the…
Get Well Kit
A get well kit sent to an employee who tested positive for COVID-19. They are sent to the associate after they send in their results to the company and the associate is put on leave. They are given two weeks off of work paid, along with a drawstring…
Mask Sign
A sign asking customers and to wear a mask even if they have been vaccinated. This retailer does ask their customers to wear masks, they do not enforce it but do encourage it. They have several stands with free masks for customers to take as needed.…
Positive Case Notice
An internal memo that an employee tested positive for COVID-19. It is posted in a common area for all employees to see. It gives the last date the employee worked and lets all employees know that those who may have had close contact with them will be…
Plexiglass Sheilds
Plexiglass shields put up to conduct business at the contractors desk. They are also set up at each cash register, every desk that interacts with customers, and the breakroom. They are there because customers and employees are not six feet apart when…
Oral History Interview Joe, a Manager at a Retailer
This is an interview conducted with Joe, who is a manager at a retailer, on what the pandemic has been like for him personally and working in a retail environment. Joe talks about what it was like for him to be considered an essential worker and how…
Sanitization Station
Placed at every entrance is a stand with free masks and hand sanitizer for customer and employee use. These were installed in the Summer of 2020 and are replenished several times throughout the day. As can be seen this one is close to being empty of…
COVID Update Board
In the breakroom, there is a board. On the board is a starburst sign. This board is dedicated to the changing policies and contact information of corporate call centers for employee use. There are currently three packets hanging there. The first is…