1. When the pandemic first started the store erected Plexiglas barriers between the cashiers and the customer they are helping. At this time, the store also said that only every other register would be used to maintain social distancing. The barriers are still there but the concept
of using only every other register is no more. It hasn't been for a while now. There are 14 registers situated between the self-checkouts. There are not more than 8 to 10 cashiers working at a busy time and normally only 4 or fewer. Yet, management will have them working side by side. Especially in the last evening, after 9pm, when apparently it is only allowed to use registers 11, 12, and 13. This means that, sure there is a Plexiglas barrier on one side, but on the other side a cashier is merely a foot away or less from customers in the next line. 2. Meijer is not mandating the wearing of face coverings. There are signs, but no one is allowed to be turned away. More and more people are not wearing a mask in the store, even sick people who are coughing. When running a register right next to another open line, if someone coughs, they tend to turn away from the person helping them and right toward the cashier, or a coworker. This is an unsafe situation for employees to be in. Leadership is not taking appropriate action to address these risks. Leadership has said they can't use other registers because they remove the cash drawers from all the rest. Employees have been told this is the direction from the Store Director. The union says the store can do what they want. It makes no sense to that we have announcements over the intercom about maintaining social distancing, but when the customers get to the front we often herd them into clusters of lanes where it is unsafe for them and for employees, who mind you could be stuck in between two lines of customers who more and more are mask less. This is an unsafe working environment during a pandemic.
Source: Osha.gov | Receipt Date: 2020-10-06
Source: Osha.gov | Receipt Date: 2020-10-06
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