Scared to go to work

[Scaredtogotowork]

Let me start by saying I appreciate that NHS workers are currently carrying out unbelievable work; I am totally in awe of them. I’m sorry in advance if I sound pathetic.

I work for Sainsbury’s and I am not coping well. I don’t ordinarily suffer from anxiety but I am beyond anxious right now.

I’m on the shop floor (I’m a supervisor) all day. The managers continue to treat us like absolute shit and it’s soul destroying. We have no protective equipment, sanitiser, regular access to hand washing etc. My store is barely regulating traffic in and out of the store. The store is NOT cleaned properly (sorry if that makes people anxious).

I have asthma but am not an “at risk” person. I’m grateful for that but I’m so worried about contracting it.

I just don’t know what to do. I need to work. But I can’t cope with another day in that place and feel at breaking point. You wouldn’t believe the way we are being treated by management.

I’ve read so much conflicting information about rights relating to Covid. To be honest, I’m so exhausted I haven’t the energy to filter through even more information.

I feel at breaking point in this environment.

Understand

If they are treating you like shit, phone in and say your self isolating as have a cough. Give yourself some breathing space.

I have to say our sainsburys is doing great, 2 metres apart certain number allowed in and then it's one in, one out. Giving the elderly free flowers.

They won't be getting testing kits yet, not even the frontline nhs have got them yet.

They are saying they are getting testing kits. If we report ‘symptoms’ they will test us and if it’s negative we will be expected at work.
^
Absolute bullshit, don't fall for that.

Just as I suspected, georggg.

Green pop - sorry you also feel this way xx

I’m just not paid enough to be exposing myself to this kind of risk. I don’t have a high flying career to safeguard and it just seems ridiculous.

RESPECT to you ... seriously x
When my managers piss me off I visualise.
I visualise shooting their heads off with a shotgun. You’d be amazed how much it helps... try it now!

I went to Sainsbury's yesterday and it was far too busy and I certainly wouldn't want to be there all day it cannot be safe. Report it to head office - you shouldn't be in that position.

What a good thing you aren’t a nurse. You’d be getting dog’s abuse on here for admitting that if another thread is anything to go by.

Scaredtogotowork I work for them too and our store is not at all like this. Your managers need reporting. That behaviour is not acceptable. Our limit is 100 customers at a time but it has been lowered at times when people haven’t been observing the distancing rule.

You should have been sent hand sanitiser, it was distributed to all stores for colleagues to use. There were instructions last week for putting down floor markings and this week there was advertising to put all over the store about keeping your distance. You really do need to report all of this as your store is not following the comms that are coming from head office.

I don't blame you it is like a lotto for your life. DP is thinking of quitting, he can't afford to quit you'd think every person in the county needed to buy TV's laptops etc this month.
No protection supplied, he is hoping with the news tonight they close.

OP I hope you can protect your own physical and mental welfare in whatever way is best for you. I take my hat off to you and other supermarket frontline staff. I hope there is another job somewhere for you as its horrible to be treated disrespectfully at work never mind that you are working under such circumstances. Do protect yourself by whatever means.

You have my sympathy I also work in retail and you e described how I’m feeling exactly, in fact most of my coworkers feel the same. We’re sitting ducks waiting for it to happen to us, scared because I don’t want to put my daughter at risk 😔 also getting nothing from our company. They really don’t care do they. Really makes you think about your life and what’s important. Stay strong if you can, I can only say you’re not alone but I know that’s little comfort x

Wafflehouse Thank you, this is really helpful

EmeraldShamrock Sorry you’re also in this position, I must admit I wondered the same thing as your husband people are coming in to buy ‘essentials’ and leave with a single fucking towel rack/artificial plants/barbecues. Enrages me

tangledhair Thank you

Dizzygirl00 So sorry

Dizzygirl00 And same to you, I hope your company also pull their socks up xx

I know exactly how you feel.
I dont have anxiety ever, yet this week i have actually been ill with it, all because the supermarket i work in have done fuck all to protect us!
Dont believe for a minute the shite they are writing on their facebook pages or websites, its lies, all they care about is how amazing the sales are!
There is no extra cleaning going on, no proper social distancing, and i cant name the company but the only reason they have managed the amount of people allowed in the store now is because of bad publicity regarding an elderly lady who died and her son publicly blamed them as she had been shopping there and the store was mobbed!

I have to say, our store might be following the instructions but I still don’t feel happy about having to go in. It does feel like we’re all waiting to be hit with it, the atmosphere is very tense. Our managers are doing what they can for us and trying to get everyone through it.

It’s hard to be cheery to customers especially when they’re clearly not in for an essential shop, I was on self scans this week where it’s hard to keep your distance and someone was literally buying a single duster refill. Saying that, our customers are mostly lovely, I just wish they’d stay home more and come out less often.

to everyone working their way through it all. We’re always seen as bottom of the heap in retail and it doesn’t sit well with me that we’re supposed to be grateful for a thank you from those higher up that can keep a safe distance.

I work in NHS admin in a busy hospital and feel exactly the same. I've been signed off for 2 weeks but feel so terribly guilty. Crying constantly. DD asthmatic so just plain scared!

We are not all made to be heroes

popcornpaws Spot on. Send in solidarity x

I meant to say ‘sending’ not send!!

Wafflehouse Totally agree with everything you’ve said.

Black Tuesday - thanks for your response. Well done for doing the right thing for you. Hope the time away helps x

The store is failing to:
Keep their workers safe
Instigate head office advice
Protect their customers

Probably because the manager wants good financial results over carrying out their basic health and safety responsibilities.
Please report this to HO whilst seeing if other supermarkets are looking for staff.
They will have massive staff attrition if they continue. If the HO people do not believe it, ask them to send a regional manager over for a spot check.

Does this help: section44.co.uk

Might be worth a call to ACAS

I'm sorry you are being treated so shit by your managers...it's not acceptable.