I feel broken tonight.

[AnUnlikelyWorldofInvisibleShad]

I work in a supermarket. Thankfully only part time although I feel like I should be doing more hours. We have no food for the vulnerable elderly customers. I had to tell an old man we had no bread and I didnt know when we would have any for him. It's so busy. We are all working flat out on our shifts and we still cant get enough food on the shelves for them.
I am scared. I am scared for my elderly customers, that they wont be able to eat and I wonder how many of them will catch this virus. I am scared for myself as I am having to work there and at risk of catching the virus. And I am scared that I will bring it home to my children.
I just feel awful tonight.

It's touching to hear how much you care about your customers. It must be terrible having to explain that there isn't any left, I'm sorry you've been put in this situation.

Most big supermarkets let the elderly in first for an hour. Plus there are limits on certain types of food. I'm guessing these are things you're doing already? I don't know what the solution is

Thank you for your hard work at this time.

People are selfish. If we all just shop normally like we used to there is a lot to go around except people are buying 4 loads of bread and freezing them.

Easily to sit in judgment of others and spout this ‘buy just what you need when you need it!’ crap when you’re fit and well and have people nearby who would help bring supplies if you get sick/are au fait with technology to order online. Not so easy to say when you’re older and have been told to expect a period of isolation of several months, if you’re lucky. People are buying more than they need under normal circumstances because they’re afraid they won’t be able to get back to the shops if they’re poorly. The NHS and CDC literally advise people to buy more than they need on their shopping trips so they can reduce the number of trips they make. If everyone does add just a little extra then that’s an overwhelming strain on the delicate supply and demand balance in the shops.

Plus lots of kids off school and people working from home means many more meals to make, mouths to feed, getting through a tonne more soap due to all this handwashing. It’s getting boring reading sanctimonious ‘anti panic buying’ posts tbh from people who can’t seem to use their brains and think about how not everyone is in their position.

It has to be so tough right now. I worked in a supermarket 10 years ago and it could be challenging then for various reasons, I can't imagine the stress now. Thank you.

And thanks OP for all you’re doing! It’s hard work. Please try not to worry too much about the heart breaking cases where people aren’t able to get hold of a specific food item though, there’s still plenty of food, nobody is going to starve. We’re not used to being unable to buy exactly what we want when we want it so it’s jarring. But nobody is in any danger of starving to death because they can’t get bread or pasta (or specific tinned goods or whatever else!).

I think people have got so used to the convenience of supermarkets they’ve forgotten that there are other food retailers to buy from. This week I’ve bought meat from my butchers, fruit and veg from a market stall and rice from an Indian shop. A street market will be in my town centre tomorrow selling a range of food items including egg, breads,honey, fruit & veg etc. Even my local Costcutter has provided me with bits like flour. Luckily I know how to cook & soda bread is easy for anyone new to bread making. I don’t live anywhere remarkable and these shops and stalls are town centre so accessible to all...in fact more accessible than the Sainsbury’s which is slightly out of town. On top of that I saw a message on Nextdoor.com saying our supermarket was well stocked for food now so not everywhere is dire.

@AbsentmindedWoman I'm not entirely sure how much money a supermarket shelf stacker should be paid. It's certainly a vital job at the moment, but it's not a skilled one and no qualifications are needed to do it, so difficult to see why it should be rewarded at a high salary.

@AnUnlikelyWorldofInvisibleShad
Love this horrible time has brought the worst and best out in people.
Hospitals are struggling and having to make decisions who lives and who doesn’t get help,because people refuse to isolate.
You see it in the shops,people being selfish leading to people who need food the most not getting it.
Just take care love xx

I’m so sorry and thank you for all your hard work. Shop staff are amazing and we owe so much to you. Stay safe as far as you can.

Have UK supermarkets not introduced dedicated hours where supermarkets are only open to the elderly and Carers?
All the chains in Ireland have this now. Also the shortages, apart from soap and anti bac products all only lasted a few days. Most things are back in stock and supermarkets have changed their time and pay outs to enforce social distancing. They have hired more staff to clean everything and stack shelves.

I'm not entirely sure how much money a supermarket shelf stacker should be paid. It's certainly a vital job at the moment, but it's not a skilled one and no qualifications are needed to do it, so difficult to see why it should be rewarded at a high salary

Everyone working should earn enough to live on. You can't live on 1 supermarket shelf stacking salary without governmental top ups like tax credits.

Wages, especially those that are min wage or only a bit more, have not kept up with rising costs of living.

Does your area have a local older people's charity? Local shops should be able to help & deliver & you should be able to point them there tbh
Mutha k you for all you're doing in this difficult time

Poor you. Cant something please be put in place for the elderly in your Supermarket like they are doing elsewhere so that the elderly/NHS workers can shop first thing and that provisions are saved from them?
If not then what the hell are your Managers playing at?
Keep safe as best you can.

Hey!! its not your fault its the ones that are supposed to be runing and leading the country which there is an even greater shortage off that than loo rolls!

The old cynic in me says that the goverment ought to make the supermarkets get their act together after all what are they in business for?, to make money, at the moment sales are a big dream for them, all of them.

They need telling what to do by the powers that be or ough to be!

Once again thanks for doing what you do, but its not your fault we're in this mess!

Thank you OP.

Most supermarkets near me (US) have started a delivery service if they hadn't one already, with phone in/voice service for those who don't have a smartphone. One supermarket has a booth where people without bank accounts/smartphones, etc can leave a list and pay and come back next day to pick up their order, or have it delivered.

Could you ask your managers to try something along those lines?

Or start an elderly shopping hour and reserve essentials for this hour? All of my local supermarkets have a limit on quantities of items like bread and milk and bottled water.

are you in a big city, OP?
It's ok in our large town, no whole aisles of empty shelves, no pasta or loo roll of course, but tins, bread and eggs ok. No fresh chicken at all for the lats five days but I do go in the afernoon though you can get burgers and sausages, they do have it in the morning.

It's ok to feel scared OP. These are scary times.And it's ok to feel awful and have loads of other feelings and thoughts right now. You're a key worker in a time of emergency. Thank you. What would help?

Bet you didn't think this would happen last NYE.😲😂

Thank you for doing your essential work, OP. Stay safe xx

Thank you for your work OP
People on other thread admitting they had bought 3 months worth of food. No wonder shelves are bare.

Thank you everyone. You have all made me feel quite a bit better.
I am lucky in that I have had some people complaining that they cant get what they want but no one has been nasty.
We have introduced measures to help the elderly get food which is great but when we have no stock to put out for them I'm not sure how much it currently helps them. I suppose at least those coming at a specific time are reducing their risk so thats something at least.

Hi op, there's a group of people trying to reach out to vulnerable people in their neighbourhood. Maybe there's something similar in your area. It's called Covid-19 mutual aid on fb. At the moment they are posting flyers through doors in their neighbourhood. They've had a few elderly people get in touch already. You could contact them and see if there one already set up in your area or maybe start one.