In the supermarket

[Year6teacher754]

Hello,
I'm Just asking because of something that happened yesterday.
We went to Asda, we know some (15-20) of the staff there, because my DD works there. We had a chit chat (2 meters apart) with a few of them, as we seen them on the way round. Everybody was giving us dirty and Judgy looks. Is there anything wrong with doing this while your doing a big shop??

I used to work for Asia. Their aisles are never more than 2 meters wide. Especially, if you want to get to a product someone is stood near.

The social distancing in super markets is all well and goof. But if you get stuck behind someone slow, you can't get passed leaving 2 meters.

You say 'we' so I am imagining 3 of you stood having a chat, with one of you stood 2 meters away, has to have blocked people somewhere. I generally think people need to stop judging other people, but I can imagine this caused some problems for people wanting to get their shopping done quickly and not get close to people.

Its not the end of the world though, is it?

They don't know It was only a 3 mins chat unless they stood and watched you the whole time - I'd be pissed too if I thought you were chit chatting - i had to queue last week 90 mins for Sainsbury with a 4 year old (before anyone moans my DH is an essential worker working 8am-8pm which is the open hours for all my local supermarkets) - the constant advice is to be respectful of others - get in and get out as soon as possible

I used to work for asda...not Asia!

Oh this pisses me off. We don't have time to chit chat when there is a que outside. Everyone wants to be in and out ASAP.

Asda aisles aren't that big so you probably were blocking items of some sort.

I might clip someone's ankle with my trolley if I see it again

@ivfgottostaypositive

You are right they wouldn't know unless they had been there the whole time.
You shouldn't have to explain why you took your children, other people just shouldn't ask why.
I had to take my 2 children too because my DD can't do the shopping before or after work because the shop is shut then and the same for my DH who works in Sainsbury's.

I think the basic issue is if you're in a supermarket you're expected to keep on moving currently. Not hang about holding up the aisles as there's a limited number allowed to enter at one time. So if you stop to chat with anyone you're basically holding up the whole shop as you're not moving along to let others in.

It takes anything up to an hour to get into a supermarket because of the queuing.

Then when you get in you are supposed to go round in a 1 way system and stay behind the people in front not crossing round them.

This necessitates everyone moving efficiently and not standing around chatting.

I've been in a couple of supermarkets over the last few weeks where someone has stopped for a chat, a long spread apart queue has then formed behind them down the whole aisle and they have obliviously continued their conversation.

Once in the supermarket, move and get it done ASAP so that the people outside can get their shopping done. Anything else is rude and selfish.

I was a supermarket employee for many years. It used to be you could do your shop on your break/lunch time, before/after shift. Have they changed that now?

Imagine if everyone did this.

It is genuinely shocking if Asda/Sainsburys are now not allowing their employees to shop during their breaks/lunch time. Is this the case OP?

Your husband and daughter work from when the shops open to when they close?

@Lalala205

Each branch is allowed to decide themselves if employees can shop during their break and lunch.
The stores near us wont allow it but have instead said that staff can present their id card to the security at the front of the queue and they will be allowed in immediately or that they can go through the staff entrance down into the store and shop and then exit through the normal customer exits.

Not cricket OP. There's three of you and you're stopped talking.

No need for a 3 minute chat. How old are your younger two?

I queued at Morrison’s for an hour a few weeks ago, when I got to the front the lady on the door commented that the ‘shop isn’t actually that busy inside but there are a few people chatting on fresh produce and veg sections so we’ve got to move them on before we can let anyone else in’.

This is the reason why I would have probably tutted at you chatting too. Get in the supermarket, get what you need and go, otherwise it’s really not fair to those outside waiting!

@TheGreatWave
I have a 21 month old and a 5 year old.

Yes you were wrong. Go in, do your shopping, leave. Simple. It's absolutely not the time or place to have even a quick chat and I don't believe there was a 2m passing distance all around you, that's a huge supermarket if there was.

Supermarkets are limiting numbers, so you stopping to chat to several staff, for several minutes each, would cause problems.

@Hippywannabe

They are working 12-14 hour shifts.

So they're not allowed to shop on lunch hour? Unless they present their ID at the door on lunch hour, and then they're allowed to shop? But not on lunch hour? Umm, eh?

@Lalala205
They can't shop whatsoever on their break or lunch.

I was in the supermarket the other day and bumped into someone we know who has recently lost their mother. I’m afraid I did stop and express my condolences at a distance of 2m and asked how they were all getting on.

I assume a little compassion is still acceptable.

I had this problem in the supermarket yesterday, 2 staff chatting to a lady, all social distancing from eachother so it was impossible to social distance from all 3 of them as it took up most of the isle, and I didn’t want to ‘pass’ I wanted to look for the items I wanted in that isle. I didn’t give dirty looks I just asked them to move but (about 6 times to be able to grab the things I wanted from down there). I don’t think you did anything majorly wrong but it’s still annoying and in the way so I’m not surprised you got a few dirty looks, supermarkets are stressful at the min anyway, it’s easier if everyone just gets what they want and leaves with a quick hello to people they no.

Madnessitellyou - people are commenting on the Op, not your specific individual experience.

Unless the several people the Op stopped to chat to at 3 minutes a pop all lost their Mothers, it's not really the same situation is it?

So basically OP just about everyone has told you that YABU for chatting and thereby holding up the queue. If 10 different people stopped to chat for 3 minutes each, as well as the safe distancing aspect that would mean the queue outside would be 30 minutes longer.

I’m embarrassed for you if you’re a teacher and don’t understand that simple principle. Presumably you’ll be going in again so what do you intend to do next time?

They are working 12-14 hour shifts.

Both of them are doing this 7 days a week & there's absolutely no possibility of either of them doing the shop or staying home with the littlies during any of the local supermarket opening times?