Supermarkets need to get real!

[Justa47]

When will supermarkets stop being a day out and only allow single parents in with kids and not families and couples?

Why doesn’t one parent wait in the car?

@peak2021

I agree, but would most women trust their DH to do the shopping and get everything correct?

Um, yes. He's a perfectly capable adult.

I have sympathy for parents on their own with children in tow. I assume they are not out for a lark.
More than one adult makes me wonder. Especially when both are ambulatory.
There’s an argument for taking ones dear old mum to the grocery, but really, at the moment, it makes more sense to bring her shop to her!

I go shopping with my family. Two adults plus 3 children. 2 in a double buggy one holding on to trolley (hand sanitised before and after). I have a disability which means I can't go out on my own. Yes there are a lot of us. But we stay single file when other people are in the aisle. We social distance as best as possible. We get comments and hateful looks all the time. Getting a home delivery means we would be waiting for at least a week. Its not ideal but if we all social distance and be cautious of ourselves and others then at least we are making a difference to most people walking around close enough to see the stitching of your clothes.

Another body - another chance to transmit virus. You should know that being NHS - Why didn't he wait in the car?

Because he's 7!!!! No way I'd leave my 7 year old in the bloody car.

Some stores still have the hour for the vulnerable and elderly to go shopping with a carer etc. I will be using this tomorrow with the person I care for. He will go out for the first time in 2 weeks to the local supermarket and he will choose his own food. We won't be long but it is a hour dedicated for such folk. If you don't like it that we are doing it then stuff shit. I have phoned and asked and it's fine to go.

@Flaxmeadow

You think there is one volunteer for every single disabled person in this country?

For those who have no alternative for getting shopping, yes there is and it was how it was done in lockdown 1. But because most people get family or friends to shop for them they dont need it

You think it's ok to tell disabled people to lock themselves away?

No I didn't say that, and this is about supermarkets, not locking people away and most people can do at least one of these
Ask family to shop for them
Ask a friend
Ask a neighbour
Shop online
Ask a reputable local volunteer service

TBH your answers reel of privilege

No there isn't one volunteer for every disabled person.

No not everyone has "someone they can ask" and for others if a trip to the supermarket with their loved one or carer is the only outdoor pursuit a disabled person gets then into absolutely fine with an extra body in the supermarket.

Some of you are scarily lacking in compassion

I think this issue has gone way beyond shop staff 'asking politely'.
Shop staff should be more assertive with these selfish people.
FGS it's not a family day out - we've got a global pandemic going on😖

@Toomuchtrouble4me you do realise that the boy is seven years old??! Do you give me permission to take my 5yo and 8yo in or do I have to leave them in the car too?

WTF is wrong with people?! They'd rather a child was put in danger then follow his mum round the supermarket once a year. Have a word with yourselves you're embarrassments.

@Flaxmeadow

...but there's always something or someone online with a problem . Reminds me if the mango meme

What's your point - are people lying? Are hidden disabilities and single parent families not really a thing?

I'm waiting for your words of wisdom in what to do with my kids

@yulelogc

Another body - another chance to transmit virus. You should know that being NHS - Why didn't he wait in the car?

Because he's 7!!!! No way I'd leave my 7 year old in the bloody car.

It's ridiculous isn't it, some people's mind sets.

Actually the management of any business can reserve the right to refuse entry. So yeah they could stop them if they wanted to.

TBH your answers reel of privilege

I'm not privileged. I'm minimum wage retail staff

No there isn't one volunteer for every disabled person.

I didn't say there was. I said because most people have family, friends etc who can shop for them, those small percent who don't will have a volunteer each

No not everyone has "someone they can ask" and for others if a trip to the supermarket with their loved one or carer is the only outdoor pursuit a disabled person gets then into absolutely fine with an extra body in the supermarket.

Most people, the vast majority, do have someone they can ask and people are more than willing to help and no it is NOT fine for people to use supermarkets as recreational facilities, its dangerous for them, other shoppers and supermarket staff as well, and any of those who are vulnerble who live in the same household. What part of pandemic crisis/NHS on its knees don't people understand

Some of you are scarily lacking in compassion

No, they understand risk

@yulelogc yes, put your 7yo is danger to save others, we are all supposed to be heros and put strangers before our families.
I would complain about that staff member, children are terrified enough as it is and anyone who thinks it is ok to take it out on the little people is just vile.

As a supermarket worker who has worked full time throughout the pandemic - (in an upmarket supermarket if you get my drift) - most of our customers are lovely and respect social distancing and wear masks. However when customers come in without a mask - we challenge them & get replies “I can’t wear one for medical reasons” - what more can we do? They legally don’t have to provide proof. We’ve had a few customers be very rude to us when challenged . The security guards are agency staff - not employed directly by the supermarket. Some are great and some are shit! And as someone has already pointed out - we are minimum wage workers - even management are not on great wages and are put under a huge amount of pressure. The public need to accept some responsibility for their actions!

@Iseestupidpeople

Actually the management of any business can reserve the right to refuse entry. So yeah they could stop them if they wanted to.

Not on the basis of disability they can't

I didn't say there was. I said because most people have family, friends etc who can shop for them, those small percent who don't will have a volunteer each

Guaranteed there'll still be more disabled and vulnerable people than there are people willing to help.

Most people, the vast majority, do have someone they can ask and people are more than willing to help and no it is NOT fine for people to use supermarkets as recreational facilities

You're quite right - but for the many people who do need help, what criteria are you using to make your snap judgements that they must be piss takers rather than somebody who needs that help? Are you just blindly judging everyone as a piss taker?

Still waiting on an answer for what to do with my kids. Strange that people with such strong views can't give me an answer.

However when customers come in without a mask - we challenge them & get replies “I can’t wear one for medical reasons” - what more can we do?

Practically - nothing! Because aside from the fact that no one is obliged to give their medical history, staff (unless trained medics) aren't in a position to judge if a condition is worthy or not.

I'm sure you know that though, but not everyone does sadly

There are many people who have valid reasons and there should be no issue with single mums or those with an outside carer etc but women on this thread who seemingly can’t walk round a supermarket alone but can’t trust their partners/ husbands to either chose themselves or follow a shopping list. That’s pathetic. Both these men-children and the women who accept/ facilitate that lack of basic life competence.

There's already lots of threads about this. Personally I prefer to shop with DH and DS. When we had a slight reprieve in case numbers last summer I did shop as a family occasionally. Now that the signs are back up in the supermarkets I'm back to shopping alone. That being said we took DS to Asda last night as it was very quiet and he seemed to have a whale of a time. Not sure what about going round Asda in your PJs sat in the trolly is so exciting but then I'm not a 1 year old so what do I know?

Toomuchtrouble4me, you would leave a 7 year old alone in the car whilst you went shopping?

"Shop staff should be more assertive with these selfish people"

But then you get people posting on MN about shop staff "aggressively shouted" or "barked orders" or the old favourite "screamed" at them.

Its strange that people think that having a shop rule that says 'one person per shop' is ok, but having one that says 'masks mandatory' is not.

In the summer in a certain supermarket abroad it was mandatory masks, and no baskets, every person had to have a trolley (sanitised and given to you). You wheeled your trolley and therefore stayed a trolley length apart with aisles one way only.

dont supermarkets have security men , they are usually around watching for shoplifters, maybe they could enforce masks etc too

Not on the basis of disability they can't

No, but the "disabled" person's only recourse is to make a formal claim for disability discrimination, which wouldn't get far as the first step will be declaring (and proving) their disability!

@earnshaw47

dont supermarkets have security men , they are usually around watching for shoplifters, maybe they could enforce masks etc too

There are plenty of currently unemployed pub & nightclub bouncers, football and other stadia marshalls/stewards, etc., who will be trained and qualified. The supermarkets are making huge profits (as they're the only ones allowed to open now), so can easily afford to pay for some extra security guards trained/experienced in dealing with unco-operative customers. Perhaps the govt should make it a legal requirement for large shop chains to employ "proper" security guards to ensure compliance with social distancing, masks, etc?