Reports from the front lines
Along with the increasing number of states that have issued stay-at-home orders comes the increasing recognition of hardware stores as essential to their communities.
By and large, hardware and building supply dealers are exempt from orders to close. But in a fast-changing outbreak environment, balancing service to community with safety to the frontline employee is the latest challenge for hardware and building supply dealers.
Retailers have enacted bonus pay, extra time off, round-the-clock sanitation and social distancing while rightfully applauding their frontline employees for acts of community heroism.
Still, according to one dealer, employees have been “dropping like flies” over concerns for their health amid the coronavirus outbreak. Other retail operators feel torn by conflicting goals of safety and sales.
Here are excerpts from recent messages that appear in the HBSDealer.com comment section:
Replying to Tractor Supply says remaining open is essential.
“We love our jobs at Tractor Supply Co. and we especially love our farmers, HOWEVER, something MUST be done about these walk-ins who come in with their entire families just for socialization and maybe some Birdseed.
It is of our opinion that the residents here are not taking Covid19 seriously enough. No matter the precautions taken, we cannot stop the kids from licking the carts and coughing throughout the store.
—“S.D.”
Reply to NRF asks Trump for ‘essential’ guidance.
As someone on the front lines, essential items are 1) Items necessary for survival of yourself or those you are taking care of while you shelter in place, and DO NOTHING that will get you injured. 2) Worth possibly causing the death of another person to obtain?
In our industry specifically, ["essential" means] things to keep your roof from failing, your house from collapsing, your electricity and water running, your ability to cook food for yourself, sanitizing chemicals, power strips, power generation, and medical supplies. We are fighting a war for survival and do not have room for DIY projects involving glitter glue.
— “K.Aguilar”
Reply to Harbor Freight responds to virus.
“The squares and the 7-ft. line gaps don’t stop the customer from being 6 feet from you. The register bays are so small that you’re on top of the other employee.”
— “E.Hill”
# # #
Share your comments at [email protected].
By and large, hardware and building supply dealers are exempt from orders to close. But in a fast-changing outbreak environment, balancing service to community with safety to the frontline employee is the latest challenge for hardware and building supply dealers.
Retailers have enacted bonus pay, extra time off, round-the-clock sanitation and social distancing while rightfully applauding their frontline employees for acts of community heroism.
Still, according to one dealer, employees have been “dropping like flies” over concerns for their health amid the coronavirus outbreak. Other retail operators feel torn by conflicting goals of safety and sales.
Here are excerpts from recent messages that appear in the HBSDealer.com comment section:
Replying to Tractor Supply says remaining open is essential.
“We love our jobs at Tractor Supply Co. and we especially love our farmers, HOWEVER, something MUST be done about these walk-ins who come in with their entire families just for socialization and maybe some Birdseed.
It is of our opinion that the residents here are not taking Covid19 seriously enough. No matter the precautions taken, we cannot stop the kids from licking the carts and coughing throughout the store.
—“S.D.”
Reply to NRF asks Trump for ‘essential’ guidance.
As someone on the front lines, essential items are 1) Items necessary for survival of yourself or those you are taking care of while you shelter in place, and DO NOTHING that will get you injured. 2) Worth possibly causing the death of another person to obtain?
In our industry specifically, ["essential" means] things to keep your roof from failing, your house from collapsing, your electricity and water running, your ability to cook food for yourself, sanitizing chemicals, power strips, power generation, and medical supplies. We are fighting a war for survival and do not have room for DIY projects involving glitter glue.
— “K.Aguilar”
Reply to Harbor Freight responds to virus.
“The squares and the 7-ft. line gaps don’t stop the customer from being 6 feet from you. The register bays are so small that you’re on top of the other employee.”
— “E.Hill”
# # #
Share your comments at [email protected].