Hola. Me again, your favorite essential worker, with updated tips on shopping during a pandemic.

1. If you say anything besides ‘Thank you’ to the person cleaning the carts or counting the people coming in and out of the door, it’s annoying. Usually at my store that person is doing both jobs, cleaning and counting, which is difficult on it’s own - adding trying to answer questions and listen to complaints makes it absolutely impossible. Find someone else to talk to.

2. Your cashier is not your therapist. We are the de facto new bar tenders and we hate it. I don’t want or need your life story. If your cashier is talking to you - fine, feel free to chat it up - but for me I can’t do it. I am already stressed about working during a pandemic, I cannot add your stressed out story to my day.

3. I can’t hear one more person tell me that they ‘just had to get out of the house.’ I would kill to be stuck at home and SAFE! I am putting myself in harms way so you can buy your red, white, and blue plates, mini pool, and lamps for fun and that is freaking stressful. Obviously I can’t stop you from coming into the store for fun but don’t tell me about it. (PS. Online shopping is also fun. Just saying)

4. DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES. Every single person working in a retail store right now is risking their LIVES so you can shop for essentials. We are doing our best to be kind and helpful to you but if you come at us angry or upset you are bound to deal with the less pleasant side of an essential worker. I’ve seen a cart attendant and a customer get into a cussing match over cart being in a parking space - the customer complained to the manager - and the manager took the complaint kindly - and as soon as the customer left the store the manager was laughing with the cart attendant about how stupid that customer was. We are a team of people risking our lives for you. Our managers will appease you but they are always on our side, not yours.

5. DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT EMPTY SHELVES. There is nothing we can do about it. This is a WORLDWIDE pandemic. Production across the entire world is slowed down because people working in factories are effected across the entire world. I don’t care that you can’t find sidewalk chalk or a puzzle. Deal with it. Watch TV. Read a book. Find an alternative. If you are upset about us being out of anything besides food (which we are not out of) remind yourself that you are already privileged beyond belief right now.

6. DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT A FOOD BEING SOLD OUT. Again, there’s nothing we can do about it. And you are just being picky. We have never been sold out of every meat. We have never been sold out of every bread. We have never been sold out of every anything. You are just showing your privilege and we, as barely above minimum wage essential employees, don’t care that you can’t get your $8 organic whole grain half loaf of bread today. It will probably be in stock tomorrow or the next day. 🤷🏽‍♀️ But honestly I don’t care.

7. DO NOT COMPLAIN. ABOUT ANYTHING. Yes lines are long. Yes we are out of stuff. Yes nasty people leave trash all over the carts and store and sidewalks. Yes we are short staffed because employees are getting sick now. Yes staff members that show up are stressed and being short with customers. Yes shopping is not the same as it used to be. WE ARE IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. Get used to it or shop online. It’s not going to change for a LONG time.

8. Give your essential worker the benefit of the the doubt. When wearing a mask it’s hard to read facial expressions and many jokes don’t come through. Most of the time I’m joking when I sound like an asshole. But also it’s possible that I’ve been yelled and complained at for up to eight hours before I started talking to you so maybe I am being an asshole and I can’t help it anymore that day. Either way don’t take it personally. Get your essentials, say thank you, go home, and be grateful that you don’t have to be working at a retail store right now.

9. Wear a mask. We have to wear them all day every time we are working. The least you can do is wear a mask for the one hour per week that you are near us. Please protect your essential workers. There is a point at which we would have to close our doors if enough people were sick and couldn’t come to work. So if nothing else wear a mask so you can continue shopping.

10. Don’t dawdle. Come in, get what you need, and go. People lingering around the store is what causes us to reach our maximum capacity limit and causes the line outside the store. Think of the people outside in the elements who also need to shop for essentials.

Listen. Look. These are my personal views and not tips from any corporation that I do or do not work for. Just my thoughts for you.

We are in this together so be kind to each other and especially those of us who have to be working with the public right now.