HOW INDUSTRY IS STEPPING UP TO REWARD FRONT-LINE EMPLOYEES

 Many front-line workers in the grocery, banking, food and retail sectors will receive temporary pay increases to reflect the hardship and increased danger of their work. Labour groups are calling for broader access to hazard pay and protections for workers exposed to risk. Several big banks are offering extra per diem pay for workers who have to be on-site, along with additional paid days off if they need to take care of their family members or themselves. More food retailers have offered their store staff a bonus for working on the coronavirus ‘front line’, putting pressure on all supermarkets to similarly reward their workers.

However, responses have been uneven. Front-line workers in some industries, such as personal support or cleaning, have not yet seen wage adjustments. Several governments have not stepped in with regulations mandating wage bumps for front-line workers in industries. Major grocery retailers have voluntarily increased pay for staff in their stores and distribution centres. It encourages staff to continue to come into work and it may preclude governments from stepping in with steeper, more prolonged wage increases. According to retailers, it is really hard to convince people to come to work and risk the health of their families. On the contrary, hazard pay is nothing new. It has existed in various industries for years as a policy. With increasing rise in pandemic, front-line employees are ought to work at the restricted time schedule. Another way industries could consider rewarding staff is through shift-retention bonuses, in which workers who show up for a set number of shifts during the pandemic period are paid an additional lump sum. Providing workers with drastic wage increases its own challenges, including having the effect of compelling people to come into work even if they are feeling unwell. With the outrage of covid'19, people are therefore prefering online grocery stores. However, supermarkets are incurring considerable cost growth and very volatile trading patterns.

While major grocers and banks are rolling out hourly wage increases or daily stipends for public-facing workers, there are some companies that are not providing pay bumps in light of the health risks associated with the pandemic. Although most organizations have implemented measures to ensure physical safety, such as extra cleanliness of work surfaces or physical barriers to protect their public-facing employees, few have provided additional premiums to reward for services so far. Some of the companies are making workers go through 12 hours shift 5 days a week, with no additional bonuses for risking their as well as their loved ones life in these crucial times.

People are working very closely with all levels of government to really push the message out that people should not be shopping if they are ill and they should not be going to a grocery store or a drugstore or an essential service retailer with family. They should be shopping alone because that is the only way that they will be able to protect both customers and employees.

Protecting the front-line worker and the customer is the number one priority of industry to help survive and support each and every one in this pandemic. By increasing wages and providing incentives to the workers, it would increase their motivation and determination who showup everyday with preventive measures in order to serve people their basic need and encourage them to self-isolate. We owe them all a huge shout of gratitude that they are still showing up.