In the chaos of this pandemic, I keep reminding myself of two essential truths: I can still step outside, and I can still acquire food to nourish my family. These freedoms are my lifelines amidst the turmoil.
I am grateful each time I enter a grocery store, find food on the shelves, and bring it home to prepare meals with my children. Yet, in these trying times, many seem to overlook the dedicated workers who put their health and safety on the line to ensure we have food to eat. Many of these individuals live in fear of illness, a feeling that no one should ever experience while performing their essential jobs.
Take, for instance, the man at the local fast-food restaurant who has greeted me daily for years. Yesterday, as he returned my credit card in a plastic container while wearing gloves, he mentioned that they were struggling to keep up with the drive-thru rush. He has no option but to work to provide for his family. His role is not just about serving food; it also brings joy to countless customers, including my kids who look forward to their weekly treat.
There’s also a woman I observed at the grocery store, diligently stocking shelves with toilet paper. As she placed a roll on the shelf, it was snatched away almost instantly. She repeatedly reminded customers of the limit on purchases, facing some unpleasant reactions and even personal invasions of space while she worked.
The reason we have food on our tables is due to the tireless efforts of individuals who process, transport, stock, and sell it—often at great personal risk. They are not only maintaining their regular duties but also adapting to the challenges of online orders, ensuring social distancing, and wiping down surfaces, all while explaining to distressed customers why certain items are out of stock.
Is it just to pay these essential workers minimum wage for the risks they are taking to provide us with necessary services? With most businesses closed, these workers continue to show up because they are vital to our survival. Would you take on such risks for a mere $7.25 an hour? Would you want your child to do it for that amount?
In the United States, the federal minimum wage is set at $7.25 per hour. If someone offered you a job that could expose you to a deadly virus for that wage, you would find it laughable. You know your worth, and you would be right.
It’s crucial to differentiate between minimum wage and a living wage. For many, minimum wage does not cover basic living expenses. With varying costs across states, minimum wage often equates to a life in poverty. Cities like Seattle and New York have been striving to implement wage standards that ensure workers can genuinely support themselves.
While we cannot assign a monetary value to the risks posed by COVID-19, it’s clear that service workers deserve a fair, living wage for their contributions during this crisis. They are the backbone of our sustenance right now.
Some retailers are stepping up by increasing employee wages temporarily, recognizing the surge in demand for their services. According to Womply, grocery stores have reported significant revenue increases, with many states seeing 30 to 60% growth. Certain states even experienced a staggering 100% revenue rise in late March.
Companies like Walmart, Target, and CVS have reportedly raised employee wages by $2-$3 an hour until the pandemic eases. Starbucks is also providing catastrophe pay for affected employees. However, is this increase sufficient? Reports indicate that essential workers stocking shelves still lack adequate protection, incentives, and benefits, while those in factories and on farms face even greater risks without support.
As the pressure mounts to restock grocery shelves, it’s essential that employers recognize and compensate the risks their workers face. With nearly 40 million Americans living in poverty—many of whom are minimum wage earners supporting our daily needs—an increase in minimum wage is long overdue. We can only hope that companies will begin to pay their essential employees a fair living wage as we navigate these challenging times and that society will finally recognize their critical roles long after this pandemic has passed.
For further insights, you can check out this blog post on related topics, or explore information from WebMD on pregnancy options. For a cozy atmosphere while navigating these changes, visit this resource.
Summary
The pandemic has highlighted the crucial roles of essential workers who risk their health to provide necessary services. Many of these workers are underpaid, with minimum wage often not sufficient to support a decent standard of living. As businesses see increased sales, there is a pressing need for a long-overdue increase in wages to reflect the risks taken by these individuals.