Front-line Workers
Nothing short of unsung heroes.
That's how Jeff Galmarini sees his employees at the Giant Eagle in Slippery Rock.
Balancing a tremendous community need for food with unprecedented safety concerns, the store's 75 employees, “are working endless hours as they maintain a very positive attitude … I am so proud of them … I truly believe our managers and team member are 'first responders' during these times.”
Galmarini, who began his career as a 16-year-old grocery bagger, has more than 40 years in the industry working his way up to corporate management, and six years as private owner of the Slippery Rock store.
Even with those types of credentials, current conditions inside the store — and all grocers — are unprecedented, he said.
Shoppers, who at first panic-purchased toilet paper and hand sanitizer, have grown into a getting-items-quickly, distantly and safely mode.
“We understand the dynamics are changing with needs. So we are adapting with changes,” Galmarini said. “Right now, customers don't want to touch anything.”
Although the store's interior has been fitted with new distance marking tape and Plexiglas shields, the most popular service has become curbside pickup.
“We increased our Curbside Express pick up and delivery available time slots,” Galmarini said.
Where once the store filled 10 to 15 curbside orders daily, workers now scramble to shop for about 154 customers a day.
But to maintain the supply chain, fill the orders and keep everything clean, store hours were reduced to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Although this store is independently owned, it still follows corporate standards. And, it followed state guidelines and restrictions, limiting the maximum number of customers to half the 700 people occupancy permit. It created one-way aisles and designated dedicated entrance and exit doors.
“Every hour we ring a bell in the store. Employees must stop what they are doing and sanitize their hands and work area,” he said.
The changes, especially the uptick in curbside customers, prompted the need for new equipment and additional training.
“This has changed everything,” Galmarini said.
Galmarini, who noted about 30 percent of the store's employees are Slippery Rock University students, said they deserve credit for facing new stressors and accepting new challenges.
“They really are the front lines. My employees are working eight to 10 hours stressed out beyond belief. But they keep coming back every day,” Galmarini said. “They know they have to be there or there would be no food on the shelves.”
Some of these changes, he predicted, will last well into the future.
“There's no doubt in my mind we are going to have a new normal,” Galmarini said. “Everything is changing.”
