When the provincial government entered into Phase 2 of restarting the economy on June 12, more retail shops and their employees came face-to-face with the new normal.
Facebook is full of retail workers posting about their recent dealings with impatient customers who show little respect for the service being given to them.
While not all people are like that, some folks who have been locked up for months due to COVID-19 and just learning to deal with the new safety measures aren’t handling it too well.
Georgian Mall has more than 100 stores and usually sees large crowds shopping for their needs.
An employee from one of the mall’s popular shops spoke to BarrieToday about their experiences so far since the mall opened.
“I personally feel it is too soon to be back to work. There are way too many people in here and no one is regulating it,” said the employee, who asked that their name not be published. “You’ll see large groups hanging out, no masks.
"It's scary to think that many people just don’t care.”
The employee said that while being a retail worker has always meant dealing with impolite customers from time to time, some have been very rude during the pandemic.
“I wear a face shield and I’ve had people tell me I was a sheep for believing the hype. One time, a woman who I had asked to stay out of the store as she wasn’t wearing a mask asked what I would do if she spit on me.
“Anyone not wearing a mask will always accommodate and bring their items to them, it isn't that big of a deal. I have people at home who are high-risk and I’m being careful.”
Inside the smaller mall down the road on Bayfield Street, Sunrise Records manager Gillian Dorella-Scott told BarrieToday the customers have, overall, been very positive since they reopened.
“Our friends have been amazing and happy to see we made it and are open,” she said. “Everyone has been understanding to the new way we need to do things in the store. I think they’re just happy to flip through records again.”
The staff at Sunrise have asked everyone to use the supplied hand sanitizer at the front of the store.
Dorella-Scott said they are taking everyone’s health and safety seriously.
“We wear our masks and shields behind cash while cashing out and if you have a mask, people, wear them. We are so appreciative about that,” she said. “Every time our customers leave the store, we clean all the areas and have a cleaning log and do a full store clean at open and close.”
