Ο coronavirus has brought great changes in our daily lives, on a personal and professional level. From the first days of its spread Covid-19, the government took strict measures to limit it. Businesses closed down and those who could encourage teleworking. However, there are workers who, during the pandemic, are normally in their posts, trying to serve the people, in difficult and dangerous conditions even for their health.
The people in the front row are the employees at supermarket. They are also the little heroes of the difficult daily life of the coronavirus. But for them, people do not reciprocate with applause. On the contrary, almost every day they are confronted with the nerves of the customers, who occasionally break out on them.
The newsbeast.gr spoke with three employees in a well-known supermarket chain and they describe to us what they are experiencing difficult at this time. And if for these girls and their colleagues some are sparing applause, at least show understanding that they are there to serve you, when many enjoy the security of their home. At least this is the message that the three girls, who are deprived of their families for hours, want to send to the world, while leaving their home every day for work, they have the same anxiety and fear: what if I get sick too?
In every war there is a leader, a general and ordinary soldiers who are on the front line and each contributes in their own way. Something similar happens to the employees in the supermarkets and somewhat in the form of a short story, the Basilica to explain to her little daughter why in quarantine she does not stay at home like most.
The little one likes the story and is proud of her mom who is also a "warrior". And the truth is, as he tells us, that especially in the first days he felt like he was at war. Vassiliki is in charge, but that does not mean that she has the shot of her office. On the contrary, as he says, at this time he does not remember how many times he has heard a customer shout: "Where is the boss, tell her».
The biggest whining is about antiseptics. And the permanently noisy are the elderly, who not only do not discipline up to 2 antiseptics each, but accuse the employees of keeping them to themselves. "I try to explain to them politely, but they do not believe me. "They insist that we keep them for ourselves, for the house and for our relatives", says Vasiliki.
And he remembers an incident with a grandmother who had gone to the supermarket to buy only one product. "I told her with interest not to make unnecessary travel for the sake of her health and she said to me: my girl, now that our churches are closed we have nowhere else to go. "If they cut us off from the supermarket, we will be lost," he tells us.
So is it true that for many seniors the supermarket is something like an exit? As Vasiliki explains to us, in the first special time the customers were mainly elderly. Lately, they have also reduced the many unnecessary movements.
We asked Vassiliki how she feels about everything she experiences and with disarming honesty she admits that she mainly feels anger. Angry because many clients do not seem to understand that at this time, especially, her job is difficult, physically and emotionally painful.
"Every time I return home, my daughter runs to fall into my arms and I remove her helplessly and in fear. I run into the bathroom to take off my clothes to take a bath and then hug my crying child from outside. "And the more I think about what we go through every day, that we work non-stop, the more I get angry", says Vassiliki.
Η Sophia has been working in the supermarket for the last 8 years. They are in the hallways with food. And as he admits, he feels that he has no other stamina, physical and mental. "It simply came to our notice then. "Some people act as if we are to blame for everything that is happening."
In the first days of the ban, Sofia says that the situation was as if they were at war. "We did not have time to fill the shelves. "We did not even manage to take a break," he says. And she remembers how anarchic the situation was that she seldom cried.
In fact, when the measures started, Sofia had just returned from leave and everything was a mess. "I thought the end had come," he tells us. People remember that they were panicked and anxiously asked them if they would run out of food. They were constantly buying pasta, flour and yeast. In fact, as he says: "who would have expected that yeast would be in short supply". And it is the product they are looking for these days, which is to make buns, and they do not find it. "Many are angry that they do not find yeast and ask us for explanations," he says.
In the supermarket that works, they do not have security at the door and often perform the same debts. Especially in the first days there was a "slaughter". Others did not want the card and insisted on going in like this, others quarreled over who had priority and others did not keep the necessary distances.
When we ask Sophia how she feels about what she is experiencing, she tells us "irritability". She explains that she understands that it is a difficult situation for everyone, but her complaint is that many clients do not show understanding of how difficult her job is at this time. "We work non-stop, without breaks. "Our feet are swollen, I return home every night and my whole body hurts," he complains.
Η Helen is a supermarket cashier and one of the most exposed to the virus, as he comes in direct contact with customers, who do not get all the necessary protection measures. In fact, as he tells us, while plexiglass has been placed for protection, there are not a few who come from the side.
From the very first days, they themselves took the protective measures. She was constantly on antiseptic and alcohol, causing her hands to burst, turn red and ache unbearably.
Because the supermarket is relatively small, it knows most people in the neighborhood. She remembers one day, she asked a well-known elderly woman who was a daily customer before the coronavirus, why she does the same now and does not live at home and she answered: "My girl, whatever I was suffering, I suffered…».
Eleni lives with her mother, who has recently moved in with her grandmother, since she also works in a supermarket. "Every day and from the moment we come in contact with people, we are exposed. "The fear of getting sick always exists, which is why my mother moved, for her better protection," he says.
And after a short pause, he tells us: "Do you know what I have missed the most these days? To go home and tell my mother about my pain. To hug me and tell me: patience, my girl. And these people are crazy. Patience, it can rain, it will pass ".