Canadian HR Reporter

E D I T O R I A L 6 www.hrreporter.com EDITORIAL Editor/Supervisor: Sarah Dobson Employment Law Editor: Jeffrey R. Smith Labour Relations News Editor: John Dujay Production Editor: Patricia Cancilla Contributors: Anthony Bennett Lorenzo Lisi CORPORATE Chief Executive Officer Mike Shipley Chief Operating Officer George Walmsley President Tim Duce Chief Information Officer Colin Chan Human Resources Manager Julia Bookallil ADVERTISING Business Development Manager: Fred Crossley (416) 644-8740 ext. 236 fred.crossley@keymedia.com Vice President Sales John Mackenzie PRODUCTION Designer: Ace Dequina Production Coordinator: Kim Kandravy Client Success Coordinator: Kshipra Dhindaw MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Subscriptions and Circulation Manager: Keith Fulford Marketing Coordinator: Charlyn Macaraeg Global Head of Media Marketing: Adrijana Monevska ISSUE 33.09.2020 www.hrreporter.com Will retail work ever be the same again? ONE of the more confounding aspects of the COVID-19 virus is the many different ways it impacts people. Every day, for example, we learn more about how certain income groups, ethnic groups or geographical locations have been more susceptible to the disease, for a variety of reasons. And, unlike the flu, which generally knocks workers off their feet for a few trying days, the symptoms and effects of the Coronavirus run the full spectrum from no ill effects to full-on intubation, if not death. Then there are the consequences for the workplace. While thousands of employees made the switch relatively smoothly from the office to the home office, many others suddenly faced a high-risk, high- stress environment when it came to the health-care setting. The retail and hospitality sectors have also undergone a major upheaval. Within days, workers were wearing masks and gloves, and within weeks, plexiglass partitions separating them from customers became commonplace. And while some amount of risk is expected in health care, it's unlikely the many other workers on the front lines in grocery stores and restaurants ever expected they'd have to undergo such a transformation. I think of this each time I go into a store or try out a patio for a meal. I think about how sheltered I am, working from home, only worrying about my health and safety when I venture out a few times during the week. These workers in the grocery stores and hotels and taxis are worrying about their health and safety each and every day, for several hours straight. They have to prepare for each workday by donning the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and bracing for potentially abrasive customers unhappy with pandemic restrictions and requirements or stressed out by their financial situation. John Dujay delves into the changing world of the work environment in his story "Mental health a focus as risks rise for retail" on pg. 12 of this issue. For employers, the challenges when it comes to effective recruitment, retention and training, along with boosting morale, must be momentous. They must wonder: Will retail work ever be the same again? It's unlikely that the many workers on the front lines ever expected they'd have to undergo such a transformation. Sarah Dobson, editor, Canadian HR Reporter group Contents of Canadian HR Reporter are copyright © 2020 HAB Press Limited and may not be reproduced in whole or part without written consent. HAB Press Limited disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. HST/GST # 70318 4911 RT0001 Canada Post – Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement 41261516 International Standard Serial Number 0838-228X. 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