Health workers and people in the security forces are working on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis. But there’s an increasing appreciation of the risks being taken by shelf stockers and cashiers at the grocery stores that continue to feed the region. Luckily for them, the owners of the stores appear to be doing what they can to make their work as safe as possible. The trend has reached Slovakia, where they’re installing plexiglass barriers in front of cashier machines and encouraging customers to pay without cash. Opening hours are also being adjusted with a view to conserving the energy of their staff, often closing by 9 pm, as in the case of Tesco. “We fully appreciate the important role securing groceries for the people of Slovakia has,” said Tesco’s CEO Martin Kuruc. “We’re doing as much as possible to help our colleagues in the stores.” Kaufland stores are now closing by 7 p.m. while DM drugstores will be closed on Sunday. There are also cases of mutual cooperation, such as Lidl’s agreement to take on 50 employees of the bookstore chain Panta Rhei who are currently unable to put them to work.
