'It's a bit tough': Independent grocery stores feel pressure from COVID staff shortages
Local, independent grocery stores are feeling the pinch on their workforce due to COVID-19.
In Manitoba, people must isolate for five days upon being tested for COVID no matter the result of the test.
For grocery stores like Food Fare, this can take a real hit on the workforce daily.
"We don't have a network of staff that we can move around," said Munther Zeid, the owner and manager of Food Fare.
"It's a bit tough, it's a day-by-day thing, and we're sort of rotating through the pandemic. I had two people off who just came back and then three people went away."
Zeid said unlike the big grocery store chains, they don't have the ability to bring people in from other locations to help make sure there aren't any staff shortages.
He said if staff shortages continue to happen regularly, it could lead to independent stores having to close their doors.
"Could it happen? Yes. Will it happen? It's hard to say honestly. It's going to be an interesting experience to see this."
The vice-president of public policy with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, Gary Sands said absenteeism, as a result of COVID protocols, has hit about 30 per cent throughout the country.
Lack of staff isn't the only problem grocery stores are dealing with. Shortages of certain products are leaving shelves empty for an extended period of time.
Zeid said this problem has been felt at his store but he has heard of problems with produce being delivered on time.
"We've been told that there's a bunch of produce sitting at the docks in Vancouver, Montréal. There's a bit of delay in receiving it due to COVID staffing, there's a bit of an issue due to trucking issues and because it's perishable, leaving produce on a dock, three, four, five days, basically could destroy product."
While there are concerns around receiving certain products, Zeid said that is something stores can deal with and more products will eventually come in, noting that as long as people don't hoard food like when the pandemic first started, they will be able to rebound.
When asked what could be done to help lessen the burden of staff shortages, Zeid said he would like to see an open list of people he could bring in from other countries to fill his labour shortage when it happens.
"For me in a grocery store, I need 10 people to speak with customers and deal with the public, everything else is labour," he said. "If I can import people from other countries to come in to cover the labour shortage that we could face, then that could solve it."
However, he added when shortages occur, he needs people to fill in within the week to ensure there isn't a major interruption.
Despite the problems that can arise from people being sick, Zeid said he encourages all of his staff to stay home if they aren't feeling well and he wants everyone to be healthy while at work to make sure there is no illness spreading among staff.
- With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Cybersecurity incident' shuts down London Drugs stores across Western Canada
All 79 locations of pharmacy and retail chain London Drugs were shut down Sunday after it was the victim of a “cybersecurity incident.”
CDC says it's identified 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles
Three women diagnosed with HIV after getting 'vampire facial' procedures at an unlicensed medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles.
Canucks pull off comeback, top Predators 4-3 in OT
Elias Lindholm scored 1:02 into overtime and the Vancouver Canucks came all the way back to beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Aerial photos show wide devastation left by a deadly tornado in China's Guangzhou
Aerial photos posted by Chinese state media on Sunday showed wide devastation in part of the southern city of Guangzhou after a tornado swept through the day before, killing five people, injuring dozens others and damaging more than 140 buildings.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Australian prime minister describes domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after protests
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday described domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after thousands rallied around the country against violence toward women.
Casey DeSmith won’t start Game 4 for the Canucks
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Sunday.
Putin likely didn't order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, U.S. official says
U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn't order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February, according to an official familiar with the determination.