A lot has changed since the discovery of the COVID-19 pandemic. People who do not hold guns or had not undergone intense military training are being considered the heroes of this pandemic as they help the world battle the invisible enemy that had already killed millions.

Due to the pandemic, many of the public had realized the importance of many jobs that were not muchly appreciated in the past such as cashiers, grocery store workers, and janitors. These people are doing their part to help provide everyone with their basic needs and keeping supermarkets safe for store visitors against the novel coronavirus. These are the people who are currently working in the frontlines with medical professionals. As medical professionals help cure COVID-19 patients, those who work in grocery stores, food service, and other essential businesses are also doing their part to keep everyone provided with their basic needs and safe from COVID-19 transmissions. 

Ending Hazard Pay 

According to an article, many grocery store staff will be losing their hazard pay as many parts of the country are letting businesses reopen. 

Since many states across the United States of America are in the process of slowly reopening their economies such as allowing businesses to reopen under COVID-19 preventive policies, many staff of grocery stores and other essential businesses are losing their hazard pay. However, there are still some stores that are continuing to give hazard pays to their employees despite the widespread reopening of businesses across the country. The target for example plans to give hazard pays to their employees who work in the frontlines until July 4, according to the article. 

They Are At A Higher Risk From COVID-19 Infection

Since those who work in the frontlines are getting in contact with many people, they are at a higher risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. 

Based on an article, there have been a lot of people working in grocery stores who got infected with the novel coronavirus and many of them had lost their illness with the new disease. 

Despite guidelines being provided to the public when going outdoors, 

The risk that grocery workers have to go through should be reflective in their pay. This can be in the form of hazard pay, sick leaves, paid sick leaves, and other types of benefits that are appropriate for these times. 

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They Need To Be Given Hazard Pays

Grocery workers and all those working in the frontlines should be given hazard pays as the nature of their work puts their health at risk from the novel coronavirus. 

Based on an article, hazard pay is given by employers to their employees whose nature of job poses a risk to their health even if they are provided with personal protective equipment of PPEs because the PPEs do not ensure 100% protection from the danger they are exposed such as the SARS-CoV-2. It means that hazard pay is an addition to the amount that employees are receiving as their basic pay and other benefits due to the risky nature of their work.