Taking the Pulse of America's Grocery Workers

Taking the Pulse of America’s Grocery Workers A NEW SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETAILERS TO IMPROVE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

- Gina Acosta

Grocery store workers have been on the front lines of a global crisis for a year, and now we have a better idea of how they’re feeling about their jobs when it comes to support and training.

A new survey conducted by Chicago based EnsembleIQ Research Solutions — a division of Progressive Grocer’s parent company, EnsembleIQ — and sponsored by Waterloo, Ontario-based software company Axonify finds that nearly 60% of front-line grocery workers said that they experienced a shift in their role or job tasks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the respondents who said that their jobs or roles changed, more than 40% said that they received no training for their new responsibilities.

The survey engaged 754 full- and part-time front-line employees age 18 and older from the grocery, mass, dollar and club channels to learn more about their experiences working (and learning) on the front lines during the pandemic.

Job Satisfaction Is High

Many workers said that they received no training for new pandemic roles, yet nearly half of respondents said that they’re highly satisfied with their employer’s training program, and the proportion jumped to 85% who are, at minimum, somewhat satisfied. Among workers who were hired pre-pandemic, most maintain similar levels of satisfaction with the training and support provided during COVID-19 compared with before the pandemic. Segments more likely to have higher satisfaction were Millennials, full-time workers, those employed at small operators (fewer than 20 stores) and club employees.