Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

CoronavirusUSALatest NewsMental healthRetail

Supermarket workers at heightened risk of Covid-19 infection

by Rob Moss 30 Oct 2020
by Rob Moss 30 Oct 2020 Photo: Richard B. Levine/SIPA USA/PA Images
Photo: Richard B. Levine/SIPA USA/PA Images

Essential workers in supermarkets are at a much higher risk of coronavirus infection than the general population, with those in customer-facing roles being five times more likely to be infected.

Researchers in the US and Taiwan also found that, of those testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that leads to Covid-19 infection, three quarters had no symptoms.

While many studies have looked at infection rates among healthcare workers, few have looked at the prevalence of Covid-19 among frontline retail staff. The research, published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, also looked at the psychological impact on workers.

Infections in the workplace

Coronavirus: Covid-19 workplace risk assessment

B&Q reinstates worker who had Covid-19 after appeal

Tesco to create 16,000 new jobs as online sales soar

Researchers at Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health studied 104 grocery store employees in Boston who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 as part of the city’s mandatory testing regime in May 2020.

One in five (21%) were found to be infected, 76% of whom were asymptomatic. Furthermore, over 90% of those testing positive worked with “significant direct exposure” to customers.

Managers, with exposure from both customers and colleagues, also had increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 possibly due to frequent interpersonal contact, leading to higher infection rates.

The researchers acknowledged that their study had limitations, including a relatively small sample size and the analysis happening at a single point in time, but because the participants were restricted to grocery retail employees from one store this could eliminate confounding factors such as socio-economic status.

Fan Yun-Lan, a doctor at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, and his colleagues at Harvard said: “This is the first study to demonstrate the significant asymptomatic infection rate, exposure risks, and associated psychological distress of grocery retail essential workers during the pandemic. Once essential workers are infected with SARS-CoV-2, they may become a significant transmission source for the community they serve.”

Previous research has found the prevalence of anxiety among healthcare workers has ranged from 20% to 65% during the Covid-19 pandemic, but 24% of these workers in the Boston supermarket had at least mild anxiety, suggesting that other essential workers experience similar levels of psychological distress. The inability to practice social distancing consistently at work was a significant risk factor for anxiety and depression among the participants.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“While we are unable to discern the direction of the effect due to the cross-sectional nature of this study, these mental health findings support the need to implement further preventive strategies and to provide additional mental health assistance to essential employees,” said the authors.

HR roles in retail and wholesale on Personnel Today


Browse more HR roles in retail and wholesale

Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. Rob specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and energy markets in Asia and the Middle East.

previous post
Covid-19 whistleblowers ignored and dismissed by employers
next post
Personnel Today Awards 2020: HR Tech Provider of the Year shortlist

You may also like

Poundland jobs at risk as parent group seeks...

19 May 2025

Next to improve wage-setting transparency after shareholder pressure

16 May 2025

Tribunal finds need for degree in redundancy selection...

14 May 2025

Burberry puts 1,700 jobs at risk in cost-cutting...

14 May 2025

M&S pauses hiring as it deals with cyber...

2 May 2025

M&S unfairly dismissed pregnant bakery worker

29 Apr 2025

Retail HRDs say Employment Rights Bill will have...

29 Apr 2025

Primark boss resigns after ‘error of judgment’

31 Mar 2025

Asda increases hourly pay and enhances family-friendly policies

28 Mar 2025

WH Smith confirms sale of high street shops...

28 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today