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Hy-Vee requiring employees to wear masks at work

New mandate is latest protective measure taken by Midwestern grocery chain

Michael Browne, Executive Editor

April 28, 2020

2 Min Read
Hy-Vee store associate-face mask-coronavirus
Beginning Monday, wearing a mask or other facial covering inside Hy-Vee stores is mandatory for employees to help protect both employees and customers, the retailer said.Hy-Vee

This week Hy-Vee Inc. began requiring that all store and distribution center employees throughout its eight-state region in the Midwest wear masks or other facial coverings while at work in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

For the past several weeks, Hy-Vee had provided and strongly encouraged masks to all employees. Starting Monday, the company said, “wearing a mask or other facial covering inside Hy-Vee stores is mandatory for employees to help protect both our employees and customers.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Hy-Vee has taken a number of measures to ensure the health and well-being of its employees and customers over the past several weeks. Other efforts include temporary plexiglas barriers installed at all check stands and pharmacy, customer service and convenience store counters; social distancing indicators on the floor wherever lines typically form in the store; one-way directional signage for all aisles; sanitation of all carts and checkstand belts between each customer use; special shopping times for older and more vulnerable shoppers and more. The retailer is also limiting customer traffic in stores by recommending a one-person-per-cart rule.

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee, which operates 265 stores in eight Midwestern states, has also seen demand for its Aisles Online grocery ordering service has grown significantly during this time, and has made some adjustments to the program including opening more Aisles Online timeslots for customers to choose from; partnering with grocery delivery service DoorDash to offer 20,000 free deliveries to “high-risk” Hy-Vee customers; and setting aside a reserved Aisles Online pickup hour from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., seven days a week, for those who are considered “high risk.”

Related:Hy-Vee extends reserved shopping times for ‘high-risk’ customers to online

High-risk customers include those who are aged 60 and older; expectant mothers; and anyone with an underlying health condition that makes them more susceptible to serious illness.

Pharmacies at Hy-Vee locations are also open to serve these customers from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. These locations include pharmacies inside its grocery stores, Mainstreet locations, Dollar Fresh stores and Hy-Vee Drugstores. All other customers are asked to respect this hour reserved for these high-risk customers, and limit their online shopping orders to time slots available 8 a.m. or after, seven days a week.

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

About the Author

Michael Browne

Executive Editor, Supermarket News

Michael Browne joined Supermarket News in 2018 after serving in managing and executive editor capacities at leading B2B media brands including Convenience Store NewsLicense Global and Travel Agent. He also previously served as content production manager for print and digital in the Business Intelligence division of Informa, parent company of Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News.

As executive editor, Mike oversees the editorial content of supermarketnews.com as well as the monthly print publication. He also directs all content-based brand-related projects including the annual Top 75 Retailers report, Category Guide, Retailer of the Year, research surveys and special reports, as well as podcast and webinar content. Mike has also presented and moderated at industry events.

In addition to the positions mentioned above, Mike has also worked as a writer and/or editor for special projects at American Legal Media (ALM), managing editor for Tobacco International, special projects editor at American Banker • Bond Buyer, and as production editor for Bank Technology News and other related financial magazines and journals published by Faulkner & Gray.

A graduate of Fordham University, Mike is based in New York City, where he was born and raised.

Contact Mike at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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