3 area Giant Eagles break with policy to open early
By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
Giant Eagle announced last week it would open stores an hour early for those age 60 and older during the coronavirus outbreak, but the corporate announcement didn’t include information about stores that took a different approach.
Archie Allridge, owner of the Fisher Heights, Finleyville and Uniontown Giant Eagle sites, said his stores will not open an hour early, which would be at 6 a.m., because it is not in the best interest of his employees and their health. The stores will also close earlier than usual, with operating hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Allridge said. “I don’t want my people to be stressed and get sick. As much as I would like to not lose a sale, I have to take care of my people.”
Allridge said his employees have been given raises and received gift cards as rewards for their work during this difficult time.
“If I work them too much, they’re not going to come to work,” Allridge said.
He has switched some employees to 12-hour shifts, which has eliminated overtime in some instances and given workers more time to be at home with their families.
He has also moved some employees to overnight shifts, which will limit their exposure to the public. Those workers will clean and restock shelves.
Allridge said while he has concerns about his elderly customers, he also has to think customers who can’t come in until the afternoon and what will still be available for them to buy.
“Giant Eagle is doing the best they can and they’re doing a wonderful job, but what they can’t get, I can’t get,” Allridge said. “Our business has doubled, which is an issue itself, but I have to play the card I’m dealt.”
He said his employees’ health has been really good, with no call offs.
“They’ve all pitched in really well,” Allridge said. “This has been a family-run business for 60 years and there’s a reason it survives like that.”
At Giant Eagle in Elizabeth, White Oak, McKeesport and Tri-County Plaza in Rostraver Township, the stores will open from 6-7 a.m. for elderly shoppers Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will close at 10 p.m. All other days the Elizabeth, White Oak and Rostraver stores are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
McKeesport is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for all customers Mondays through Saturdays and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
According to www.gianteagle.com, store employees won’t be checking IDs for age confirmation, but they are asking other customers to respect the dedicated hour for the more vulnerable.
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