Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons are installing plexiglass sneeze guards in the coming weeks to help protect their employees from the spread of coronavirus as they continue to work on the front lines of a public health pandemic. It's part of a growing number of changes the companies are implementing as they continue to remain open, including enforcing social distancing guidelines.Walmart (WMT), which is America's largest grocer, is adding the sneeze guards at its 4,700 US stores and at its 600 Sam's Club locations within the next three weeks. It's also adding floor decals at the checkout lines reminding people of the six-foot social distancing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control. The company said it also found a "new solution" for sanitizing shopping carts: a new backpack-style sprayer employees use to clean the carts "quicker and more thoroughly." Walmart employees will also have free access to telehealth doctor appointments. The copay is normally $4 per appointment. Walmart is also giving most of its employees extended ability to use a new financial services app that lets them receive early access some of their earned wages.The company announced last week it was shortening its store hours because of the demand for necessities during the coronavirus pandemic. It is also opening its stores one hour early on Tuesdays to seniors only, through April 28.
Albertsons
Albertsons, which owns a number of grocery store brands across the US including Safeway and Vons, said it's installing the sneeze guards at all of its 2,200 stores within the next two weeks.It's also adding posters and floor decals at areas where people frequently wait including at the pharmacy, at check-out lines and the deli. Albertsons is suspending its self-serve bars used for wings and soups, adding special shopping hours for senior citizens and implementing more frequent cleaning of its stores and shopping carts.Kroger (KR) is making similar changes, including installing sneeze guards and floor decals about social distancing at its 2,700 US stores in the coming weeks. It's also letting employees wear protective masksRead More – Source
