[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/03\/30\/warehouses-and-covid-19\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/03\/30\/warehouses-and-covid-19\/","headline":"Warehouses and COVID-19: Safety versus supply","name":"Warehouses and COVID-19: Safety versus supply","description":"Amid COVID-19, some companies appear to be more successful at warehouse safety than others. Here\u2019s a quick look at what\u2019s going on right now.","datePublished":"2020-03-30","dateModified":"2020-12-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/marcia-yusavage\/#Person","name":"Marcia Yusavage","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/marcia-yusavage\/","identifier":298,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f9929f6ff16e34cd6d43daf18411658f8565960b4c0fd78662963005f1aa9afb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f9929f6ff16e34cd6d43daf18411658f8565960b4c0fd78662963005f1aa9afb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Future of Commerce","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","width":172,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/warehouses-and-covid-19.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/warehouses-and-covid-19.jpg","height":375,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/03\/30\/warehouses-and-covid-19\/","about":[{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/commerce\/commerce-general\/","name":"Commerce","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Commerce","http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q26643"]},"COVID-19 and Business"],"wordCount":694,"articleBody":"Companies are changing their operations on the fly to ensure their warehouses keep up with demand for groceries and other essential supplies while prioritizing health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.While many businesses are shuttered or keep their workers at home, other companies are running in overdrive with warehouse workers laboring behind the scenes to fulfill intense demand for food, cleaning supplies, and other items.Some companies appear to be more successful at warehouse safety than others. Here\u2019s a quick look at what\u2019s going on right now.Warehouses during the COVID-19 crisisThe CEO of a California-based produce bag factory moved fast to implement COVID-19 measures to protect his 250 workers.According to the Los Angeles Times, Emerald Packaging CEO Kevin Kelly and his team created a safety system that includes staggered lunch breaks, a new sanitizing protocol, outdoor meetings, and social distancing rules.This content is hosted by a third party ( twitter.com ).To view the content, either update your cookie preferences or view it in a new browser window.Cookie PreferencesNew WindowThis content is hosted by a third party ( twitter.com ).To view the content, either update your cookie preferences or view it in a new browser window.Cookie PreferencesNew WindowAmazon warehouse safety scrutinizedOnline giant Amazon, which has seen a tremendous surge in demand, says it\u2019s implemented many changes in its fulfillment centers to ensure health and safety. Last week, Amazon suspended shipments of non-essentials to its warehouses in an effort to address shortages as a result of the pandemic.The company said it\u2019s increased the frequency and intensity of cleaning at all sites, has a process for deep cleaning facilities when an employee tests positive for COVID-19, and made changes so fulfillment center workers can maintain a safe distance from each other.However, Amazon workers tell a different story, according to published reports.Workers at multiple Amazon fulfillment centers in the US say the company isn\u2019t doing enough to protect them while forcing them to keep up with extreme productivity quotas, according to Fast Company.Amazon workers have complained of shortages of cleaning supplies and having to work too closely together. Some are terrified to work during the pandemic.At least 11 Amazon warehouses have workers that have tested positive for the coronoavirus. The company temporarily closed some facilities, but hasn\u2019t done any mass closures – though it looks as if they could be forced to adapt as employees move to picket lines in the wake of COVID-19.This content is hosted by a third party ( twitter.com ).To view the content, either update your cookie preferences or view it in a new browser window.Cookie PreferencesNew WindowAt Costco, warehouse workers are complaining that the big-box retailer isn\u2019t doing enough to protect them in a high-risk environment, according to BuzzFeed News.Sysco shifts in wake of pandemicFoodservice distribution giant Sysco is expanding its focus on the grocery store industry in order to help keep shelves stocked during the crisis, Sysco CEO and President Kevin Hourican wrote in a note to shareholders.\u201cSysco\u2019s worldwide scale and network of warehouses and transport positions us in a place to strengthen the retail food supply at this critical time,\u201d he said.Approximately two-thirds of Sysco\u2019s business are restaurants, which have been hard hit by the pandemic crisis. The company continues to support them as they operate take-out and delivery options, but is increasing its focus on the grocery store industry. According to FOX Business, the company is considering lending its employees to its retail grocery clients in order to keep shelves stocked.The challenges wholesale distributors are facing vary depending on subsegment, said Magnus Meier, Global VP, Wholesale Distribution Business Unit, SAP.“Overall, it is now key to balance empathy for their employees and families with ensuring that operations can be maintained for the critical parts of their business, while also tightly managing cash tied up in their inventory of essential and non-essential items.”John Hopkins has a dashboard tracking global cases of COVID-19. You can find it HERE.Any buyer can post a need.Any supplier can respond.For free.LEARN MORE."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"30","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/\/03\/\/30\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Warehouses and COVID-19: Safety versus supply","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/03\/30\/warehouses-and-covid-19\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]