You’ve shopped during the COVID-19 pandemic. And you've seen the hoarding, the fighting, and the panic.

Have you been in a Trader Joe’s during this emergency? It’s so different! 

The staff is friendly and calm - they always are. They work at a breakneck pace to keep the shelves stocked - seemingly with no concern for the increased risk they are putting themselves at. 

I myself was getting nervous when the store was cleaned out for the third day in a row, and even though everyone there looked physically and emotionally exhausted, a crew member went out of their way to ask how I was holding up!

I asked this individual if they were nervous about coming into contact with so many people every day. They told me they were advising their co-workers who were at an increased risk to not come in, but because this person was young and healthy they felt a responsibility to be there for the local community. 

They explained to me that during this time they are not going into the back to look for items, but I've seen employees do this for the elderly - as well as offer them advice about the best times to shop to reduce their risk. 

Other acts of kindness I’ve witnessed:

Employees offering to shop for people who were immuno-compromised and too afraid to come inside the store. Employees giving flowers and chocolate to people who work in public health, or giving encouragement to people who were visibly scared. When the local restaurants let their employees go, I witnessed cashiers personally paying for groceries!

I’m organizing this for them. 

Given that Trader Joe’s has an annual revenue of over $16 Billion dollars, and has had record-breaking profits during the initial stages of this pandemic, I believe that Trader Joe’s employees should finally receive a substantive raise for their hard work and service. 

The Trader Joe’s staff has worked tirelessly and selflessly to keep their neighborhoods supported during this emergency. 

I happen to know that most of the people who work at a Trader Joe’s are barely getting by. I know that most of them live paycheck to paycheck. I know most of them have student loans they are paying off. I know that Trader Joe’s just reduced their benefits. 

I also know that in many urban centers where most Trader Joe’s are located, the price of rent continues to climb at a far greater rate than the paltry .60 cent raises these employees receive. 

The majority of the employees at my local store work two or three jobs just to make ends meet. 

I am calling on Trader Joe’s to:

• Give a $4 raise to their crew members and mates. This includes raising the wage cap for the people who have been there the longest. 
• Offer sick pay that is independent of vacation accruement. These hard working employees deserve 14 paid sick days that aren’t subtracted from the vacation days they've been working towards. (These days could be used to cover the elderly and immune-compromised workers who don’t feel safe putting themselves at increased risk.)
• Give employees a long-term equity incentive so that the employees prosper alongside the company.

What this pandemic has illustrated for me is just how essential the people who work in the grocery sector are! I've been guilty of taking them for granted. As an employee stated, “I’ve been here for the neighborhood for years. Suddenly everyone is grateful, but how long will that last?”

I can't think of anyone in my neighborhood who has remained as calm and reassuring during this pandemic as the great people (crew and mates) at my local Trader Joe’s - and doing it all with the good will and humor that they’ve always exemplified. 

In as short a time as it will take you to post a quarantine meme, you can sign this petition to show Trader Joe’s employees how much you appreciate them. 

The company could make all of these changes and still make tens of billions in annual profits. If Trader Joe’s is half the company I believe them to be, they will step up for their employees!