Due to the outbreak of the virus COVID-19, working conditions have become a concern for the employees of Value Village, West Ottawa. 
Collectively, we fear the exposure to donated items; furniture, plastics, metals, and clothing, are possible transmitters of the virus. The virus, COVID-19, can last hours on any of the given materials we have for sale in our store. 
As Value Village is a retail outlet, we collectively believe that it is not an essential part of our community at this given time. We collectively believe that the safety of the employees at Value Village needs to be put above sales and profit.
The employees at Value Village are entitled to self isolate during this time in the safety of their homes. This will aid in flattening the curve of the spread of the virus and help practice social distancing, as directed by our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. 
Many of the employees at Value Village have to go home to their families, where they live with others at risk to this virus, or they themselves are at risk for this virus. Whether or not some employees may be able to fight off the virus, we believe it is irresponsible to allow the spread of this virus to continue any further. 
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to grow in Ottawa, and we, the employees of Value Village, do not want to be contributing to that number. We believe in safety and health first.