121: Dominica Smith

Grocery Store Worker, GIANT Market

Dominica Smith is a deli worker at Giant Food Market. 

She is responsible for preparing trays, for keeping their case filled and for serving customers. She begins her work at 5:00 am  and came in earlier during covid to serve those 65 or older during “early bird time” when the store opened for senior citizens. 

She recalls a high level of stress during the pandemic. She was yelled at, cursed at, and mistreated by some clients. She felt that the tension and fears people felt about Covid and possible food insecurity were often misdirected at the workers.

Fewer people were working so her work load increased. Initially, clients bucked the rules of the protocol. This was very frustrating for her and for other workers who felt particularly vulnerable.

She did not get covid and she was very grateful and relieved to become vaccinated. Dominica is a very strong woman who tries to maintain a positive attitude and does her work one day at a time. To destress, she enjoys oil painting and Pilates.