* This is a living document that will be updated on a regular basis until it is no longer needed. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Safeway COVID-19 page.
April 14
Phase II-Vendor Health Screening Checks IN-STORE W/ OUT TEMP CHECKS
Dear Vendor,
There is no higher priority to us than your health and safety. Over the last several weeks, we have strictly implemented the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We implemented enhanced procedures to ensure our locations and all of our frequently touched surfaces are clean, sanitized and disinfected. We have also encouraged you to practice frequent handwashing and use hand sanitizer throughout the day.
Per a request from the Center for Disease Control, starting on 4-13-20, we will be conducting Health Screening Checks for all associates and vendors out of an abundance of caution. All vendors, including delivery drivers, salespeople, merchandisers, and other vendor employees, must report to the designated Health Screening Station in the store location before they begin any work in the store every day. Vendor employees entering via the Receiving/Back Door must report to the Receiving Area Screening Checkpoint. Vendor employees entering via the Main Entrance must report to the Time Clock Screening Checkpoint.
During the Health Screening check, you will be asked the following question:
Please notify the screener if you answer YES to any of the following questions:
1. Do you have any of the following symptoms, that are unusual for you?
a. Cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, chills and body aches?
2. Do you have any of the following symptoms?
a. diarrhea, nausea/vomiting?
3. Do you have, or feel like you have a fever?
4. Do you have a member of your household suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19?
If you answer “Yes” to any of those questions during your Health Check Screening, we will ask you to leave the store immediately and contact your employer and follow your company’s procedures. As always, if you feel sick or if you are experiencing any symptoms, we ask that you not visit our store locations.
Our company and our teams are doing everything possible to help curb the spread of COVID-19. This step is just as important as all the other measures we take every day to ensure we are maintaining a clean, sanitized and disinfected environment.
Please let me know if you have any questions. We hope you stay well during this difficult time and thank you for all you are doing to help our communities weather this pandemic.
Stephanie Maxwell Ridoré, Esq
Director of Human Resources & Labor Relations
April 9
Vendor Health Screening Self-Checks (Phase I)
Dear Vendor,
There is no higher priority to us than your health and safety. Over the last several weeks, we have strictly implemented the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We implemented enhanced procedures to ensure our locations and all our frequently touched surfaces are clean, sanitized and disinfected. We have also encouraged you to practice frequent handwashing and use hand sanitizer throughout the day.
Out of an abundance of caution, starting immediately, we will be asking all associates and vendors to conduct Health Screening Self-Checks. Health Screening Self-Check Signs will be posted by the store’s time clock and by the store’s Receiving/Back Door.
The Health Screening Self-Check will ask you to immediately notify your supervisor if you answer YES to any of the following questions:
- Do you have any of the following symptoms, that are unusual for you?
- Cough?
- Shortness of breath?
- Sore throat?
- Chills and body aches?
- Do you have any of the following symptoms?
- Diarrhea?
- Nausea/vomiting?
- Do you have, or feel like you have a fever?
- Do you have a member of your household suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19?
All vendors, including delivery drivers, salespeople, merchandisers, and other vendor employees, must report to the designated Health Screening Self-Check Station in the store location and complete the self-check before they begin any work in the store every day. Vendor employees entering via the Receiving/Back Door must report to the Receiving Area Screening Self-Check Station. Vendor employees entering via the Main Entrance must report to the Time Clock Screening Self-Check Station.
If you answer “Yes” to any of those questions during your Health Check Screening, please leave the store immediately and contact your employer and follow your company’s procedures. As always, if you feel sick or if you are experiencing any symptoms, we ask that you not visit our store locations.
Our company and our teams are doing everything possible to help curb the spread of COVID-19. This step is just as important as all the other measures we take every day to ensure we are maintaining a clean, sanitized and disinfected environment.
Please let me know if you have any questions. We hope you stay well during this difficult time and thank you for all you are doing to help our communities’ weather this pandemic.
Division HR Lead
Letter To Customers
To our valued customers and neighbors,
This week, families and friends throughout our region will observe Passover and Easter. From the Safeway family to yours, I want to share our warmest holiday wishes.
Together, as a region and as a nation, we are facing an unprecedented health crisis that limits our ability to physically gather to celebrate. But whether you are sitting down to a small Passover seder in person or an Easter dinner connected via online video, our stores are here to help make your holidays special.
We are also working to help keep our customers, associates, and vendors safe. As we all navigate the COVID-19 public health crisis together, please know Safeway is doing everything we can to prioritize the health of our associates, customers, and vendors, and to ensure our customers have access to the food, medications, and other essential goods you need at this critical time.
Every day our team looks for ways to improve our key services and safety measures. Today I’d like to share some updates, including significant actions we have recently taken and new procedures we are adding this week.
Easter Sunday, April 12
To allow our employees time to spend with their families, all Eastern Division Safeway stores in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Delaware will close at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 12th. Our stores will reopen at 6 a.m. on Monday, April 13th.
New Store Hours
- To allow for deep cleaning, sanitizing, and restocking, all Safeway Eastern Division stores (with the exception of select stores operating 24 hours/7 days a week) will now be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Safeway has reserved every Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7-9 a.m. so senior citizens, pregnant women, and customers with compromised immune systems can avoid crowds. We have asked all customers to please respect these special hours for our at-risk customers who need them most.
- To accommodate at-risk customers, all Safeway pharmacies will now open at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Safety and Cleaning Protocols We’ve Already Put in Place
• Our stores installed Plexiglas sneeze guards at check stands and other service counters to provide a protective barrier between customers and our cashiers and customer service associates.
• Every day, throughout each day, we are implementing enhanced measures to clean and disinfect all departments, restrooms, and other high touch points in our stores.
• Our store associates are washing their hands at least once per hour and are asked to stay home if they feel sick.
• Our associates are allowed to wear gloves and masks. We are in the process of sourcing disposable masks, and we will distribute them to associates as soon as they are available.
• Cart wipes and hand sanitizer stations are available at key locations within our stores for our customers’ safety and convenience.
• We have paused self-service operations like soup bars, wing bars, and salad bars.
• All of our stores are implementing social distancing practices. We are making regular audio announcements, and we have installed signage and designated waiting spots with floor markers at check stands and other stations where people most often congregate, such as our service delis, bakeries, meat, and seafood departments, and pharmacies. At check stands, we are asking customers to please wait until the customer in front of them has finished collecting their groceries before unloading.
Enhanced Social Distancing Through One-Way Traffic
Starting Friday, April 10th, our stores will be placing directional arrows on floors to promote one-way foot traffic through stores, including up and down aisles. This is in addition to decals already on the floors marking off 6-foot spaces at check stands and other areas that can cause lines to form.
Limiting Store Occupancy
Also, on Friday, our stores will limit occupancy levels to one person per 150 square feet during normal business hours and one person per 300 square feet during special hours reserved for seniors and other vulnerable customers (Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7-9 a.m.). Each store will utilize one front entrance/exit to ensure enforcement, and a store associate will be assigned to the doors to manage traffic.
Self-Check Health Screenings
This week, Safeway stores are posting signs at entrances and in back rooms that ask everyone who visits our stores to perform a self-screening prior to shopping or clocking in. The signs ask associates, customers, and vendors to stay home if:
· a member of their household has been diagnosed with or is suspected to have COVID-19, or
· they have symptoms, including a cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea, or chills and body aches
Dedicated Cleaning Staff
To maintain enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, our stores have assigned associates to positions exclusively responsible for cleaning surfaces throughout the stores.
Masks for all store, distribution, and manufacturing associates
We are in the process of sourcing masks for all front-line associates, and we will distribute them as soon as they are available. As a reminder, the CDC continues to recommend social distancing of at least six feet, even while wearing masks.
As we continue to serve our communities during the crisis, we will adjust our procedures to address new developments and meet changing needs. We appreciate our customers patience and understanding, and we will continue to keep you updated.
On behalf of our entire team at Safeway, it is an honor to serve the community at this important time. We look forward to helping you prepare for the upcoming holidays.
Sincerely,
Tom Lofland
President
Safeway, Eastern Division
April 8
Safeway Eastern Division Stores Announce Additional Safety and Cleanliness Measures
Limited store occupancy, one-way foot traffic decals, self-screenings for symptoms, dedicated cleaning staff among new measures being implemented across the division’s stores and distribution centers
Lanham, MD – Safeway is introducing several new precautionary measures to its stores in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Delaware to further protect associates and customers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“As we continue to serve our communities during the crisis, the health and safety of everyone who walks through our doors remains a top priority,” said Tom Lofland, President of Safeway’s Eastern Division. “We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding during this unprecedented time.”
The following measures will be implemented this week:
Enhanced social distancing through one-way traffic: Stores will place directional arrows on the floors to promote one-way foot traffic through stores, including up and down aisles. This is in addition to decals already on the floor marking off 6-foot spaces at the checkstands and other areas that can cause lines to form like our deli, bakery, meat, seafood, and pharmacy departments.
Limited Store Occupancy: Stores will limit occupancy levels to one person per 150 square feet during normal business hours and one person per 300 square feet during special hours reserved for seniors and other vulnerable customers (Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7-9 a.m.). Each store will utilize one front entrance/exit to ensure enforcement and a store associate will be assigned to the doors to manage traffic.
Self-check health screenings: Safeway is posting signs at entrances and in back rooms that ask everyone to perform a self-screening prior to shopping or clocking in. The signs ask associates, customers, and vendors to stay home if:
- a member of their household has been diagnosed with or is suspected to have COVID-19, or
- they have symptoms, including a cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea, or chills and body aches
Dedicated cleaning staff: To maintain enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, Safeway stores have assigned associates to positions exclusively responsible for cleaning surfaces throughout the stores.
Masks for all store, distribution, and manufacturing associates: Safeway is in the process of sourcing reusable masks for all front-line associates and will distribute them as soon as they are available. As a reminder, the CDC continues to recommend social distancing of at least six feet, even while wearing masks.
New Store Hours:
- To allow for deep cleaning, sanitizing, and restocking, all Safeway Eastern Division stores (with the exception of select stores operating 24 hours/7 days a week) will now be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Safeway has already reserved every Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7-9 a.m. so senior citizens, pregnant women and customers with compromised immune systems can avoid crowds. We have asked all customers to please respect these special hours for our at-risk customers who need them most.
- To accommodate at-risk customers, all Safeway pharmacies will now open at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.These measures are already in place:
- Installed Plexiglas sneeze guards at check stands.
- Placed social distancing posters and floor markers in the stores.
- Paused self-service operations like soup bars, wing bars, and salad bars.
- Enhanced measures to clean and disinfect all departments, restrooms, and other high touchpoints of the stores, every day.
- Making cart wipes and hand sanitizer stations available at key locations within the store for customers’ convenience.
- Ensuring that store associates are able to wash their hands at least one time per hour and reminding them to stay home if they feel sick.