Sarah Aznive stressed by pandemic retail work

by Paul Lambert

What used to be an occasional nuisance for Sarah Aznive has turned into a problem. 

Aznive, a retail worker in Kittery, Maine, has grown tired of customers walking into her store maskless. It’s become more and more commonplace as the spring has rolled on.

“It used to be one or two [customers] a week, and now it’s more like one or two a day,” Aznive said. 

Some customers don’t bother to bring a mask with them. Aznive recalls a recent instance when two people simply walked in without any mask on them at all.

(Photo: Sarah Aznive)

“They were like ‘we walked here, so we didn’t bring them’,” Aznive said. “I thought that was really interesting, that we’re seeing the COVID fatigue.”

Aznive’s managers haven’t always taken mask-wearing and COVID protocols as seriously, either. When Aznive began working there this summer, she saw managers disregard safety guidelines routinely. 

“The managers have a tiny little office,” Azine said. “Sometimes, all five of them were in there just drinking their coffee, not wearing their mask. I wish more management would practice what they preach.”

Aznive didn’t report the violations to anyone higher up at the time, largely due to workplace pressure. 

“It’s also a power dynamic of… you’re the new employee.” Aznive said. “You’re also significantly younger than them. All my managers are above 40. So it’s like, ‘what are you gonna do?’”

Those managers have been more buttoned-up on protocols since one of them tested positive for the virus back in December. 

“After that, they all started being strict about COVID,” Aznive said. “They started wearing their masks at all times.”

Aznive plans on wearing her mask at work even after the pandemic ends. It’s kept her healthy through the entire flu season. 

“I usually get the flu, and I haven’t gotten it this year, because of the mask, which is really nice,” she said. “Working in retail, I think it’s going to be the move because you don’t know who’s coming in.”