@colokate63 Your friend may be on solid legal ground to sue the company and schedulers if s/he becomes ill, and could also sue for the stress of having to choose between the law, medical advice and future work.

But these could also be arrested and charged for endangerment to public health, homicide (if someone dies), not cooperating with Emergency orders, Public Health regulations, profiteering and several more.

The "we didn't make anyone do anything, we gave them the ability to choose," is truly a weasel's defense.

SteveSoCal correctly states-- Not every shopper is al level headed or well-advised as SCM or shopperbob. Those two have clear boundaries and don't feel pressure to take assignments.

Bob's reply--Thank you for a much appreciated compliment. The following is a guide, to any who wish, for my manner of handling an E-letter solicitation from a scheduler/owner; a phone call would be similar. I compute my fee requirement and send it with a note concerning it is my bottom dollar and non-negotiable. In addition, I add I am devoid of the slightest interest in working for less and I am not to be contacted if my fee is unacceptable. I do not have any recollection of anyone connected with an MSC attempting to pressure me into working.

Bob, Steve, and others.

This is NOT about you. This has NOTHING to do with your ability to negotiate. This is NOT about whether one can, should, is able to, or has created a better relationship with the MSCs.

This is about criminal behavior on the part of MSCs. This is about behaviors that WILL increase the death count during a pandemic. This is about immoral actions showing callous disregard to anyone but themselves. This is about our reconsidering a relationship with those who want/expect/hope we will take $8 while endangering out lives. This is about MSCs sending shoppers to Senior Living Centers, threatening the lives of dozens.

Parsing whether shoppers are asked, or find themselves forced is irrelevant. Implying that only those with skills that are less superior to one's own, makes me wonder if empathy is a completely alien emotion. I'm kind of amazed that someone finds this crisis is a time to boast, while stating the problems only happen to others not as skilled or intelligent.

Actions can be judged on multiple scales--how much money they make, what good or evil they do for society, the moral outcomes, etc. I have to admit that I didn't consider the MSC's actions on the scale that rates the superior nature of one of the shoppers.

It is both a red herring and completely distasteful. I need to wash my eyes from what I've read. I feel dirty.

This is obviously bothering you because you won't stop beating everyone over the head about it. You still seem to miss the gist of what has been said because you are desperate to find a scapegoat. If businesses are open it is because, A. they are deemed essential or, B. the state or local governments have failed to issue shelter in place orders. Some businesses have chosen to preemptively shut down, most remained open until forced to close. If your goal is to encourage others to self-isolate, focus on that and be encouraging. Railing against one industry out of many doing the same thing is no longer serving any purpose.

While I feel for the mentioned route shopper, I understand that they are responsible for their own decisions. The shopper had access to news and information regarding COVID-19 (the second version of SARS). They knew that in order to get paid, they must complete all assigned work for the route.

Allowing the shopper to bear the consequences of undertaking a massive route while restrictions on our collective behaviors grew serves everyone well. It frees everyone from codependent blame, shame, and false responsibility.

Attempting to make the MSC guilty and calling them a weasel is the blame game.

@db1142 wrote:

@prince wrote:

The ones I've seen include a disclaimer to follow all local restrictions.
No reason to take a job of a location that is closed. Or to do any job that isn't a good idea right now.

All in-person shops are bad ideas right now.

Just a caution from a state with a quickly growing list of infected. (California). We have over 1,400 infections that are confirmed right now. Who knows how many are unconfirmed as testing is rare. Granted this is a big state. But a little over a week ago we had no cases listed in the large swath of West LA I live in. Based on reports it seemed perfectly safe to walk around, shop and visit friends. People were not washing hands or limiting friends visits and were going out to dine. Last Sunday I was at El Torito for a pick up and they told me their Sunday brunch with a buffet format had been completely booked. Then last Sunday night the closures started happening in earnest. Things changed very quickly. Things got very scary minute by minute and the rules keep getting more stringent. So take a listen those of you in states with little outbreak...we were there less than 2 weeks ago in Southern Calif...not the case in Northern Calif which is 500 miles away so it was not so worrisome around here.
Where ever I went and whatever I did less than 2 weeks ago was with only a slight bit of caution compared to now. I spent 14 days worrying about perhaps getting the virus because the family my daughter babysits for were all sick (mild coronavirus?? no testing for light sickness). She stopped going there but not until after that first day of handling two babies/toddlers with the parents home sick too. That 14 day period is over but I also had dinner with friends. Not a biggie 10 days ago. I knew them well. But 8 days later one of them started not feeling well at all. So now I am sitting at home wondering if I will follow his path. I have only 4 more days to wonder within the two week window. I am not getting crazy but you do not want to go places you really do not need to and then a week from now when suddenly the numbers in your state are high wonder why you did that. And wonder whether you exposed yourself or others to infection. No matter how careful you are, when you are out there you are exposed. The chance might be slight but the consequences may not be. We had zero cases reported in my little neighborhood and then suddenly we had a death. I have no idea who it was as a little neighborhood here can contain thousands and thousands of people. So now we have 2 infected and one death according to the stats. Be careful as you do not know when suddenly things will tip over where you are.

Friday the 13th I was still at work. Sunday the 15th as I was driving, all schools, daycares, community centres, etc. etc. were shut down. Today is first time leaving home since, and only because they need blood donors.

@sandyf wrote:

@db1142 wrote:

@prince wrote:

The ones I've seen include a disclaimer to follow all local restrictions.
No reason to take a job of a location that is closed. Or to do any job that isn't a good idea right now.

All in-person shops are bad ideas right now.

Just a caution from a state with a quickly growing list of infected. (California). We have over 1,400 infections that are confirmed right now. Who knows how many are unconfirmed as testing is rare. Granted this is a big state. But a little over a week ago we had no cases listed in the large swath of West LA I live in. Based on reports it seemed perfectly safe to walk around, shop and visit friends. People were not washing hands or limiting friends visits and were going out to dine. Last Sunday I was at El Torito for a pick up and they told me their Sunday brunch with a buffet format had been completely booked. Then last Sunday night the closures started happening in earnest. Things changed very quickly. Things got very scary minute by minute and the rules keep getting more stringent. So take a listen those of you in states with little outbreak...we were there less than 2 weeks ago in Southern Calif...not the case in Northern Calif which is 500 miles away so it was not so worrisome around here.
Where ever I went and whatever I did less than 2 weeks ago was with only a slight bit of caution compared to now. I spent 14 days worrying about perhaps getting the virus because the family my daughter babysits for were all sick (mild coronavirus?? no testing for light sickness). She stopped going there but not until after that first day of handling two babies/toddlers with the parents home sick too. That 14 day period is over but I also had dinner with friends. Not a biggie 10 days ago. I knew them well. But 8 days later one of them started not feeling well at all. So now I am sitting at home wondering if I will follow his path. I have only 4 more days to wonder within the two week window. I am not getting crazy but you do not want to go places you really do not need to and then a week from now when suddenly the numbers in your state are high wonder why you did that. And wonder whether you exposed yourself or others to infection. No matter how careful you are, when you are out there you are exposed. The chance might be slight but the consequences may not be. We had zero cases reported in my little neighborhood and then suddenly we had a death. I have no idea who it was as a little neighborhood here can contain thousands and thousands of people. So now we have 2 infected and one death according to the stats. Be careful as you do not know when suddenly things will tip over where you are.

You: *attempt to sell me drugs*
Me: "NO!!!!!"

You: *offer me money to go into a burning home*
Me: *glares* "Money, schmoney. I gotta get back in there and find Fluffy!"

@wauserfriendly wrote:

By the same logic, there's nothing wrong with my offering you money to go into a burning home or if I were to sell you drugs, I would have no culpability.

I've done the drugs shops. They're actually not too bad.
Who does the burning home shops?
The client wasn't named, so it would be alright to say the MSC.
Oh, and must you keep Fluffy, or can you make a return afterwards?

Tell ya' what. For a small fee, you can tell Gramma Kookoo that her beloved Fluffy perished in the fire.

Deal?

I've gotten text messages so it's not just automated emails. It's a personal plea. So offensive.