File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

COVID-19

Son of employee to Kamloops Value Village: ‘Close your store’

Mar 19, 2020 | 10:42 AM

KAMLOOPS — “How much do you value your employees?”

That’s the question being asked by a man whose mother works for the Kamloops Value Village store, and feels she can’t stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic for fear of losing her benefits.

Tim Kucharuk says his 73-year-old mother must work at least 30 hours per week at Value Village to maintain her benefits.

He and his siblings have been trying to convince her to stay home, but could use some help from her employer.

“This is an unprecedented situation for everybody,” Kucharuk told CFJC Today from his workplace in Whitehorse, Yukon. “We’ve been telling her, ‘If you call in to tell your boss, ‘I don’t feel comfortable coming in because there’s a pandemic going on,’ he’ll understand.’ She’s not getting the message.”

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Yesterday, Value Village’s parent company issued a message saying it would stay open.

“Based on the guidance we’ve received from various health agencies, we are confident our stores continue to be safe, and we remain open for business to serve the needs of local communities,” said the statement.

Kucharuk says he can’t understand the decision.

“She works at Value Village,” said Kucharuk. “They’re dealing with so many second-hand, used goods. It may be clothes, kitchen stuff, books, but nobody really knows how this virus is still sticking around. They don’t even know what surfaces it’s sticking on.”

“I can’t understand it. Grocery stores staying open? Yes, I definitely understand that. But Value Village and thrifting, I think it’s time to put the brakes on that.”

“Close your store,” Kucharuk continued. “Come on — this is a different world we live in. We’ll worry about the ramifications later, but close your store and protect your people — especially those who are seniors.”