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‘It’s Like a War Zone’: Jay’s Liminal Experience of Normal and Extreme Work in a UK Supermarket during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Minjie Cai

    (University of Greenwich, UK)

  • Scott Tindal

    (University of Greenwich, UK)

  • Safak Tartanoglu Bennett

    (University of Greenwich, UK)

  • Jay Velu

    (University of Greenwich, UK)

Abstract

This article presents a UK supermarket worker’s experiences of work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Writing during a period of uncertainty, Jay’s narrative reveals how the sudden and constant transitions between mundanity and extremity on the shop floor evoke conflicting emotions and work intensification that disrupt and reconstruct normality. His accounts describe violent customer behaviours, absent management, a lack of clear organisational policies, and the different views of appropriate health and safety measures among colleagues. It illustrates how liminality in the workplace at a time of crisis can endanger employees whose seemingly mundane jobs become extreme.

Suggested Citation

  • Minjie Cai & Scott Tindal & Safak Tartanoglu Bennett & Jay Velu, 2021. "‘It’s Like a War Zone’: Jay’s Liminal Experience of Normal and Extreme Work in a UK Supermarket during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 35(2), pages 386-395, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:35:y:2021:i:2:p:386-395
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017020966527
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jason Heyes & Sian Moore & Kirsty Newsome & Mark Tomlinson, 2018. "Living with uncertain work," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(5-6), pages 420-437, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Louise Nash, 2024. "There and Back Again: Neuro-Diverse Employees, Liminality and Negative Capability," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 38(1), pages 262-278, February.

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