5.70.010 Purpose.

This chapter aims to protect and promote the public health, safety, and welfare during the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) emergency by requiring grocery stores to provide hazard pay for grocery workers performing work in the city of American Canyon. Some grocery stores have voluntarily provided additional compensation, but others have not. Requiring competing grocery stores to provide hazard pay will ensure that grocery workers are compensated for the risks of working during a pandemic. Grocery workers face increased risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 because the nature of their work involves close contact with the public and co-workers, including individuals who are not showing symptoms of COVID-19 but who can spread the disease. Hazard pay also ensures the retention of these essential grocery store workers who are on the frontlines of this pandemic providing essential services and who are needed throughout the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.