Pandemic Stress

This week, I will take a look at examples of stress caused by employment and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staying safe while working during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been easy, said Jenita Raksanoh, a fourth-year media and cultural studies student at UC Riverside.

Raksanoh works at her parents’ Thai restaurant in Los Angeles where they are currently accepting takeout and delivery orders only. She said she works to pay rent and help her parents since they are short-staffed and busy.

Dealing with customers is hard enough as it is, but handling customers who do not comply with COVID-19 safety measures is even more difficult, Raksanoh said. Many do not wear masks, demand to dine-in and refuse to wait outside the store after ordering.

Raksanoh recalled a time when two customers attempted to enter the store without masks. She said when she told them no mask no entry, one began to argue, saying his doctor said he is exempt from wearing one because it is hard for him to breathe.

“You would think that people are going to wear masks because if you go to any store, even Target, they’re going to say you need a mask,” she said. “It’s the new thing now, it’s really required.”

To minimize risk of exposure, Raksanoh said the restaurant has implemented new safety protocols.

They no longer accept cash, and they bought a credit card machine for customers to insert their cards themselves, she said. The restaurant staff gets Covid testing quite frequently, she added.

Raksanoh has also taken action herself to prevent exposure to the virus.

She said she sets up a table with laminated menus, hand sanitizer, and a plastic shield to provide a barrier between employees and customers. This table used to be near the cash register, but due to unruly customers, she decided to move the table to block the front entrance.

Working in customer service during the pandemic has taken a toll on Raksanoh’s mental health. She said she has to deal with rude customers every day – from those who refuse to wear a mask or wear it improperly, to those who swear and call her and her family names.

“I go home and just want to shower and go to bed because of how tired I am, not physically but mentally,” she said.

To cope with the stresses that working during the pandemic brings, Raksanoh said she likes to end her nights with positivity by journaling positive affirmations and meditating.

Despite its challenges, Raksanoh said she is glad to be able to work during this time and not have to serve dine-in. Her only wish is that customers would be more considerate and understanding.

“We are risking our lives to work every day,” Raksanoh said. “I would want (customers) to at least talk to us nicer, and be more patient with the food when it’s busy. I want them to understand we’re low on staff but we’re trying to make it work.”

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Being unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic can be equally as stressful.

Rising levels of uncertainty and long waiting periods have forced many of us to adapt to a new normal.

Many people have lost their jobs, and nearly 60 million have filed for unemployment benefits since last March, including me.

The photography studio I worked for at UCLA closed, causing my coworkers and I to lose our hours. I went back home to live at my parents’ house and applied for unemployment.

Since then, my claim balance has run out, and I am currently waiting for the extension – it has been over a month since I have received any benefits.

On December 27, then-President Trump signed a $900 billion pandemic-aid bill that extends unemployment benefits through March 2021 and provides supplementary payments of $300 per week. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance became available for those who are usually ineligible for unemployment benefits including self-employed and gig workers. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which issued an extra 13 weeks of payments to those who maxed out regular state benefits, will also be extended.

The problem is the government took far too long to decide on new legislation, and now millions of Americans are experiencing a gap in receiving benefits.

Outdated state systems have slowed down the process of distributing aid, USA Today reported. There have been issues with programming new benefits into computer systems, and as a result, many will face delays that range from three to eight weeks.

With no source of income, many unemployed Americans are at risk of food insecurity, falling behind on rent payments, and losing access to healthcare.

Contacting unemployment to see the status of your extension or simply for general assistance is almost impossible. The Employment Development Department will not take your call if all their phone lines are busy, which has been the case for me the past couple of weeks.

To say this waiting game is stressful is an understatement. When your calls won’t connect or you’re left on hold for hours, there is nothing you can do but sit tight and hope that your unemployment payments go through before next month's rent and bills are due.

Reliable sources of information regarding unemployment are also hard to come by since there are constantly changes and updates.

Over the past several months, I found that Meet Kevin’s channel on YouTube provides great, digestible updates on unemployment, stimulus packages, and other pandemic related issues.

LAist is another great source for those of you in Los Angeles. They cover a range of different topics from vaccine updates to stories exploring race in LA. In regards to unemployment, they recently published an article detailing the struggle that 1.4 million Californians faced in late December when the state’s Employment Development Department suspended their benefits due to possible “fraudulent activity.” This actually happened to my claim, and it was a hassle figuring out how to verify my identity on their third party site.

There are many other resources for those facing financial hardships due to the pandemic:

Food Resources The CDC has a comprehensive list of resources for food assistance. There is information about meals for children while schools are closed, with links to sites that can locate meal sites near you.

They also provide other food finder sites for children and families, the US department of Agriculture hunger hotline for information on food services in your area, and other tips for grocery shopping during the pandemic. Information on immigrant eligibility for public programs during COVID-19 can also be found on their site.

Rental Assistance

The Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department has resources for tenants who are unable to pay rent due to COVID-19 related circumstances. The 2021 Rent Relief Program is still in progress, but information on it and eligibility can be found on their site.

For other states, the National Low Income Housing Coalition provides a map to find state and local emergency rental assistance programs near you.

Mental Health Services

Focusing on your mental health right now can be difficult with many of us facing financial burdens among other challenges, but it is important not to neglect your mental health and to seek help when you need it.

An LAist article on where to find mental health support offers a variety of resources for those who may only need tips for managing stress to those seeking therapy or emergency services. They provide many free to low-cost options as well as links to virtual workshops that discuss mindfulness and how to deal with stress and anxiety.

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Stay safe friends, and remember that these resources are there to help you during these tough times, so use them if needed!