14 (2)Jennifer L. Hall
Subject: FW: Grocery Outlet of Anaheim Hazard Pay
Attachments: Anaheim City Counsel re Hazard Pay-5.12.21.docx
Importance: High
From: Jose & Sandra Valenzuela<
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 20211:24 PM
To: Jose Diaz <JoDiaz@anaheim.net>
Cc: Harry Sidhu (Mayor) <HSidhu@anaheim.net>; Stephen Faessel <SFaessel@anaheim.net>; sbrandman@anaheim. net
<sbrandman@anaheim.net>; Jose Moreno <JMoreno@anaheim.net>; Avelino Valencia <AValencia@anaheim.net>;
Trevor O'Neil <TONeil@anaheim.net>
Subject: Grocery Outlet of Anaheim Hazard Pay
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To: Anaheim City Counsel
Jose Diaz, Counsel Member, District 1
200 S. Anaheim Blvd,
Anaheim CA 92805
jodiaz@anaheim.net
Dear Councilman Diaz:
We are the independent operators of the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market located at 3430
West Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801, where our store has proudly served our
local community in West Anaheim for nearly 2 years. We are writing regarding the
proposed Anaheim hazard pay ordinance.
The health and safety of our employees and customers are our top priority and concern.
Throughout this pandemic, we have implemented safety and cleaning protocols in our
store, working night and day and spending significant dollars for cleaning and sanitation
in order to safeguard our employees and shoppers, stay open and serve our
community. Throughout this pandemic, we have paid extra attention to the personal
welfare of our employees, essential workers, by offering extra days off when requested,
provided small bonuses to all associates to help our team during these difficult times
within our financial limits. My wife and I have paid thousands of dollars in COVID leave
over the last 12 months to any associate who has requested or needed the benefits and
we are happy to report we have not had an active Covid case in the last several
months.
Were our store subject to this ordinance, however, the mandate that we pay an
additional $3 to $5 per hour hazard pay to our employees would threaten our financial
viability. Were we forced to close, the low-income families who depend on us would lose
an affordable option for their groceries.
The Anaheim Grocery Outlet is a local, independently -owned discount grocery store.
While we operate under a license from Grocery Outlet, Inc. permitting us to use the
Grocery Outlet brand, we are a completely separate business entity. Grocery Outlet
Inc. has no financial or other ownership interest in us. No other business or person,
besides my Wife Sandra Valenzuela and I, own our business. We, in turn, have
absolutely no other ownership or financial interest in any other business.
Sandra Valenzuela and I operate the store with the help of our 18 employees. Our staff
are OUR employees, no one else's. No one else hires, trains or directs them. We
manage and cover payroll out of our own business revenues. Our employees are not
employees of Grocery Outlet. Grocery Outlet does not fund any of our operating
expense or payroll costs.
If this ordinance were to apply to us, the $5/hour hazard pay would increase our labor
costs by approximately $8,000 per month when you consider the wage increase,
additional payroll tax, increased worker's compensation costs, and increase in overtime
and vacation and sick pay. We could not afford to remain in business.
The city council may be under the impression that all of grocery businesses in Anaheim
are owned by large companies with the financial means to absorb a $5/hour hazard pay
hike. This is not the case. Please consider the plight of the independent grocer and
clarify in the final language for this ordinance that it does not apply to a grocery
business owned by an independent operator of a single location.
Sincerely,
Jose A Valenzuela and Sandra F Valenzuela Date
Independent Owner Operators
of Grocery Outlet of Anaheim.
CC' Anaheim City Council
hsidhu@anaheim.net
sfaessel@anaheim.net
jbrandman@anaheim.net
jmoreno@anaheim.net
avalencia@anaheim.net
toneil@anaheim.net
jodiaz@anaheim.net