Retail workers say they're scared to go to work after 2 shootings this weekend at a Texas Walmart and a bar in Ohio

Paige Leskin

Aug 5, 2019, 20:48 IST

Retail workers say they're scared to go to work after 2 shootings this weekend at a Texas Walmart and a bar in Ohio

Reuters/Jose Luis Gonzalez

Shootings this weekend at a Texas Walmart and a bar in Ohio have left 30 people dead.
Retail employees are taking to social media to say they're terrified to go to work for fear of getting shot at their workplace.
One Starbucks barista wrote on Twitter that the shootings sparked a discussion in their workplace about proper protocols in the case of a mass shooting.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Two mass shootings in two days at places of work - a Walmart and a local bar - have left retail employees reeling and afraid of what could happen at their own jobs.

Retail employees have taken to Twitter to say how the shootings have affected their places of work. Some say they're terrified to go to work, and others say the incidents have caused them to think about what they would do if a shooting happened at their own workplace

Complimentary Tech Event

Transform talent with learning that works

Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

"I wonder if today is the day we become the next mass shooting location," one user wrote on Twitter.

The two mass shootings this weekend left 30 people dead. Twenty people were killed Saturday at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, and 10 more were killed early Sunday morning near Ned Peppers in Dayton, Ohio.

Here's how retail employees are reacting to the most recent slew of mass shootings, and how the incidents have affected their workplaces:

A Twitter account run by baristas posted that the shootings led to a discussion at the Starbucks where they work about what they would do if one happened there.

We had a discussion today about what we do if there’s a shooting at our store and/or shopping center.

The fact that we even had to have that discussion is really annoying. Shouldn’t have to be scared of being shot working at a Starbucks. Enough is enough. #GunControlNow

— Barista Problems (@baristaproblem0) August 4, 2019

"F--- this paranoia," another retail employee wrote on Twitter.

I left a movie I went to early because it was a full theater and packed places like that don’t make me feel safe AT ALL. I also work in a large marketplace and it’s like I’m just waiting for the next mass shooting to take place right outside my store. Fuck this paranoia.

— Augustine (@tempeldeterra) August 4, 2019

An employee at a different Walmart location said that this weekend wasn't the first time they had "pictured myself in situations like that at work."

As a retail worker who works for Walmart, I came home from work and one of my coworkers’ Facebook posts was how I found out about the shooting. And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t pictured myself in situations like that at work and how I would react.

— taylor (@taylorthetiny) August 4, 2019

"I'm f---ing terrified, y'all," said a Twitter user. "I work a service job with a looot of angry customers. All it takes is one."

Like I work a service job with a looot of angry customers. All it takes is one.

— Will (@beardedsnorlax_) August 4, 2019

News about the Walmart shooting suspect's anti-immigrant manifesto has left some scared that other businesses frequented by immigrants could become targets.

I’m honestly scared to leave my home. Going to work is terrifying, I work in a pharmacy at a grocery store where many immigrants shop and get their prescriptions. I’m scared for them, I’m scared for me, I’m scared. This shouldn’t be our reality. #TrumpsTerrorists #ThisIsAmerica

— Willow Miranda (@WillowMiranda) August 4, 2019

One user encouraged retail employees to not go to work if they were scared, saying it's not worth it to "stress yourself out for some minimum wage job."

hey guys if you guys are scared about going into work... just call in. fuck them if they don’t understand. don’t fucking stress yourself out for some minimum wage job. #bettersafethansorry

— n(*´Д｀*)(h) (@dollardazze) August 3, 2019

Some are left imagining where they would hide and what steps they would take if a shooting occurred at their workplace.

Running through every possible scenario if a shooting breaks out at work. I shouldn’t have thought about that nearly as often as I did when I was cashiering

#ThoughtsWhileWorkingInRetail #walmartshooting

— xina 🍑 (@kschmur) August 4, 2019

A Target employee said the Walmart shooting made them "genuinely terrified" to go to work.

The shooting in the El Paso Walmart makes me genuinely terrified to go to work at Target. I’m really thinking of calling out because I’m so fucking scared and I don’t know what to do

— calynn is mono no more (@clynseoul) August 4, 2019

Retail employees are left wondering where the next mass shooting will take place, and if the place they work could be next.

I wonder if today is the day we become the next mass shooting location. #ThoughtsWhileWorkingInRetail

— Wanda Bess 🌊 (@WandaKat11) August 4, 2019

One Twitter user said it's "unnerving" to think about showing up at work, where he's at risk at being in harms way.

I had an officer visit with me at work today, because we are a retail facility next door to a mass shooting that occurred in 2017. It was an eerie but appreciated conversation. Given the events of the last 5 days it’s getting to be unnerving to go to work now. Because what if?

— Bennie (@DenverBennie) August 4, 2019

Another Walmart employee posted a photo showing she was given a ribbon to wear at work to "show solidarity." But she said that she's "constantly thinking" about where she could hide in the case of a shooting.

they gave us these ribbons at work to show solidarity with the shooting victims and their families which is cool or whatever but it doesn’t help the fact that im constantly thinking about how long it would take me to find shelter if a customer got a little too angry pic.twitter.com/aD2oNHeVhC

— brooke 🐌 (@brookeaat) August 4, 2019

For its part, Walmart has posted on Twitter that the company is "in shock," and continues to work with law enforcement after the El Paso shooting.

We're in shock over the tragic events at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, where store 2201 & club 6502 are located. We’re praying for the victims, the community & our associates, as well as the first responders. We’re working closely with law enforcement & will update as appropriate.

— Walmart (@Walmart) August 3, 2019

Next Story 'Everyone thought I had a dream job. Here's what they didn't know.'