Interview with Service Worker chau
Dereck chau
He/Him/His
Ethnicity: Vietnamese American
Occupation: Service worker
Location: San Jose, California
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“So hopefully people are taking care of mental health because that's definitely one of the bigger things that were most stressful for me ... It was financial, because of the financial situation was stressful during quarantine and my mental health [situation] was frustrating, that put a lot of stress on me during the quarantine.”
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July 28, 2020, 4:00 PM PDT
By Mayra velasquez
Dereck Chau is a Vietnamese American service worker. He was born and raised in San Jose, California. He works as a barista in the popular chain of a bubble tea shop, Toco Tea. He has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic like many workers around the United States, his workplace started shorting the service hours, and therefore the shift of the employees has been altered. He joined two students Mayra Velasquez and Alina Zeng to speak on his experiences during the global pandemic.
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Interview Highlights
Velasquez: How was your store affected by safety and health standards?
Chau: And then also we had to remember to sanitize almost every hour or two mostly because like people are coming in and are touching the screen pad to type in their pins, their numbers or signing signature. I know a lot [costumers are] afraid [of touching the tablets].
Velasquez: How did you deal with the financial situation surrounding COVID-19?
Chau: I think I know for sure my mom is applying for EDD(Employment Development Department), but hers is not going through. So I think we're just asking family members and stuff to help out if they can. And but then recently we use this move so like, hopefully, the previous owner like doesn’t deal with us anymore.
Velasquez: What can others take away from this interview?
Chau: Just practice social distancing if you can, definitely, wash your hands, that’s the one thing I want people to do, wear a mask when you go outside please.