Uniformed Care Worker in UK Reduced to Tears by Shopper Accusing Her of ‘Spreading Germs’

Illustration - Brookie Cookie/Shutterstock

A uniformed care worker shopping in a British supermarket was reduced to tears by a confrontation with a fellow shopper. A concerned woman accused her of “spreading germs,” claiming, however, that it had nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Care worker Kimberley Simpson, from Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire, England, filmed the upsetting interaction, and her story made national headlines on May 25, 2020.

“I know I’m an ugly crier,” Kimberley posted on Facebook, as quoted by the Daily Mail, “but this lady has just followed me around B&M shouting at me saying I’m not allowed in the shop because I’m in uniform.”

Kimberly maintained that the woman followed her with her shopping cart for 10 minutes, verbally protesting the care worker’s presence in the store. “Apparently I’m not allowed to buy non-essential items,” Kimberley wrote. “[H]ow does she know I’m not doing [a] client’s shopping?”

Kimberly also shared her footage of the altercation, claiming she felt “disgusted” by her fellow shopper’s judgment and the threat that she would report Kimberley’s perceived misconduct to her manager.

In the footage, Kimberly can be heard telling the irate shopper, “You’re having a go at me for buying stuff. You just said that I am buying stuff that is non-essential.”

“You’re absolutely ridiculous,” Kimberly continued, “you should not have come up to me aggressively like that saying I’m spreading germs when I’m not spreading germs.”

The shopper protested that she was not being aggressive, adding, “You’re still spreading germs ... I’m not talking about COVID.”

Kimberly claimed that no staff came to her aid and that her sole support came from a Polish couple that sympathized and told her not to cry. For Kimberly, though, the altercation was too much to handle.

The care worker shared a selfie of her tear-streaked face on social media after retreating to the safety of her car. “I’ve just spoken to [my manager],” Kimberley posted on Facebook, as quoted by The Sun, “and they said I’m not doing anything wrong.

“We have worked so hard, no clients have COVID, so we are clearly doing something right.”

To date, Kimberley’s footage has been viewed over 2 million times on social media.

Shoppers buy gardening supplies at a B&M Home Store & Garden Centre in Leytonstone on May 9, 2020, in London, England. Hollie Adams/Getty Images

In response to The Sun’s coverage on Facebook, thousands of netizens left comments supporting the carer, questioning the legitimacy of the shopper’s grievance and acknowledging health care professionals for their tireless work.

“How does the woman shopper know if this carer has even started her day and been around any patients,” one netizen wondered, “her uniform could have been clean on before she entered the shop ... I wouldn’t cry, I'd be livid.”

“I must admit I’m a carer and I wouldn’t go shopping in my uniform,” wrote another, “but what business is it of anyone else... she may be shopping for a client.”

“I wonder if the born idle comments would be the same if carers left vulnerable people without essential items because they ‘shouldn’t be in shops in uniform,’” someone ventured.

“Think far too many don’t realize just how much key workers are doing for the country right now,” wrote another. “End of the day, we are working when others aren’t and keeping a country going. The woman shouting at her has probably no idea how hard it is at the moment.”

According to NHS England employers’ guidance, published on April 2, 2020, there is “no evidence that wearing uniforms outside work adds to infection risks.” The document added, however, that “public attitudes indicate it is good practice for staff to change at work or cover their uniforms as they travel to and from work.”