COVID-19 Heroes: Panzer HR Manager Gladly Helps the Express

“We are here for the associates when they need us,” said HR manager Thomas Angeli. “Managers, including HR managers, are here to support the staff.”

Even in difficult circumstances, the Panzer Exchange team in Germany showed its steadfast commitment to fulfilling the Exchange mission of taking care of Warfighters.

Last month, Panzer Express Shift Supervisor Yunfei Kao came into work to find herself alone at the store. Normally, there would have been three associates working, but the COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning to hit Europe and her teammates, following protocol, called in sick instead of coming to work unwell.

Kao called the Panzer Human Resources department and spoke with HR Manager Thomas Angeli to seek assistance as she would not be able to serve customers and manage the store alone. Angeli quickly called around to other Exchange facilities, but all were facing staff shortages because of the pandemic.

With no available associate to send to the Panzer Express, Angeli went over himself.

“Having Tom come over to help meant a great deal to me,” Kao said. “I was able to prepare the hot foods and I didn’t have to worry about the frozen items that were delivered going bad. Without his help, food would have spoiled and customers wouldn’t have been fed.”

Angeli, who has been with the Exchange for nearly a decade, put his experience as a former warehouse worker to use and helped off-load a delivery, including perishable items, and re-stocked the shelves as Kao served shoppers—all with a smile.

“We are here for the associates when they need us,” Angeli said. “Managers, including HR managers, are here to support the staff.”

Share your stories of the COVID-19 heroes among you by emailing ExchangePost@aafes.com.