I’m sorry how is a DIY store essential?

[Missyelliottsaysso]

Fair enough people coming in to buy plumbing items for leaky taps etc but the store I work at was like a bank holiday Monday yesterday.
All non essential items...plants , compost, paint etc whole families coming in for a browse around.
My fingers crossed that today will be different but I suspect not sadly.
So no leaving the house apart from food, medicine and a lovely rhododendron. Fuck the staff as long as we make a profit.

I think in other countries they've shut the 'fun aisles' of DIY stores and have only kept the essential (eg taps, light bulbs etc) aisles open, hopefully they'll do that here.

Essential for keeping the nation occupied in lock in? Sorry op I agree there’s prob not need to have the shops open for not essential stuff, surely online will do.

If something in your house needs fixing you'll have to do it yourself. E.g. water coming through the ceiling.

Calm down. Let's hope you don't need to fix anything vital in the next 3 weeks.

Yes I get essential repairs but 99% of the people I served were buying plants, compost and paint.
Why are the staff in there considered expendable?
Why is ok for some of the population to consider it an extended bank holiday and the retail staff have to suffer as a consequence.

They tried that here in Germany too.Everybody and his wife went there.They are now also shut.

Have I missed where this is on the list of shops that are allowed to open? I didn't see DIY stores on it.

Definitely open for business...and my bosses are jumping up and down with glee with the profits we are making in the back of a national disaster.

Our house seems to have decided that now is the perfect time to stage a collapse. The heating has packed up, the toilet flush is dodgy and I spent a happy hour yesterday unblocking the washing machine filter (3 pound coins, an American quarter coin and a hair bobble) so I can see that diy shops might be essential for us! We will be getting out in the garden too. However, I will probably do everything online and have it dropped on the doorstep rather than going to the shop, if possible. The “trip to B&Q as leisure” crowd have spoiled everything for everyone who was being cautious and considerate.

I was thinking about this last night, supermarkets could become overcrowded with people browsing the non essential items as a respite from being at home. I’ve not been to the supermarket for just over a week, so I don’t know how stocks of non essential items are; but I can see that people might spend more time than necessary ‘enjoying’ a little browse.

I had a fall out with my DH for this exact reason, he's the manager of a high street shop (clothes) and head office kept dragging their feet in terms of deciding to choose shop
DH finally agreed that he'd put his foot down and self quarantine (his sister is immuno compromised) even sent head office an email there and then to say he will not be going in.

so imagine my surprise when I see him trundling off to work the very next day, needles to say a massive argument ensued.

Then I'M the bad guy for putting him between a rock and a hard place for wanting to protect our family, not his inconsiderate employer who doesn't give two f*cks about the wellbeing of their staff

*close shop

@NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite yes, they're on the list.

Today he's all "see I did it the right way, they've closed all the stores now and i get to keep my job"

I'm like are you KIDDING ME!?

why would anyone want to continue working for such sharks is besides me

I know full well the worry of losing employment is real but there's gonna come a time when people have to make really difficult decisions and stand up to unjust hierarchies

I’m in a privileged position in that i don’t really work there for the money and it’s more for my mental health generally. In my place of work we have become a family, I’m going in today not for the money my company will earn but so I don’t let my colleagues down when the queues are snaking around the store.
Stay safe to all my fellow retail workers.

@DaughterofHekate I can understand where you're DH is coming from. A lot of people will be scared of losing their jobs and in these uncertain times having a shitty job is better than no job. Could you survive financially if your DH didn't have a job?

Plumbing emergencies, holes in roof, damp etc

if something vital breaks in my house I want to be able to fix it without getting a pro

or if I need a pro, they need to be able to source parts. screwfix etc

Yes I get that people need essential repairs but people aren’t coming in to buy that. Store is heaving with people buying plants.

To be fair I’m sure that mental health is also very important. Having plants etc gives people something productive to do and will make the difference for some people. Your store really needs to set up some social distancing measures just like every other store that is permitted to remain open.