Non essential shops & shop workers

[covetingthepreciousthings]

Anyone else work in a non essential shop feeling anxious about the possible return to work on 1st June?

I work for a non essential shop and I'm feeling very nervous about it as I'm in the clinically vulnerable group with asthma (not the shielding group).

I think it's going to be a nightmare to try manage the small number of customers (2-3) we can have in at one time. Although I feel lucky my work is taking precautions and fitted the sneeze guards and ordered masks as well as visors.

I think we'll be asking all customers to pay via contactless too.

This is the Covid Secure shop guidelines that have been published this week-

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb9703de90e07082fa57ce0/working-safely-during-covid-19-shops-branches-110520.pdf

No one else?

Yes I am, very much so. Dept manger in a clothing retailer.

@Sparklyring have you had any news about what procedures your store will put in? Presume changing rooms will be closed for a while.
It's going to be a strange time for retail

I work in a very large fashion shop and I'm
Scared , so much so I may resign . I'm waiting on news on how they are planning to work everything and will make my decision after that .

@oohnicevase I really feel for you, I hope they put some strong measures in place to keep you safe. I know a lot of retailers aren't well known for treating staff well, but I'm hoping that they will have to do something to prove they are putting measures in place before they open.

It seems in the news the Gov are saying non essential shops will have to be able to implement measures of safety before they open, but I'm not sure who will check.

So you're going to have screens between you and customers, masks, visors, contactless payments, only allow 2-3 in the shop at any time and you are still worried?

What would it take your employer to do to lessen your anxiety?

I’ve read a lot of posts on here from people who are considering resigning from jobs because they are afraid. I wonder if they will be eligible for benefits if they apply, having voluntarily become unemployed. I understand caution but as PP noted above, very strong safety measures can be in place, far more than lots of workers have had to endure for weeks. If you quit there will be hundreds lining up for your job and be prepared you may not get another that fits what you want.

"It seems in the news the Gov are saying non essential shops will have to be able to implement measures of safety before they open, but I'm not sure who will check."
You? If you see the floor hasn't been marked out or more people come into the shop, then you tell them to leave and wait outside. You tell them it is only, say, 2 in at at a time with a 'one in, one out' policy.

You? If you see the floor hasn't been marked out or more people come into the shop, then you tell them to leave and wait outside. You tell them it is only, say, 2 in at at a time with a 'one in, one out' policy.

Sorry what I meant was before the Non essential shops reopen at all , not open in the morning.

I assume it would be managers that would organize this , following guidelines issued via head office , guided by government advice

They have managed in supermarkets with lines in floors / stickers of where to stand to queue / Perspex at till

After that it’s just daily maintaining it

Tensa barriers at front door with laminated signage to state 3 customers at any time etc

I think large stores in retail parks could manage this easily , staff have had to do it in supermarkets for months now

Places like Argos / Currys etc are large spacious stores with ample floor space for social distancing

Also large clothing stores ... obviously these are non essential but they can’t stay closed forever when it’s possible to be open same as other shops

It all depends if it makes sense money wise to open though , will there be enough customers

I think there will be a massive surge in customers the first few weeks (look at B&Q queues as an example) and then it will tail off. But a steady customer base will remain. But I do dread to think what all of this will do to the high street in the long run, I think lots of shops will shut and either become online retailers or fold.

I agree with a PP. The shop manager should be the one responsible for determining appropriate measures are implemented (although I think it acceptable they designate particular aspects of safety to staff such as marking out the floor). Members of staff should be fully aware of all the measures and all staff should ensure procedures are adhered to.

I can't imagine it is actually financially viable for many shops to open if only 2 shoppers are allowed in at a time? I wouldn't be surprised if some don't bother. And unless they've got a great online business, it's debatable that they'll survive (and if their online business is good, why pay rent?).

I think a lot of retailers will go to click and collect only ...

Staff could still Be back at work organising stock to be brought to handover desks , similar to how Argos works, just large empty open areas and only supply stock that has been ordered online with limited stock holding On shop floor

Would still require staff for :
Back areas
Tills
One person to manfront door too

It’s still doable , I just think there is a lot of resistance to going back to work now ...

As I said previously , other retailers like local shops / supermarkets / etc have managed it so places can’t just stay shut indefinitely

These same workers who are afraid or simply don’t want to go back to work , I’m pretty sure they are all going to supermarkets to purchase food shopping ...

Huge queues at B & Q even when they were still click and collect only

People crying out for bikes and can’t get into halfords stores-limited to handing out a few bikes a day via click and collect ... Rearrange the store ,remove a few aisles , move the tills further back make it more open / empty at front areas , people could enter and shop as per supermarkets

DD3 works in high end retail where it's normal for there to be only one or two customers in the shop. The complication with her situation is that she spends a long time with each customer in fairly close quarters and it's necessary to handle the goods/pass them back and forth. Mask/gloves ect would have to be changed often and there would be a lot of disposal and cleaning to manage between customers (diamonds and set jewelry).

She is lucky that it is a large retail chain but is still managed by the family which owns it and they are being very considerate to their staff. I feel for those who might be worrying that they cannot trust their employers. The last firm she worked for was a shower of bastards. I bet they are doing the bare minimum for all their current employers :(

"These same workers who are afraid or simply don’t want to go back to work , I’m pretty sure they are all going to supermarkets to purchase food shopping ..."

Kind of a daft comment really. People shop once maybe twice a week in a supermarket, for say an hour tops each time.

People work in retail sometimes 5 days a week for up to 40 hours a week.

Doesn't really compare does it?

the economy needs people to go back to work and things to reopen

this is the new normal

I just think people need to see the new normal too

Completely agree

I was just trying to say how people that say oh I can’t go back to work are still going out to shop so they are not completely housebound Or averse to going out ...

Supermarket workers / bank staff / garage workers ( places that were classed as essential) can do it , other workers will need to do it too

And most retail workers are part time and don’t work full days.

I think a lot of people will be resistant to go back to work and I would hate to be a retail manager right now trying to organize all of the shifts and ring / email people to come back in to work. It will be extremely challenging

Stores arnt going to move their tills just cus of this, maybe they could move any of the displays that arnt bolted to the floor. It is scary that people can't stop buying things they don't need in the middle of a pandemic, sure there are examples of people genuinely needing things, but a lot of it isn't a need, it's a want.

Also just because there's a member of staff on the front door saying 1 in 1 out doesn't mean people are going to listen to that, what about the customer that don't speak English? They won't understand what's happening. I can barely charades with some customers to work out what they want, also why would a family of 5 listen to me if I say we can only have a couple people in the shop?

Look at how Americans are reacting to having to wait a couple hours for food, fights are breaking out, you think they're gonna be happy to queue to get into b&m? Tkmaxx, primark?

@covetingthepreciousthings .. I'm lucky that I only work for fun so don't need the money . Dh has a great job and I just needed an interest while my son with sn is at school so I won't need / be eligible for benefits as other posters have said .
I'm just not sure it's worth the risk but I am impressed by the measures they have taken already so I'll see nearer the time .