Waitrose which has sought the transfer of a number of John Lewis store workers to strengthen its ranks is among several to introduce safety screens between checkout staff and customers and to limit the number of people permitted in each store at a time. This together with safe distance floor decals to meet the call for social distancing will be in place along with additional security in all of its stores as the need to take stronger measures to contain coronavirus are demanded by the government. Waitrose also confirmed that it would dedicate its first opening hour each day to elderly and vulnerable customers and those caring for them, along with priority check-out services for NHS staff. Queues outside of its stores will also be managed in order to implement the two metre social distancing requirement.
Morrisons has also employed fitting teams to install checkout screens following advice from Usdaw, the shop workers’ union. It hs also stepped up cleaning routines in its stores.
Usdaw has also urged supermarket chains to increase protection for workers in the light of the behaviour of members of the public in the panic buying scramble for goods. Its general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “The scenes in stores over the weekend and the behaviour of some customers mean that supermarkets need to go further to protect the health, safety and welfare of shop workers. We are calling on retailers to continue to improve their stores and procedures to help protect staff. We also call on customers to stay calm, respect shop workers and practice the necessary hygiene measures to help limit the spread of the virus.”
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