The country-wide lockdown due to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant drop in sales for UK retailers selling non-essential items, but in order to stay afloat, retail executives are defending their right to keep warehouses open so that they can continue to sell products online.
The response from leading retailers comes after UK clothing retailer, Next, closed its distribution centres in response to employee concerns about their risk of contracting the coronavirus. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) trade association is writing to UK ministers next week to establish a number of practices that will be established to ensure that its members that are currently operating warehouses will adhere to government-recommended social distancing practices.
Retail executives across the country are determined to continue operating warehouses so that they are able to keep running their e-commerce websites, but have committed to making the changes to protect the safety of their workers.
Next had initially planned to continue running their e-commerce store but had withdrawn their decision after staff had vocalised their concerns. The retailer claimed that they had “listened carefully” to staff who “increasingly feel they should be at home in the current climate”.
According to one retail executive from the BRC, the trade association is determined to convince the business secretary, Alok Sharma, that is it vital for distribution centres to be kept open as the government looks ahead to the end of the coronavirus pandemic.
The social distancing measures recommended by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) include the following:
– Staggered breaks for workers
– Floor markings to separate workers by 2 metres in crowded areas
– Deep cleaning and disinfecting all equipment before and after use
– Introduction of regular hand washing breaks
– Physical barriers where possible
– Regular compliance checks by warehouse managers
– Regular announcements and written guidelines to remind workers of the new practices
– Halting of all orders made in person, only orders made online and on the phone may be taken
Chief retail executives have also claimed that they have discussed signing a joint letter to the government but this has not yet been put forward.
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