verylittlehelps

??? Cant seem go find any information about Tesco's policy on this, and in my store theres No hand gel provided and
No opportunity to 'frequently' wash our hands

What exactly  is the policy for 'protecting' staff??

They don’t care about staff.

Update came down on comms yesterday

Yeah I have found the response pretty bad to be honest. I was at Aldi the other night and the cashiers each had a big bottle on their till. Fair few of the cashiers at my store are nearing retirement and few have had some bad health issues................... now handling money, face to face with endless customers , handling thousands of items each day. To have to do this with no hand gel provided is  terrible.

On the shop floor a customer in your face every 30 seconds because most of the shelves are empty so the risk is there aswell.

The only good thing they have done in my store which has surprised me is they seem to be throwing alot of overtime at the situation- before Coronavirus they were being extremely tight with overtime. I suppose they can afford it though its busier than the run up to xmas at the moment. Coronavirus seems to be damaging all business apart from Supermarkets , sales must be through the roof at the moment and they cant spend the money to source stuff to protect staff?

Just going to jump on this post with my experience this week..
I had a customer complain a few days ago about a colleague who wouldn’t put money in the palm of her hand and instead on the conveyor belt. I explained that due to circumstances at the minute the colleague was just being extra cautious and wasn’t insinuating anything, to which she replied ‘bad customer service’ ‘you should still put my money in my hands’
All colleagues were given a bottle of anti bac gel before we sold out however I understand the colleagues worry as some customers who come through are downright disgusting.
How do you approach something like this when there is absolutely no guidance?

Lets face it, no amount of Anti-Bac gel is gonna help, if you find yourself in the way of a flying BLOB from one of our infected customers. :P

There has been a few briefs come down. There is a supply of anti-bac gel on the way. It is predominately for checkouts and desks as other people will find it easier to wash hands which is better but shop floor can have the gel too if they want. We have a picture of the box and what to look out for on the delivery. Other than that it will depend on stock still available to colleagues. We are using the hand sanitisers wipes available for candy King sweets. There are also trolley wipes on the way.
There are almost daily updates coming down, loads of them. It sounds like not all being passed on in store.
Money is dirty, always has been dirty. Not sure if able to catch the virus off money though. A lot of transactions are by card in these days and we no longer have to touch people's cards. I just don't see the difference between money and goods, how far do you take this. If someone has the virus and you are putting the shopping through the till I question the difference between handling money and handling goods they have loaded into trolley on the way round or the interaction of just serving them.
As I have said. Money is dirty but I don't think it's been highlighted as something to avoid. I have not seen anything saying to use bank cards only to minimise infection. It's more along the lines of avoiding crowded areas. A shop could be classed as this but that's an individual choice. If you decide you should not go into work you will be under normal sick pay conditions but if you use up your sick pay now when you are not I'll, just worried that you could be ill, you may actually need it later on. We are not dr's and we can't make that decision for others. I just personally think that the interaction with customers and fellow colleagues is a higher risk than handling money, if you are going to worry about risks.
The risk of holidays abroad and the bugs people bring back has been proven to be a much bigger issue. I bet these same people who don't want to handle money would complain bitterly if the holiday abroad was cancelled.

The coronavirus remains on surfaces for many hours and so could be caught from money but, realistically, is mainly caught by airborne transmission.

Edit to add: I think the government will soon change advice to not going to work when you have symptoms of a cold or flu. That's reasonable. Just deciding to isolate yourself from others for the next year until there is a vaccine probably isn't realistic for most people.

I’m sure as part of one of the briefs this week it said that if a cashier was particularly concerned about working on the checkouts because of underlying health concerns the company would look at moving them to the shop floor temporarily to support them.

There is also a set of procedures come down this week regarding the virus  to follow if any colleague is suspected of having the virus or is self isolating following advice from health professionals.
Group PP has to be told daily of any cases and they communicate to HO all the details.
So colleagues might find themselves being questioned quite in-depth regarding this and contacted by phone a lot more than normal!

Before the colleague returns there is a special WB form to go through over the phone if the virus is suspected and if they do not meet the government advice they won’t be allowed back into work I believe.

People are saying put hand sanitizers on every checkout but the reality of it is, that someone has already stolen the ones in our store that have been given out to CSD and PFS(could be colleague’s or customers), and speaking to a local NHS worker the bottles that they have around the wards are mysteriously disappearing during visiting hours!

How long do you think the ones on every checkout would last

Quote from: CLEARERskies on 12-03-20, 11:28AM
Just going to jump on this post with my experience this week..
I had a customer complain a few days ago about a colleague who wouldn’t put money in the palm of her hand and instead on the conveyor belt. I explained that due to circumstances at the minute the colleague was just being extra cautious and wasn’t insinuating anything, to which she replied ‘bad customer service’ ‘you should still put my money in my hands’
All colleagues were given a bottle of anti bac gel before we sold out however I understand the colleagues worry as some customers who come through are downright disgusting.
How do you approach something like this when there is absolutely no guidance?

Unsure what the checkout operators stance is there  ??? The money from the till drawer is already contaminated from constant use, if the customer has handed over cash, then the operator has taken it out of her hand, so why refuse to place in the same hand the change  ???

Does anyone know what measures are in place for shelf fillers who are immunosupressed or have underlying health issues. We touch stuff all night that customers pick up and put down or pass us coughing. 

I think that the first step would be to contact your doctor for advice.

This epidemic is likely to last at least 4 months. My understanding is that at the height of the epidemic people with significant health issues such as yours will be asked to isolate themselves for a period of between 1 month and 2 months but that this may change. Some small number of people may be best off isolating themselves now.

I am sorry, this is a particularly bad period for you. I wish I could be more helpful.

Remember everyone, all colleagues must be wearing a headset   :D

Could I be disciplined if I refuse to attend checkout service calls, my girlfriend is 29 weeks pregnant and it scares me that she could catch it.

Is pregnancy an at risk factor . The virus goes for your chest so people with chest/heart condition and other conditions that can affect lungs /heart like diabetes,  asthma etc are higher risk .
I understand your concern but wash your hands thoroughly before you go home .

Quote from: Mcdawg on 12-03-20, 09:34PM
Could I be disciplined if I refuse to attend checkout service calls, my girlfriend is 29 weeks pregnant and it scares me that she could catch it.

Express your concerns to your line manager...the ball then ends up in their court...are they going to tell you to answer the call or not, the responsibility is then on them.
Is your partner self isolating ?

I read that there is some concern for pregnant women because they have a lower immune system.
Do you think checkouts are more at risk of catching it though?

Should we not now be asking customers to stand away from staff at self service - we are being put at even more risk from being coughed on and getting droplets of covid in our face! :(

Quote from: delightful-donuts on 12-03-20, 06:49AM
??? Cant seem go find any information about Tesco's policy on this, and in my store theres No hand gel provided and
No opportunity to 'frequently' wash our hands

What exactly  is the policy for 'protecting' staff??

You think Tesco actually has a policy for protecting staff? You're adorable! >:D

Tesco would expect us to work as normal if the virus really was turning people into flesh-eating Zombies. 8-)

we have noticed less people using self serve,due to the touchscreen

My wife is worried about being sacked. Her doctor has said when it starts coming into the area more because we do have it then she is at high risk due to c o p d. it says on the news when they bring this over 70 isolation in, then it can also include people who have health issues. it has not been confirm yet but they are saying they have to stay in isolation for four months. her doctor has said she should keep away from people when it hits the area hard. but, she is worried she will not be paid from Tesco if she takes time off, and she is worried that when she returns she will be sacked. she is prepared to put Tesco before her life because she is worried about the financial implications and being sacked. she only has around four years left before she retires

 8-) that is such a shame 8-)

Her health comes first...she won't be sacked...she has a medical condition that warrants her isolation...the medical notes are her backup, she should contact the citizens advice or DHSS for advice.

sunshineman My guess she would be offered lifestyle break so tosco will not have to pay her and she won't have to worrie about being sacked. It's a shame they don't pay employees enough to afford to take lifestyle breaks

I'm at the point where I don't care about what management say.They don't care about our health so why should I have to take 'wet' money from someone's snotty hand!!!

I don’t get the issue... if anyone has a problem with working within this environment.... ring the sick phone and tell them “I have a new cough” and “my temperature is high”.
You are then to stay off work for a minimum of 7 days, you will be paid from DAY ONE and it will NOT be added to your absence percentage when you return, as it’s Coronavirus related.

The issue is on a daily basis the company couldn’t careless about its staff.So yeah phone in with corona, everyone should😷😜

Quote from: Mcdawg on 12-03-20, 09:34PM
Could I be disciplined if I refuse to attend checkout service calls, my girlfriend is 29 weeks pregnant and it scares me that she could catch it.

New information at government press brief today re; pregnant woman , they are to be considered high risk , could be worth looking for it online . Hope this helps

Now is the time to unite as a nationwide group, england ireland scotland wales,   we need to involve the local media channels as well as on social media channels we need to highlight this very worrying problem, we are seeing unprecedented amounts of customers going through the checkouts, I've under estimated this amount of about 400 per hour in a tesco extra, im in belfast northern ireland and our management as well as our union reps are standing back and letting us on the front line take the hit of the virus with absolutely no protection, we need gloves, masks, and sanatizers at every checkout, we need to be washing our hands every 15 minutes. bars ,clus, restaurants, civil servents are just a few who are protecting there staff but not just tesco but all the major supermarkets are doing very little or nothing to protect their staff. lets get this noticed fight together for our own safety. remember we are on the frontline, there are no other profesions in the uk at present dealing with the amount of public that we are dealing with.

Gaz

Defo agree with this, most people in my store feel like walking. As crazy as it sounds no manager in my store has even mentioned the Coronavirus yet, we have been getting all our info from the media.

In the newspaper the other day one of the main stories/photos was of a stereophonic concert with 100s people packed into the venue and how incredibly stupid and risky it was. What about dangerously overcrowded supermarkets? On Sunday everycheckout was open and still the queues were 15m long . The isles were so packed you literally couldn’t walk down them. No hand sanitiser for staff since this began.

As daft as it sounds I think they need to implement a rule that customers are not allowed to talk to staff at all. I’m having 500 customers in my face a day, most of them also have a poor grasp of English so they get up so close it forces you to step back.

Our store manager to be fair has passed back to the S.D that many staff want to wear masks and gloves, reply back was a simple no as it might put some customers off, yet we are to serve customers who want to wear them, and we have had a fair few doing so in the last few days.

The amount of f****ng customers that have coughed and sneezed on me last few weeks is taking the p**s, most dont even bother to cover with hand

Quote from: penguin on 18-03-20, 08:31PM
Our store manager to be fair has passed back to the S.D that many staff want to wear masks and gloves, reply back was a simple no as it might put some customers off, yet we are to serve customers who want to wear them, and we have had a fair few doing so in the last few days.

WOW. Why do we allow our union to continue to mug us off. A mass strike for one day would soon see masks and gloves brought in rapidly.

The stores seem pretty desperate for workers at the moment , if you turn up for work wearing a mask and refuse to work without it I don’t think they have the luxury to send you home and they defo wouldn’t discipline you for it

Quote from: penguin on 18-03-20, 08:31PM
Our store manager to be fair has passed back to the S.D that many staff want to wear masks and gloves, reply back was a simple no as it might put some customers off, yet we are to serve customers who want to wear them, and we have had a fair few doing so in the last few days.

If that were the case then I'd use Tescos self isolation policy for paid absence. I'm also pretty sure a judge would see that as Tesco not enacting due diligence for duty of care for it's staff.

Ban cash payments too.  Why are so many people still paying by cash?  Tesco really don't care about their staff and I don't think we should put up with this. 

If you want to wear a mask...wear it...if you want to wear gloves...wear them. I can assure you if I was still working I would be togging up head to foot, and no customer or manager would have a say on it!!

When bouts of sickness or flu were doing the rounds, I would refuse to use the communal phones. Screens, keyboards and PDA were wiped down by me before use. One manager tutted then laughed at me, but as I told him..." I'm supporting my attendance, Tesco isn't!!"

There is an open letter that has been put out to request that customers limit cash payments, amongst other things. Some of the older more vulnerable customers tend to use cash more, it's not always the case but the ones that do use cash tend to do so because they struggle with cards. For other age groups this tends to just be a personal preference. This will not be the same for all as we are individuals but if we totally remove cash payment we will also be turning away customers unable to pay in other ways.
Cash payments have fallen. The way some people are buying could be linked to card payments. Filling up cupboards to a much higher level than normal will be credit card payment for some. Not everybody is in a position to stock up like this on a cash payment basis. Even if coming out of normal bank account people on the whole tend to revert to card for higher payments.
We can only talk in general terms, we are not all the same. We are naturally drifting towards a card payment system anyway.

Quote from: lucgeo on 19-03-20, 07:22AM
If you want to wear a mask...wear it...if you want to wear gloves...wear them. I can assure you if I was still working I would be togging up head to foot, and no customer or manager would have a say on it!!

When bouts of sickness or flu were doing the rounds, I would refuse to use the communal phones. Screens, keyboards and PDA were wiped down by me before use. One manager tutted then laughed at me, but as I told him..." I'm supporting my attendance, Tesco isn't!!"

Good point about keyboards and phones. I work with someone who is like you and cleans the keyboards, more so when there is a bug going round. Our own mobile phones carry germs for a long time due the type of surface they have. During normal times we are told to clean them and as in general they are seen as being dirty, we just don't hand out our phones for others to touch, that is more of a cross contamination issue.

Hi work in bakery slicing bread for customers queues are long all touching my hands no gel no masks no nothing I suffer with anxiety and this really worries me I have a dry throat and headache all weekend advice please

NHS states that the symptoms to watch out for are fever and regular coughing. However, anxiety can make you ill too, speak to a manager when you're next in and explain the situation.

Personally I think they should end that practice as its unnecessary contact, they can grab a sliced one off the shelf it'll do.

Quote from: penguin on 18-03-20, 08:31PM
Our store manager to be fair has passed back to the S.D that many staff want to wear masks and gloves, reply back was a simple no as it might put some customers off, yet we are to serve customers who want to wear them, and we have had a fair few doing so in the last few days.

be a shame if the media got hold of this story and the S.Ds name

I'm currently on 14 days isolation but I should be on holiday this week. There will be no chance to have it now as last week of this holiday yesr. Do I get to carry it over or lose it? Manager doesn't know :(

Hi I don't know if anyone can help me? I've recently been made permanent member of staff and I have 5 months of service. Currently living in household where 3 of 5 are identified as high risk group. I am the only one who is still going to work I kind of feel the money isn't worth my families health at this point.

Does anyone know if someone with short service is entitled to any leave? I fully know it will be unpaid and that's ok. I feel like my only choice is to quit and feeling a little confused.

Thanks

Quote from: Mercher2019 on 22-03-20, 09:31PM
Hi I don't know if anyone can help me? I've recently been made permanent member of staff and I have 5 months of service. Currently living in household where 3 of 5 are identified as high risk group. I am the only one who is still going to work I kind of feel the money isn't worth my families health at this point.

Does anyone know if someone with short service is entitled to any leave? I fully know it will be unpaid and that's ok. I feel like my only choice is to quit and feeling a little confused.

Thanks

If you search Coronavirus on colleague help all the info is there for colleagues living with vulnerable people.

Quote from: StinkyPoo on 22-03-20, 07:33PM
I'm currently on 14 days isolation but I should be on holiday this week. There will be no chance to have it now as last week of this holiday yesr. Do I get to carry it over or lose it? Manager doesn't know :(

You can't carry it over, I believe that it will be paid. That's what we are being told in our store anyway.

Thank you Tesco for me £16 a week bonus!

I sit on a check out, no protection.  Cannot move away from the thousands of people in our store herded in like animals so much that the store had to lock the doors to stop more coming in.  A piece of sticky tape on the floor and tannoy announcement will not stop me being infected by Coronavirus!

What is the union doing?   I have paid for over 10 years and have never used doing about it.  Government guidelines say we should be 2 metres away to stop catching and spread on disease.  Is this not breaking current employment regulations?

I believe regulations say employers must supply a safe environment for its employees, this is not!!  No matter how many times I shout air space it’s ignored.  Colleagues spat at, swore at and now we also have to police the customers shopping and take that abuse as well. 

Young girls sitting crying as they serve people.  Has anyone thought about the mental health of our colleagues?  Come on Tesco’s and our government give us some consideration , we have families as well. 

I do appreciate all the NHS are doing really, but to see them all standing on top of each other, nose to nose does not fill me with confidence that the 2 metre rule is working anywhere.

Where will Tesco’s stand legally if something happens to me and I diets a direct result of there lack of protection, is it manslaugter?

Let’s start firstly by giving colleagues mask, gloves, aprons, sanitiser for all.  If customers do not want to see me in a mask, sorry don’t queue at my till!!


They are relieve very 15 minutes to wash hands.

Managers at EVERY checkout stopping customers coming to close.  They can walk away, or. Go sit doing paperwork in an office, I can’t!

I heard lots of colleagues saying yesterday they are calling in sick with stress or isolation.  Soon there will be nobody to serve these customers at this rate.

Quote from an employee “ when I came to work for Tesco it was as a checkout operator NOT a frontline member of an army that’s in full battle!

100% True could not agree with you more. For all workers and have to say managers in my tesco there is no 2m rule especially guys that are replenishing stock .

Quote from: Mazhuss on 23-03-20, 06:41AM
Thank you Tesco for me £16 a week bonus!

I sit on a check out, no protection.  Cannot move away from the thousands of people in our store herded in like animals so much that the store had to lock the doors to stop more coming in.  A piece of sticky tape on the floor and tannoy announcement will not stop me being infected by Coronavirus!

What is the union doing?   I have paid for over 10 years and have never used doing about it.  Government guidelines say we should be 2 metres away to stop catching and spread on disease.  Is this not breaking current employment regulations?

I believe regulations say employers must supply a safe environment for its employees, this is not!!  No matter how many times I shout air space it’s ignored.  Colleagues spat at, swore at and now we also have to police the customers shopping and take that abuse as well. 

Young girls sitting crying as they serve people.  Has anyone thought about the mental health of our colleagues?  Come on Tesco’s and our government give us some consideration , we have families as well. 

I do appreciate all the NHS are doing really, but to see them all standing on top of each other, nose to nose does not fill me with confidence that the 2 metre rule is working anywhere.

Where will Tesco’s stand legally if something happens to me and I diets a direct result of there lack of protection, is it manslaugter?

Let’s start firstly by giving colleagues mask, gloves, aprons, sanitiser for all.  If customers do not want to see me in a mask, sorry don’t queue at my till!!


They are relieve very 15 minutes to wash hands.

Managers at EVERY checkout stopping customers coming to close.  They can walk away, or. Go sit doing paperwork in an office, I can’t!

I heard lots of colleagues saying yesterday they are calling in sick with stress or isolation.  Soon there will be nobody to serve these customers at this rate.

Quote from an employee “ when I came to work for Tesco it was as a checkout operator NOT a frontline member of an army that’s in full battle!

Couldn’t agree more!! Supermarket workers are being completely ignored by everyone during this crisis. I see photos of a 50 people gathering on a beach in the newspapers but zero reports in the supermarkets being dangerously overcrowded!

I don’t blame store managers they can’t really do anything I blame the government, Tesco and usdaw.

I personally think there will be repercussions in the future when supermarket workers have died and people look back at the photos of supermarkets that resemble a football stadium more than a shop. And that zero precautions were taken

Quote from: Mazhuss on 23-03-20, 06:41AM
Thank you Tesco for me £16 a week bonus!

I sit on a check out, no protection.  Cannot move away from the thousands of people in our store herded in like animals so much that the store had to lock the doors to stop more coming in.  A piece of sticky tape on the floor and tannoy announcement will not stop me being infected by Coronavirus!

What is the union doing?   I have paid for over 10 years and have never used doing about it.  Government guidelines say we should be 2 metres away to stop catching and spread on disease.  Is this not breaking current employment regulations?

I believe regulations say employers must supply a safe environment for its employees, this is not!!  No matter how many times I shout air space it’s ignored.  Colleagues spat at, swore at and now we also have to police the customers shopping and take that abuse as well. 

Young girls sitting crying as they serve people.  Has anyone thought about the mental health of our colleagues?  Come on Tesco’s and our government give us some consideration , we have families as well. 

I do appreciate all the NHS are doing really, but to see them all standing on top of each other, nose to nose does not fill me with confidence that the 2 metre rule is working anywhere.

Where will Tesco’s stand legally if something happens to me and I diets a direct result of there lack of protection, is it manslaugter?

Let’s start firstly by giving colleagues mask, gloves, aprons, sanitiser for all.  If customers do not want to see me in a mask, sorry don’t queue at my till!!


They are relieve very 15 minutes to wash hands.

Managers at EVERY checkout stopping customers coming to close.  They can walk away, or. Go sit doing paperwork in an office, I can’t!

I heard lots of colleagues saying yesterday they are calling in sick with stress or isolation.  Soon there will be nobody to serve these customers at this rate.

Quote from an employee “ when I came to work for Tesco it was as a checkout operator NOT a frontline member of an army that’s in full battle!

Best post I’ve read. Absolutely agree with everything you have said. Yesterday was just absolutely ridiculous with hundreds of NHS workers crammed into our store. So much for social distancing. My concerns to a manager were met with an eyeball roll.

Just seen this about wearing gloves. It says it does not help and can make matters worse. The gloves would need to be washed as often as hands and they could retain germs longer than hands do. Biggest issue is face contact, don’t touch your face with your hands with or without gloves.

https://trib.al/8OvFNVx

Agree about above comments about crowding in the shops. Brief is retain safe distance and this is needed outside so would be needed even more so in stores. I must say the nhs/colleagues in my store respected this yesterday but I have seen pictures of a lot of areas not doing this. We have been able to put up barriers in my store but we are a small store and it is working well for us. I can see that this would not work in a bigger store though.
Not sure what we can do about crowding at the tills though. Even a few people can get within the safe space, it only needs one infected person. In a much denser packed crowd it spreads to more people.
Most virus are spread before symptoms show.

@Mazhuss, I agree %100.

Some colleagues took advantage of yesterday's early shopping offer and one told me it was the worst thing she'd done. The queue was so long at the checkouts with most standing close to others for anything up to 45 minutes until checkouts opened, and those with baskets standing inches away from the customer in front/behind, that she panicked and left her full trolley with a member of staff and almost ran to her car. It was a nice idea but badly thought out. Could HQ not have arranged with government/councils to open checkouts that bit earlier?

And have to say, I do feel for checkout operators and CSD too, Tesco isn't doing much to keep them safe when they are the very ones dealing with the most people daily.

i know this probably sounds really stupid but it’s obvious Tesco and Usdaw are not going to protect us so we need to protect ourselves. Maybe on a Sunday just before the shop opens and there is a crazy huge queue outside , everybody just refuses to start work? It will only take one shop for this to work.

I honestly think we need to stop looking at Tesco to protect us and start protecting ourselves

Quote from: Redshoes on 23-03-20, 09:00AM
Just seen this about wearing gloves. It says it does not help and can make matters worse. The gloves would need to be washed as often as hands and they could retain germs longer than hands do. Biggest issue is face contact, don’t touch your face with your hands with or without gloves.

https://trib.al/8OvFNVx

Agree about above comments about crowding in the shops. Brief is retain safe distance and this is needed outside so would be needed even more so in stores. I must say the nhs/colleagues in my store respected this yesterday but I have seen pictures of a lot of areas not doing this. We have been able to put up barriers in my store but we are a small store and it is working well for us. I can see that this would not work in a bigger store though.
Not sure what we can do about crowding at the tills though. Even a few people can get within the safe space, it only needs one infected person. In a much denser packed crowd it spreads to more people.
Most virus are spread before symptoms show.

If gloves and according to usdaw, masks, offer no protection, then why would medical professionals bother wearing them at all; they use them because they are disposable, they are not intended for continuous use so no need to be washing them as you do your hands.

Tesco should be supplying all it's staff with this type of ppe, hand sanitizer, masks and a pack of disposible gloves, maybe some kind of apron, no ifs or buts if they care about the mental and physical health of their staff.

Perhaps checkouts and self-service wiped down on a regular basis!

Quote from: Mathias casablancas on 23-03-20, 09:52AM
i know this probably sounds really stupid but it’s obvious Tesco and Usdaw are not going to protect us so we need to protect ourselves. Maybe on a Sunday just before the shop opens and there is a crazy huge queue outside , everybody just refuses to start work? It will only take one shop for this to work.

I honestly think we need to stop looking at Tesco to protect us and start protecting ourselves

Good luck expaining that to the millions of people who have/ will lose their job that you walked out in protest just as they want in to get food.
There isn't enough ppe in the country for the nhs let alone for private companies to buy it for their staff.

Not enough ppe, then i suggest the manufacture of that ppe goes into over-drive.

For instance, some distilleries are diversifying into producing hand sanitizers, plaudits go to Verdant Spirits, BrewDog and possibly many others.

Maybe we could get some perspex screens for checkouts and customers service desks.

Madness I hope you are as understanding when one of your colleagues is hooked up to a ventilator and you know deep down that the company you work for took ZERO precautions other than putting extra watered down soap in the staff toilets.

Quote from: madness on 23-03-20, 10:14AM

Quote from: Mathias casablancas on 23-03-20, 09:52AM
i know this probably sounds really stupid but it’s obvious Tesco and Usdaw are not going to protect us so we need to protect ourselves. Maybe on a Sunday just before the shop opens and there is a crazy huge queue outside , everybody just refuses to start work? It will only take one shop for this to work.

I honestly think we need to stop looking at Tesco to protect us and start protecting ourselves

Good luck expaining that to the millions of people who have/ will lose their job that you walked out in protest just as they want in to get food.
There isn't enough ppe in the country for the nhs let alone for private companies to buy it for their staff.

P.S, Facebook managed to stockpile 720,000 masks which they are now, 'donating' to health professionals.

fao Mathias casablancas

They can't ,you can't just double, triple factor of 10 increase production of masks, hand sanitisers, bottles for it materials to make it distribute it overnight.
there is talk of screens at checkouts.
companies run lean on distribution, drivers lorries in order to make money, there isnt 1000 trucks with 1000 drivers ready to go to distribution centres jsut sitting arround with 100,000 pickers and 50,000 pallet trucks to ramp up the movement of all the extra goods needed.

to me No job, mortgage worries, childcare worries family worries and still likely get corona

vs

extremely safe job given a payrise when they didnt need to and still likely get corona.

Quote from: Welshie on 13-03-20, 12:48AM
Is pregnancy an at risk factor . The virus goes for your chest so people with chest/heart condition and other conditions that can affect lungs /heart like diabetes,  asthma etc are higher risk .
I understand your concern but wash your hands thoroughly before you go home .

Pregnant colleagues are considered at risk and have been sent home for the 12 weeks social distancing in our store. 

This afternoon we were told that we have to clean the petrol pumps every half hour.  There are only two of us on shift at a time and it would take half an hour to get round all the pumps at least.  Then factor in all the interruptions and it's going to be a nightmare.  There is no way we can hit that target.  There is no cleaner to do the job, the contractor decided not to pay the last one, so he left, surprisingly and the other store cleaners are running themselves around into early graves. 

Where's the protection for staff.......nowhere that's where.

Some private firms are providing gloves for people to use when filling their cars, one customer at a time allowed in shop, card reader set away from counter and hand gel provided for use during transactrion.  Small does it better than the bigger companies.

Small are nimble and can react fast and make decisions that don't have to filter down from the top.

Quote from: taliahad on 23-03-20, 03:26PM
This afternoon we were told that we have to clean the petrol pumps every half hour.

The petrol and diesel smears inevitably left round the pumps make it an inhospitable environment for the virus, I would have thought.

i've never seen the petrol station staff run off their feet to be honest, could be different elsewhere but every tesco ones I've used had 2 just chatting until someone bothered to pay in cash or get something from the shop

Excellent idea about only letting one person in the kiosk at a time.  I will do my best to get this implemented.  I also agree that any virus that can survive diesel is pretty much going to take over the world.  The pumps are no worse than anything else that people touch regularly and we are cleaning all around as often as possible.  I've never seen managers run off their feet to be honest, could be different elsewhere but the ones that I've seen have just been sat around the canteen chatting, or playing stupid games at Christmas time, like "I'm an idiot manager get me out of here" whilst the PFS staff are struggling to do transfers and complete all other tasks, they never bother to come over and see how the PFS are getting on.   

Someone from store was drafted into petrol to do the cleaning for them today. Hot bleachy water to actually clean them, with them being done twice. Then spraylix and a wipe every half an hour,  not going to do much good if every customer doesn't wear gloves and then touches the pumps and keypads

Quote from: Mathias casablancas on 23-03-20, 09:52AM
i know this probably sounds really stupid but it’s obvious Tesco and Usdaw are not going to protect us so we need to protect ourselves. Maybe on a Sunday just before the shop opens and there is a crazy huge queue outside , everybody just refuses to start work? It will only take one shop for this to work.

I honestly think we need to stop looking at Tesco to protect us and start protecting ourselves

There would be riots

There should be hand sanitizers on all checkouts offices and other places around the stores but i’d Imagine Tesco would rather sell them than use them to protect staff?

People would steal them , they're stealing them from hospitals for goodness sake

The sad thing is people have been nicking them from hospitals for years, just a shame its taken a major virus outbreak to highlight the problem.

Just because they might get stolen is not a reason to not provide them surely

Are Tesco checkout operators, CSD and PFS staff getting protection screens?  I hear that some other supermarkets are providing them and I want them too. 

Quote from: madness on 23-03-20, 04:56PM
i've never seen the petrol station staff run off their feet to be honest, could be different elsewhere but every tesco ones I've used had 2 just chatting until someone bothered to pay in cash or get something from the shop

absolutely correct

Quote from: taliahad on 24-03-20, 03:32PM
Are Tesco checkout operators, CSD and PFS staff getting protection screens?  I hear that some other supermarkets are providing them and I want them too.

Screens for checkouts are starting to be delivered today, not sure about Csd or pfs.
However pfs could serve through the hatch and Csd are told to step back from customers to keep the distance.
Phone shops and I believe travel money are both shutting today until further notice.

PFS can't really serve through the hatch, we're too busy most of the time and we're a shop, people come in for their meal deals etc.  If we were to serve through the hatch, we'd have to close the shop.  Morris999, what exactly do you know about this?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/morrisons-and-aldi-to-put-up-checkout-screens-to-protect-staff-coronavirus

I work on checkouts and from a couple of weeks ago I mentioned about whether we would get face masks to a team support member. I also queried whether I would be told to remove it or sent home if I came in wearing one - she seemed to think not - but probably not based on any solid info.
Last week I was on holiday in Romania - and even though Romania had (at the time I was there) relatively few cases of the virus and no deaths, there was a large minority of people I saw on the streets, in shops etc. wearing masks and gloves. Admittedly, in terms of "protecting your health" it was also quite ironic quite how many people I also saw "temporarily remove their mask to smoke a cigarette" (that'll be healthy!!).
However, this mask wearing extended to many shop workers (these were shopping mall shops - so generally clothing stores, chemists, and others) - to be honest I didn't see a large number wearing them in supermarkets - although there were some - and most cashiers who served me were wearing gloves.
Whether these measures protect or not - at least the option to wear them should be provided to us - and also the equipment.
In terms of hand sanitiser our supply has been patchy - customers have been stealing them when they haven't been properly stored out of reach (particularly on the basket tills where there are no readily available out of reach areas - but I am an advocate of following the advice to wash your hands after touching food (well every customer I serve I'm touching their food!!) - but chances of getting off till to wash my hands even once an hour are zero - I'm not sure how effective the hand sanitiser is (instead of a thorough 20 sec wash) - but it's what we're left with.
We had signs up on the tills at the weekend asking customers to keep 1 metre apart - not sure why our store decided one metre was the correct distance - but I guess "every little helps" - generally customers adhered to it - but many didn't see the sign (on end of tills) and didn't see the tape on the floor (or understand the relevance) - obviously with the announcements over the last couple of days customers will be more aware - but regardless of that we are still at risk however well meaning customers are - I do believe plastic screens are the only solution - not having to even take the chance that a customer might accidently send some spittle in your direction - or landing on their shopping. But as someone else said, just touching their shopping as you scan is a potential hazard - who knows whether they've coughed all over it or whatever.

Worrying times!!

Quote from: barafear on 24-03-20, 06:35PM
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/morrisons-and-aldi-to-put-up-checkout-screens-to-protect-staff-coronavirus

Tesco are getting them as well

I dont really understand the plastic screens to be honest? It contradicts what Tesco and Usdaw are saying about masks. They claim the masks dont offer great protection because air can get in through the sides? So im not sure how a screen is anything different apart from from having infinite metres of "sides" as opposed to a few mm. Its not like the cashiers are going to be sitting in a air tight cubicle? I suppose it will offer protection from when customers breath all over you or spit whilst they talk but a mask would also offer this kind of protection

Surely though a screen would help stop people spraying saliva onto the cashier, a physical screen to prevent transmission, after all, some people do eject spittle as they speak, albeit only a small amount, but what would you rather have, some protection or none.

The screens are something, far better than nothing.  It's a barrier between us and the hundreds of customers who are face to face with us in the PFS.  This measure is very welcome and very overdue and it will make myself and many others feel so much better and that alone is worth the effort of installing them.  We can and will clean them as often as possible, they're not perfect but they will be a big help.  Get them installed asap. 

Quote from: Mathias casablancas on 24-03-20, 06:57PM
I dont really understand the plastic screens to be honest? It contradicts what Tesco and Usdaw are saying about masks. They claim the masks dont offer great protection because air can get in through the sides? So im not sure how a screen is anything different apart from from having infinite metres of "sides" as opposed to a few mm. Its not like the cashiers are going to be sitting in a air tight cubicle? I suppose it will offer protection from when customers breath all over you or spit whilst they talk but a mask would also offer this kind of protection

Personally, I don't care what tesco or usdaw say about masks.  Masks may not offer complete protection and air may well get through the sides but if the offer some protection then we deserve that.  Tesco were just worried about the cost of supplying them and reaction from customers which in turn might affect their massive profits, that's my belief anyway.  Crikey, tesco and usdaw could tell me that it will get dark tomorrow night and I'd ring up an astronomer or someone to confirm it. 

Masks are in short supply , I'd rather they went to hospitals , hospices  etc I think the screens are a great idea ,

Tesco doesn’t do caring about its staff,it’s not profitable just remember that.

They wont supply masks, they cant even supply hand sanitizer. Lots of places are selling masks and if you have your own you should be allowed to wear them. Workers on the shop floor wont have a screen to protect them when the customers are in their face asking when the pasta is going to arrive. On the shop floor the customers get closer to you aswell because there isnt a till and checkout belt to create some space between the customer.

People where Burquas at tescos for religious reasons = It might put  off some of the racist customers.
I cant wear a mask for potentional protection from a deadly virus = It might put off some of the stupid selfish customers

They don't give a s*** it doesn't fit into the Lewistopian ways........staff are put at risk everyday now.........
Usdaw nowt to say as usual.

If you have underlying health conditions a colleague is able to take 12 weeks off with a minimum of 2 weeks of that being holiday.

According to government guidance, people that fall into the below categories are classed as
vulnerable.
• Aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
• under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab
as an adult each year on medical grounds):
o chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
o chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
o chronic kidney disease
o chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
o chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone
disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
o diabetes
o problems with your spleen â€" for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your
spleen removed
o a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or
medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
o being seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)
o people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia who are at any
stage of treatment
o people who have received an organ transplant and remain on ongoing
immunosuppression medication
• those who are pregnant

Hope this helps at least 1 person. Good luck and stay safe.

Quote from: Mazhuss ok on 23-03-20, 06:41AM
Thank you Tesco for me £16 a week bonus!

I sit on a check out, no protection.  Cannot move away from the thousands of people in our store herded in like animals so much that the store had to lock the doors to stop more coming in.  A piece of sticky tape on the floor and tannoy announcement will not stop me being infected by Coronavirus!

What is the union doing?   I have paid for over 10 years and have never used doing about it.  Government guidelines say we should be 2 metres away to stop catching and spread on disease.  Is this not breaking current employment regulations?

I believe regulations say employers must supply a safe environment for its employees, this is not!!  No matter how many times I shout air space it’s ignored.  Colleagues spat at, swore at and now we also have to police the customers shopping and take that abuse as well. 

Young girls sitting crying as they serve people.  Has anyone thought about the mental health of our colleagues?  Come on Tesco’s and our government give us some consideration , we have families as well. 

I do appreciate all the NHS are doing really, but to see them all standing on top of each other, nose to nose does not fill me with confidence that the 2 metre rule is working anywhere.

Where will Tesco’s stand legally if something happens to me and I diets a direct result of there lack of protection, is it manslaugter?

Let’s start firstly by giving colleagues mask, gloves, aprons, sanitiser for all.  If customers do not want to see me in a mask, sorry don’t queue at my till!!


They are relieve very 15 minutes to wash hands.

Managers at EVERY checkout stopping customers coming to close.  They can walk away, or. Go sit doing paperwork in an office, I can’t!

I heard lots of colleagues saying yesterday they are calling in sick with stress or isolation.  Soon there will be nobody to serve these customers at this rate.

Quote from an employee “ when I came to work for Tesco it was as a checkout operator NOT a frontline member of an army that’s in full battle!

Hi. I have been a cashier at tesco for 34 years most of that time happily and enjoyed seeing all my regular customers . I am relieved to see I am not the only cashiers and staff concerned about the safety of working face to face with customers with no protection  . Tho aware of coronavirus it's not been mentioned it any precautions needed by management   
Up until the bulk buying restrictions  began about three weeks ago most staff were just doing the job and carrying on as normal. 
It began to bother me a lot that I was sat in the front line as to speak. And had no protection at all.
As many have said crowds are banned and frowned upon  yet a queue of many customers around us is fine.

The panic buying a week ago escalated and was very stressful .taking items away from customers and quite a lot of abuse.
Like so many on here I went home shaken and upset. And concerned over my own health  £9 an hour really doesn't compensate me for catching a killer virus. And I am just part time and a year from retiring.

I took a day off sick and asked speak to someone about the conditions in store. A manager rang me back and was quite offhand about me being off sick and was I saying I was sick of just not comfortable at work ? AS I won't get paid if that's the case.  I said no I am sick today seeing Dr if can 
She then told me that I had no underlying health conditions so wasn't at risk and not over seventy. But even then you need to have health problems. To be at risk. So basically the virus won't affect me. I wasn't happy with that .she also asked if I was coming into work as had fifteen mins to do that  I said no I am sick today 

Seeing no way out of being sat on my checkout and open to catching the virus with no thought from management for my safety I then asked about retiring early as not happy with conditions.

She then rang me back and was quite nice now saying she agreed with me totally and knew where I was coming from. And how understanding I had been.   I put in to retire and have retired from today. Sadly after all my years at tesco I had no sympathy or care for my welfare when voiced my concerns   since then my manager has said that take had been out on floors and signs up to say .But I haven't returned to work so don't know how it is now . As I said it's all too little too late  as far as I am concerned we had hand gel given about a week ago after staff Complained  I felt that I was dispensible and very like cannon fodder . And I feel sorry for the staff at all the supermarkets. I said I didn't feel protected at all and my only option was to leave I hoped to retire next year as planned but no-one knew the virus was coming and how situation has changed .I had to leave as my life's more important  times will be hard as now have to survive on  my savings until next year. But rather that than feel endangering my life. As we all are. I wait for some acknowledgement from the government that cashiers are at high risk more so than anyone in a crowd but seems no-one has noticed.  I am glad there are more cashiers concerned about these issues. Sadly my days at tesco and come to an abrupt end  but am relieved now as the situation was making me I'll.  It's very stressful being aware of catching it but not being able protect yourself at work was the end for me. !  An e mail arrived last week with praise for staff going above and beyond and the ten pc bonus. I find that insulting after endangering our lives  no protective masks gloves screens    And have retired my only option. I am glad I see I am not the only ones. Something needs to be done before someone does catch this and I too think tesco should be liable.this is neglect.     
. 

According to the government's advice "Employers MUST ensure that employees are 2m apart'... Well that's Not happening with Tesco (& Im sure every other retailer.)

How are they (& Usdaw for allowing them to) getting away with it?..
Does anyone know of any online shopworkers petition we could sign? Or Newspapers that would back us?
A letter to your local MP maybe?
We HAVE to do something!! Otherwise we're just sitting ducks...  (-*-)

 8-) the BBC news app or email for questions to ask the government? For you to ask what your rights are in regard of protection from the virus, working in the supermarket without being issued PPE and being refused permission to wear masks etc...as not customer friendly.

@Daisy124

I feel for you, it is such a shame that you have felt the need to take early retirement due to the mishandling of some inept manager and management in your store. Resulting in you feeling forced to leave and needing to resort to your savings to survive for the next year.

I would also urge you to contact your local MP and highlight the issue and the lack of supermarkets in following government guidelines and failing in their duty of care to their employees. Checkouts operators and store workers are more in contact with large amounts of people, than in hospitals, yet are told they cannot use every precaution they wish to feel safe...and no adequate protection is offered?
Some of these senior managers are on higher salaries than junior doctors, and think they are some sort of Demi gods, who can dictate their own ideas and rules, and actually tell people whether they will or won't be at risk!
I actually witnessed a reduced section in the supermarket yesterday, with people milling round the poor assistant who was pricing down. I advised her to take her trolley of goods and reduce in the warehouse, and suggested she speak to the fresh team about putting items in the back for reducing.

Thankyou @lucgeo have just been to the BBC app but can't seem to find the link to the  'ask a question'? 8-)
any possibility you could post the link to it please?

Quote from: delightful-donuts on 25-03-20, 08:23AM
Thankyou @lucgeo have just been to the BBC app but can't seem to find the link to the  'ask a question'? 8-)
any possibility you could post the link to it please?

It's #bbcbreakfast

The briefs are coming down thick and fast. This is a rapidly changing situation. Plastic screens on the way to fit at checkouts. No more back to back, alternate banks from now on. Masks unefective unless at nhs standards. Gloves hold germs longer than skin.
In this rapidly changing situation everyone is running to keep up. It's sad when people think they need to retire rather than risk health but understandable. sometimes there is not a correct answer, this is one of them.
We are now in lockdown, this must have an impact on the way people have been shopping. All of the supermarkets put out a statement saying no need to panic buy, just get what you need. The government put out statements saying the same. It was all over the news. All over the papers. People just did not listen. We are now in lockdown because people did not listen to stay at home advice. I live in Scotland and we have had an influx of caravans and camper vans arriving. What part of stay at home advice encouraged people to go on holiday.
We would not be in this situation if people HAD followed advice and guidance. The company briefs are running to try and keep up because people are not following advice. We don't live in a dictatorship so the advice was just advice. People have behaved very irriponsibly and selfishly. Other countries have listened to advice better than us. It would seem to me that a lot of people seem to think the advice has all been aimed at everyone else. Pubs crowded on last night before lockdown. Parks and beaches packed. It has been madness, could not have been predicted and running to keep up.
I have seen people in work asking others to save them toilet rolls, antibacterial gel for home etc. They add to the panic buying if not actually needed. I have a very good friend off for 12 wks as has asthma. She has been told to keep antibacterial hand gel at front door for when her son comes home from work. She could not get any. We don't need this at home if not in isolation. It is far better to just wash your hands. This should not be an issue if at home.
The companies are not perfect but I have just seen that some places are pulling people back in even though in isolation. Our colleagues are being paid if they should not be going to work. An area Usdaw rep was in the store last wk, he said he was inundated with calls but our company were fully supportive by comparison with others. He said the way some of the other retailers were treating people was awful.

Quote from: smileymiley on 25-03-20, 08:36AM

Quote from: delightful-donuts on 25-03-20, 08:23AM
Thankyou @lucgeo have just been to the BBC app but can't seem to find the link to the  'ask a question'? 8-)
any possibility you could post the link to it please?

It's #bbcbreakfast

Can also be found on YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk

Taliahad, of course the PFS could serve through the hatch, yes it would mean restrictions for customers but completely viable, unless your PFS is the only one in the company without a hatch.
And no I don’t know anything more than what’s been officially communicated, I’m just thinking of ways to protect colleagues instead of coming up with reasons why we cannot do things, which unfortunately seems to be everyone’s way in Tesco.

Some are not taking it seriously enough, Morris999, I see some staff now with very little to do shooting the breeze in the aisles; at the very least they could employ their time in the deep cleaning of those empty shelves.

So apparently there is no help available if you work nights and you are a single parent. I rely on family for childcare, but now said family are isolating. I’ve been told it’s my choice if I don’t come in, and I won’t get paid. It’s ok putting nurseries on for key workers but no help is made available for night workers. What am I meant to do? Leave my child home alone?

Quote from: darklighter on 25-03-20, 12:51PM
Some are not taking it seriously enough, Morris999, I see some staff now with very little to do shooting the breeze in the aisles; at the very least they could employ their time in the deep cleaning of those empty shelves.

we are at our store. I look rather fetching in marigolds

In my store some of the Csd staff are refusing to sell lotto and scratch cards!! cause of the corona virus eg. handling tickets slips and scratch cards what does everyone think?

Do not pass hand to hand?  Place on counter for customer to pick up?

Quote from: Gorgeous69 on 27-03-20, 09:12AM
In my store some of the Csd staff are refusing to sell lotto and scratch cards!! cause of the corona virus eg. handling tickets slips and scratch cards what does everyone think?

Bloody ridiculous! If the customer was cashing in their lotto or scratch card, then they may have a valid point as it is similar to handling cash...so are they refusing to accept cash payments? As usual some on CSD think they are somewhat elitist to the checkouts...are they refusing to cover checkouts at busy times? They're  OK to then go get their shopping and go through a checkout or self serve I gather, and expect the checkout operator to handle everything they have put on the belt  ???

Why don't they wear vinyl gloves to handle them they're cheap enough to buy are disposable ones!

Quote from: lucgeo on 27-03-20, 12:46PM

Quote from: Gorgeous69 on 27-03-20, 09:12AM
In my store some of the Csd staff are refusing to sell lotto and scratch cards!! cause of the corona virus eg. handling tickets slips and scratch cards what does everyone think?

Bloody ridiculous! If the customer was cashing in their lotto or scratch card, then they may have a valid point as it is similar to handling cash...so are they refusing to accept cash payments? As usual some on CSD think they are somewhat elitist to the checkouts...are they refusing to cover checkouts at busy times? They're  OK to then go get their shopping and go through a checkout or self serve I gather, and expect the checkout operator to handle everything they have put on the belt  ???

Current government restrictions restrict the type of goods that can be sold from retailers (non-essential products) and to leave it to the Retailers discretion what can be sold if they're considered essential but also sell non-essential products among their essential offerings.

In this case it is fair under the current circumstances to refuse the sale and processing of things like scratchcards because of the increased risk of contracting covid by cash handling.

As for CSD elitism, if their difference in duties and circa £1 more per hour seperates them from the established Tesco peasant class then I'd hate to think what you'd class non-retail workers as 😂.

There are no gloves in most places people are even wearing marigolds but there were none of them last week

@NightandDay

If it was a Tesco decision across the board, then all CSD's should follow suit. Would a checkout operator be allowed to refuse to process certain products in a customers shopping? Where does the line get drawn?

The sale of scratch cards differs to the processing of customer produced scratch cards, as I previously stated, it's similar to cash, although as far as I'm aware, Tesco haven't  banned cash transactions.

I am not a believer of class distinctions, and it is certainly not I that thinks a circa of £1 more per hour separates them from the rest of the shopfloor minions. I draw my conclusion from personal observations made over many years.

The government states it's for the retailers to decide how to handle the sale of non-essential items (for the stores it didn't mandate to cease trading).

As far as I can see, Tesco is still evolving their Coronavirus prevention policies based on trends and feedback from the general public, with the recent installation of social distancing markers and plastic till shielding. I'd assume the granular aspects are made up as they go at a store by store basis until more concrete policies are added.

As for lottery products, the logical conclusion of its sale is either the customer doesn't win or does win, in the event of a win, the prize has to be given out as cash, now due to the highly distributed nature of cash, some rational minded people would consider it a significant risk for contracting the virus. Yes they could hold on to winning lottery artifacts until the quarantine is over, but nobody exept lottery syndicates do that.

As for the classist thing, every hourly paid role in store has to see that the difference in their wages is to keep you distracted from your high salaried pay masters, they're trying to keep all of you fighting amongst yourselves while they gradually expand on the proletariat segment of their model eventually to include what is the current bourgeoisie so it no longer exists.

Well done!! You managed to get some very big words in there 8-) whilst not necessarily making any valid point...Tesco policies are rarely decided on a store to store basis, apart from where an SM decides to display goods not on the merchandise plan!

Quote from: jester21 on 27-03-20, 04:12PM
Why don't they wear vinyl gloves to handle them they're cheap enough to buy are disposable ones!

They could just steal them from the petrol station , all the customers are !!

Cash payments are less, chip & pin limit raised to 45.00 to help support this. That's all good but it's touching your faces that is the issue. Money has always been dirty, so will lottery slips or scratch cards but if you refrain from touching your face that is key. Germs spread through cuts on hands but so far there has been no word of the virus being spread like this and it's probably unlikely. Serving a customer cigarettes and a tin of beans is probably not so different. They have touched the beans, put them in the basket or carried them round the store. Touch contact is touch contact.

Quote from: lucgeo on 27-03-20, 08:19PM
Well done!! You managed to get some very big words in there 8-) whilst not necessarily making any valid point...Tesco policies are rarely decided on a store to store basis, apart from where an SM decides to display goods not on the merchandise plan!

.

When I said made up as they go that's exactly what I meant, no formal published policies established, the covid policies are still evolving, for the scenarios which aren't covered by OurTesco there will be a difference between stores as unless instructed by someone more senior, the SM will have to come to the decision of what can and can't be done.

Depending on the exponential scale of this pandemic, more restrictive policies may be adopted.

Loves the big words...makes them feel all “special”

Quote from: NightAndDay on 28-03-20, 11:04AM

Quote from: lucgeo on 27-03-20, 08:19PM
Well done!! You managed to get some very big words in there 8-) whilst not necessarily making any valid point...Tesco policies are rarely decided on a store to store basis, apart from where an SM decides to display goods not on the merchandise plan!

.

When I said made up as they go that's exactly what I meant, no formal published policies established, the covid policies are still evolving, for the scenarios which aren't covered by OurTesco there will be a difference between stores as unless instructed by someone more senior, the SM will have to come to the decision of what can and can't be done.

Depending on the exponential scale of this pandemic, more restrictive policies may be adopted.

I'm well aware of what you said, and contrary to your inflated egotistical belief, I understand " granular aspects" being made on a store by store basis. e.g, queue control, essentials distribution etc...However, if you honestly believe that some puppet SM is going to make such a bold decision, as to ban customers making cash payments in their store, without the official authorisation of their puppet master, is ludicrous. There would be a riot, as alienating cash paying customers, which could be a high %, especially with the low income or elderly.
Indeed, unless every supermarket chain agreed to go cashless, I doubt the puppet masters would risk the backlash, and loss of income from those being victimised.

BREAKING NEWS.....Tesco no longer wants your money...pay by card or go away.... Cash paying customers not welcome, but come back when the pandemics' over, if you haven't either died of the virus or starved to death!  :-X

Well said Lucgeo, your one of a few myself included on here that become amused by this person for many reasons, not positive, yet they don’t grasp it though you would think due to the vocabulary that they would possess the capacity to understand that they come across as a total egotistical person devoid of a life of sorts ...but then maybe they like this sort of reaction who knows with the internet

Cash should be banned for the greater good, just while we have this crisis going on.  It may inconvenience a few people, there's always going to be someone who has a problem with change but we must do everything that we can for the greater good. 

Cash is icky, with the various germs, cocaine   :D, and other bacteria.

But in reality, in terms of corona virus, it's not going spread any easier from cash handling compared  to the handling of the products customers buy.

I think many people would be happier to go cashless if there was the option of an anonymous cash card which can be topped up in all the usual ways (ATM etc) and used for small transactions (eg newspaper) without generating an audit trail that floods your bank statement (my personal tipping point is anything over a fiver).  But there is no gain for the banks in doing that.

Quote from: Dougall on 28-03-20, 05:49PM
Well said Lucgeo, your one of a few myself included on here that become amused by this person for many reasons, not positive, yet they don’t grasp it though you would think due to the vocabulary that they would possess the capacity to understand that they come across as a total egotistical person devoid of a life of sorts ...but then maybe they like this sort of reaction who knows with the internet

Lucgeo If you read my comment I did add "unless instructed by someone more senior" calling me egotistical was slightly uncalled for when all I added was constructive input.

Dougall all you do on these forums is flame and troll, you never answer any of the questions or contribute in a meaningful way. It's clear that all you're good for is stacking shelves, god forbid you hold any position more senior, you're the poster boy for Dignitas.

😂 carry on boy I know nothing about you and you know nothing about me . But I do know I monitor this site but don’t profess to be anything I’m not.😂 you just don’t know who i am so carry on stabbing in the dark. I suspect that you have nothing going on in your life which will be exacerbated by your I’m guessing furlough period. I’m going to go further here and say I think nobody likes working with you and if I could profile you further you are not with anyone as I cannot see that being a situation anyone would want 😂

Quote from: Mazhuss on 23-03-20, 06:41AM
Thank you Tesco for me £16 a week bonus!

I sit on a check out, no protection.  Cannot move away from the thousands of people in our store herded in like animals so much that the store had to lock the doors to stop more coming in.  A piece of sticky tape on the floor and tannoy announcement will not stop me being infected by Coronavirus!

What is the union doing?   I have paid for over 10 years and have never used doing about it.  Government guidelines say we should be 2 metres away to stop catching and spread on disease.  Is this not breaking current employment regulations?

I believe regulations say employers must supply a safe environment for its employees, this is not!!  No matter how many times I shout air space it’s ignored.  Colleagues spat at, swore at and now we also have to police the customers shopping and take that abuse as well. 

Young girls sitting crying as they serve people.  Has anyone thought about the mental health of our colleagues?  Come on Tesco’s and our government give us some consideration , we have families as well. 

I do appreciate all the NHS are doing really, but to see them all standing on top of each other, nose to nose does not fill me with confidence that the 2 metre rule is working anywhere.

Where will Tesco’s stand legally if something happens to me and I diets a direct result of there lack of protection, is it manslaugter?

Let’s start firstly by giving colleagues mask, gloves, aprons, sanitiser for all.  If customers do not want to see me in a mask, sorry don’t queue at my till!!


They are relieve very 15 minutes to wash hands.

Managers at EVERY checkout stopping customers coming to close.  They can walk away, or. Go sit doing paperwork in an office, I can’t!

I heard lots of colleagues saying yesterday they are calling in sick with stress or isolation.  Soon there will be nobody to serve these customers at this rate.

Quote from an employee “ when I came to work for Tesco it was as a checkout operator NOT a frontline member of an army that’s in full battle!

I feel I have to comment on this post yet again, as nearly a week has passed and yet things are still pretty much the same in-store as this poster has stated. This week I've witnessed checkout operators in tears also, sitting ducks, as we all are, it's not a good look - it's heartbreaking to see. Tesco 'keeping us safe in work'? How? Where? By what measures? Placing tape on the floor which customers can't even see, let alone take any notice of.  A few A4 sized posters placed willy-nilly telling customers to stay their distance.  It's NOT GOOD ENOUGH, TESCO! 

Can we keep (as the law states, I believe) all customers and staff to be 2 mtrs apart at all times, to SAVE LIVES?  No, actually, we can't - it's not working, so do something about it please.  Forget about your bloody profits for a change and start thinking about seriously, genuinely, saving the lives of your staff who are by the way, worried sick about having to be in a building in close proximity with so many others at this terribly worrying time.  And don't even get me started with training new employees placed just a few inches away on checkouts, etc, .... how's that supposed to work with the 2m distancing rule?

Management being informed hourly/daily about such worries/dangerous and ill-advised practices yet some afraid to go against Store Manager's ruling  - no surprises there to be honest - if they survive this horrible virus themselves, well, maybe they'll find a big feather in their caps, a big flashing red, white and blue one, extolling the virtues of Tesco PLC.

10% bonus?  For this? For the worry, the stress, the tears, the fears, the anguish? For risking our very lives in the midst of the worst living nightmare imaginable which is happening right now? 

Typical Tesco

Take a bow, why don't ya.

I even love vlad putin 😂 they are sincere. You are just so stuck up and narcissistic I bet you are one of those that tries to get others in trouble

Come on night and day. Do you still wear a shirt and tie in your job . you mentioned a long while ago a self help guide which explained you were assaulted as a staff member in the first few hours at McDonalds.

Please don't provoke him,  he'll start blithering on about corporate governance, whilst posting the irrelevant business acronyms he googled.

Your right Alf .. but it won’t stop him he’s got nothing else to do 😂

👍keep well Alf

He’s back online...expect a long diatribe any moment now
😂😂

Give us lots of syllables 😂

Quote from: Dougall on 28-03-20, 11:54PM
I even love vlad putin 😂 they are sincere. You are just so stuck up and narcissistic I bet you are one of those that tries to get others in trouble

There's no "getting others in trouble" in my job, we all have respect for each other and have the maturity, there's no disciplinaries except in appropriate cases and in such events, they're done properly unlike at Tesco, I'm not directly managed myself as I'm a consultant, I hold a very senior position.

You can assume all you want, as you said, you still know nothing about me outside the small bits of information I've divulged. You make your own mind up without knowing all the facts, If I profiled you I'd say you're like the 19 year old s*** stirrers who brown nose the managers.

Now are you going to contribute to the topic or are you going to continue to prove to be an argument for birth control.

Due to you divulging your college status matey boy I can assume you are in your 30’s so I am older and wiser and have been on this planet a lot longer  than you ...the birth control debate definitely does apply to you I’m afraid

@Night and Day

The topic was if CSD staff in a singular store, could dictate their own policy of refusing to accept cash.

Yes, you did state "unless instructed by someone more senior" but you have used it out of the original context, that being..."there will be a difference between stores, as unless instructed by someone more senior, the SM will have to come to the decision of what can and can't be done."

That, to me, reads that an SM will make a personal decision for their store operations, as no direction is yet forthcoming from senior teams.

[admin]Can we all get back to discussing the matter at hand rather than commenting on each others failings.[/admin]

If you think a point made is wrong attack the point not the person.

I don't want to lock this topic or delete posts, but I will if needed.

The only thing I can see that's different about cash transactions is that the distance between colleague and customer is potentially less. The actual handindling of the cash is not the issue. If we banned cash transaction we may prevent some of the most vulnerable people from being able to buy basics.
We encourage card payment, in store and at PFS. In the PFS I think it was to prevent less customers visiting the kiosk but the kiosks are now closed.
If it's the actual money that is the issue what about the cash office colleagues. Do we shut down the processing of money or provide the cash office colleagues with hazard suits.
Its all down to washing of hands and not touching face. If you are not licking your fingers or rubbing your eyes the actual handling of money is not the highest risk part of serving people. We should focus on what is the high risk part of the job and not the low risk part. If you are not prepared to take cash or touch lottery tickets there is little point in the desks being open. Should we not just close the desks and sell cigarettes through the main bank tills.

Quote from: lucgeo on 29-03-20, 09:50AM
@Night and Day

The topic was if CSD staff in a singular store, could dictate their own policy of refusing to accept cash.

Yes, you did state "unless instructed by someone more senior" but you have used it out of the original context, that being..."there will be a difference between stores, as unless instructed by someone more senior, the SM will have to come to the decision of what can and can't be done."

That, to me, reads that an SM will make a personal decision for their store operations, as no direction is yet forthcoming from senior teams.

Using cash is an example of an aspect which isn't covered in the Coronavirus policy, the point I was trying to make is because this is an unprecedented situation, the Coronavirus policy is still being amended, probably based on the seriousness of the outbreak. Not every single aspect has been covered by the Coronavirus policy, for the aspects that haven't that's where I mean  "instructed by an SM or someone more senior". Obviously decisions such as not accepting cash as payment would need to be a company wide decision, however there are still lots of other scenarios which it would probably take longer to consult the directors for a decision as opposed to a there and now common sense decision.

The contactless limit is being raised and the cashless part is under constant review, the issue with going cashless first without a united response is that would then cause pockets of people then flocking to stores that still do which would hinder the point of trying to make people stay calm and not panic buy and just go out for reasonable reasons

If you are paying in cash then you automatically cant be keeping the distance of 2m I suppose, because you have to be touching hands almost. Unless they put the money on the counter?? not sure how people are doing it.

I keep seeing the word "encouraging" ie encouraging people to pay with a card or encouraging people to shop alone, ecouraging people to shop with one other person max. Be better if they was just direct with people. I recon have cash payments only at the self service checkouts.

I think under the current conditions, if an individual refuses to work with cash because of the risks of contraction, options should be looked at for alternative safe duties. Saying that however, with the increase to the contactless limit, the adoption of a company wide cashless policy in the future isn't unlikely to happen.

Screens have now been delivered for the manned checkouts

They've already been installed In Express formats a few days ago.

They weren’t in every store the deadline was end of Friday and it was extended. There are now issues with them not fitting

Ours haven't even arrived yet

Ours went in Wednesday night  and strict social distancing guidelines in place at tills , harder to police throughout the store . I have to say theyve got our most fierce member if staff walking up and down main bank giving customers instructions where to stand, when to put shopping on belt , where to stand when putting shopping on belt etc even I was a bit scared paying for my shopping , there is no messing about and noone breaking the social distancing rules at our check-outs , she's doing an amazing job !

Hi I'm currently off work self isolating with covid symptoms I work on self serve what measures are being put in place for our safety? Checkouts get screens what is planned for self serve I am worried that when I go back to work  I am worried that I could potentially still be contagious (if I'd had the virus) or still at risk if I hadn't

Does anybody know if the door is open to the public in the PFS yet ours is locked serve through the hatch only

Does every store have screens at checkouts now? We have them on csd and pharmacy, but not on checkouts like the emails claim we do.

Quote from: Siwel123 on 08-04-20, 01:27AM
Does every store have screens at checkouts now? We have them on csd and pharmacy, but not on checkouts like the emails claim we do.

Ours all came yesterday. For tills, CSD and PFS.

Quote from: Gorgeous69 on 07-04-20, 10:51PM
Does anybody know if the door is open to the public in the PFS yet ours is locked serve through the hatch only

Brief is not to close kiosk but for only one customer at a time to come into the kiosk.
A lot of emergency services and workmen pay for fuel with fuel cards so this needs to continue. A lot of these people are also the ones buying sandwiches etc so this needs to continue too. Hatch payment means someone needs to run to pick these things off the shelves as needed. Can't sell costa coffee through hatch either. Screens should have arrived for PFS, if not they won't be long.
However, this is decision made by store. Different areas have different demands and different issues. We must however continue to take the fuel cards, sell the sandwiches etc. We can't just put all pumps to pay at pump and just close the kiosk completely. I suspect that the fuel cards may be updated to allow more pay at pump but that's not something for store level, obviously.

There is also a lot of talk about lottery at CSD. At the moment the lottery are funding a lot of causes for vulnerable people. You do have the choice to play online but not everyobofpdy wants to. We still need to seek and take back draw and scratch to pay out winnings. It has never yet been proven that the virus can be transmitted via money or by lottery but the money is at a minimum and we just need to learn not to touch our faces but there is hand cleaning gel at the PFS and the desk to help support.

Checkouts are every bit at risk, if not more so. Every single item they scan has been put into trolley by a customer and therefore touched. There are wipes etc for the handles of the trolleys but the whole trolley is not cleaned for every customer. Some customers are coming with baskets that they place in trolleys but they may think that they are clean, we don't know that. The goods have also been placed onto a shelf by a colleague and so on back to production. Where do you draw the line.

Sandwiches,  lotto and coffee and everything else really can be sold through hatch , fuel cards can be taken through hatch . No reason for kiosk to be open putting staff unnecessarily at risk . Yes check out staff and csd are also at risk but cant see a way around that unless you go scan as you shop only BUT everything can be sold through night hat h in pfs so to open door is an unnecessary risk .

Our PFS is very, very quiet, nobody's driving, nobody's going to work so they don't come in for the meal deals.  It's a constant round of cleaning for us, which is fine. 

Hi

This "Check out operators...." thread seems to have become very PFS oritentated in the last few messages - not that those people don't work on a "checkout" as such - but.......alas - it's a hard time for all of us.

So I work on the checkout instore - and for the last couple of weeks we've been operating at 50% capacity due to the social distancing meaning every second till has been closed - as well as all (both) the basket tills - and half of the self service tills - and obviously we also have the one-way system in place and queuing outside and one in/one out policy.

Clearly, I could see that Tesco sales have to be falling in adherence with these very important guidelines - and hey presto it now seems they have done something to ease this - this was mentioned in one of Sir Dave's emails last week - but it was not clear how it would work.

Not sure about other stores - but the space behind the checkouts in my store is very much at a premium - the cashier behind me is forever crashing into my chair when wheeling backwards - and for the last two weeks we've had a trolley wedged into any available space to collect "returns" from the stock limits.

Dave's email mentioned "creating a plastic screen both in front and behind the cashier" so that all the tills can be open and customers can be served quicker - that's a rough quotation - in reality I didn't know how this could work - lack of space as I just mentioned - and the mere impracticability of building a screen "behind the cashier" -
Well I haven't been in our store yet (I only work part time) - but I visited another store today and saw a solution in action - and I'm not impressed - basically it's one of those "pull up banner displays" that you see at trade fairs and whatever - basically a metal base and then pull up the "screen" - but it's not an airtight screen - it's literally like dangling a bit of plastic sheet between the two cashier's backs - I cannot see how this can be seen to be safely adhering to the social distancing measures - have we now decided that colleagues are ok to infect other colleagues?

Has anyone seen them? Any comments?

Are you saying that you and another cashier are sharing a double manned checkout...seated back to back  ???

We've dividers, that are solid plastic that can be put between 2 operators if needs must. However they try avoid them at all costs and have the one of every other checkout manned

This has become a major problem in our store at the front. We've highlighted the risk not only to staff but to customers as well, as they will be less than two metres apart. But management are ploughing on regardless. The atmosphere has become very toxic on the front end..

f*** the management it’s about keeping people at a safe distance.......your lives are more important.Yet again a company that struggles to maintain the importance and safety of its people.Pretty sure customers won’t be happy either.What the f*** is up with this company.

All calm with us, support has been great. We only have half the tills open and are awaiting screens. There is an element of dictirial at the front end at times but it's calmed down quickly. We advise and not police who buys what. The people at the front door are hand picked and they go for friendly and welcoming. Customers are happy but they also behave. They queue to get into store but then queue again for a till. I was marshalling for till most of yesterday and not a single complaint.

Redshoes that's what it has been like at our store. Queues inside and out have been well managed. Customers have behaved themselves for the most part. Praise on social media has been unanimous for the job that's been done. Unfortunately they are now about to undo all that goodwill by opening every checkout. Colleagues at front end are up in arms, USDAW contacted. But management don't seem to care. Really not looking forward to today 😞

Pretty sure if you informed the police they would be giving stores 2 options obey the social distancing rule or you shut.Its not up to Tesco to break the rules.

Your wasting your time with the department of agreement (usdaw) ........ just because its a bank holiday doesn't change anything.

Trust me I'm not expecting much from USDAW. The Police comment though...

Just say to management if you don’t abide by the what the government are saying everyone will walk out then contact the bbc or sky see what reaction you get then also tell them you are emailing your mp.

Speak to your instore H&S rep...phone ACAS for guidance. I personally would refuse as an unreasonable request. They have spots at checkouts for customers to stand on, distancing themselves from the operator, and screens in front of them. They have barriers at CSD distancing them from the customer.
For each operator to enter and exit the double manned bank, they are too close in proximity to the other operator. This is an airborne virus, a screen only blocks direct contamination, not what's in the air above or below the screen...hence the 2m ruling for customers to follow...hence the TV adverts to maintain the 2m ruling...so why are the staff being treated with such little regard to their health and mental wellbeing?
Profits before people, that's why  >:(

The only reason they would want to open more checkouts is so they can let more customers in the store which is a worry. This is exactly the sort of thing Usdaw should be tackling? They are completely useless! Sometimes I wonder if Tesco bribe them to not cause any problems for them? I follow Usdaw on Twitter and all they seem to do is try and claim credit for decisions the government have made . For example trying to take credit that shop worker being classed as “key workers” regarding school closures.

My best friend is a postman and he showed me some of the things their union are fighting for and they seem a millions times more forceful than Usdaw. If anyone asks Usdaw a question on Twitter they will 100% of the time ignore it. If anybody praises them on Twitter they will reply every single time

 8-) my partner is a postie...their union ain't that great, yes they do a lot of shouting, but the Posties were only given masks and hand wipes this week, hand sanitizer last week, and only stopped van sharing two weeks ago! Still no gloves! The customers are giving them to the Posties for gods sake!

They're being dumped on to do extra for people off, they haven't recruited for temps to deal with the increase in online deliveries, a sorting office is threatening a walkout, as the social distancing in their depot is unattainable.

They're talking about condensing depots, having more workers travelling greater distances to work, with no redundancy option. Their CEO lives abroad  :-X

Quote from: Mathias casablancas on 10-04-20, 03:11PM
The only reason they would want to open more checkouts is so they can let more customers in the store which is a worry. This is exactly the sort of thing Usdaw should be tackling? They are completely useless! Sometimes I wonder if Tesco bribe them to not cause any problems for them? I follow Usdaw on Twitter and all they seem to do is try and claim credit for decisions the government have made . For example trying to take credit that shop worker being classed as “key workers” regarding school closures.

My best friend is a postman and he showed me some of the things their union are fighting for and they seem a millions times more forceful than Usdaw. If anyone asks Usdaw a question on Twitter they will 100% of the time ignore it. If anybody praises them on Twitter they will reply every single time

The partnership agreement is a major artifact pertaining to the reality that USDAW serves little more than a PR plot device for Tesco to show that they "care" about their employees, the reality of course is that Dave Lewis has his hand right up their backsides, they are puppets, a company of yes men that agrees with every decision Tesco makes, the partnership agreement takes away their powers to strike for goodness sake, they are definitely not fit for purpose.

my store is coming to a breaking point when it comes to front end. Managers more worried about the perception of having queues than about keeping people safe - insisting on having a full bank open at all times thus endangering cashiers and customers because it is impossible to maintain a separation of 2 meters when you have back to back cashiers and people packing their trollies stood back to back as well. The screens installed are pathetic and a few have already been knocked off by trollies etc.

No attention is being paid to how many people being allowed into the store either. A team support was reprimanded by a lead manager for telling security to stop letting customers in because the shop floor was rammed - she was told "we don't want to make everyone queue outside for ages it doesn't look good".

I've heard some stories of stores implementing the rules brilliantly, so I think I'm just unlucky with my store, but head office need to do more to ensure management teams are following the guidance because it isn't happening everywhere yet

I would get whoever was reprimanded to grievance immediately to the effect of being unduly disciplined for following government guidelines and company policy, if this reprimand was accurately documented, the people partner would likely look at said managers TRC to see if they completed the relevent COVID training, if they have, then they could well be put on an SYP plan surrounding compliance.

Just wondering why Tesco is openly it would seem breaking the laws on social distancing,crowd gathering are they really that arrogant.......if what’s going on is true they are endangering life now.I would say if you have queues outside that’s a good thing.You have the law backing you all to refuse company/store requests don’t put your lives at risk please.

Tesco can buy the law, they are untouchable, if they went bust, HMRC would lose too much money, as important as law and order is, it can only work on top of money.

Seems risky from a PR point of view though. If someone dies and their family go to the newspapers how can Tesco explain it? The Government guidelines clearly say 2m.

We have seen a few London bus drivers die and their family have gone to the newspapers complaining about the unsafe conditions so Im sure the same would happen with Tesco if tragedy stuck, but the difference is the bus companies can say they have followed the guidelines. I cant imagine anybody thinking those crappy barriers offer 1% of protection

Thanks for getting in touch.



Tesco have introduced barriers to be used between checkouts at peak times.



The use of the barriers has been approved as a temporary measure when all checkouts, operating with every other one open, are at full capacity and causing a build-up of queues in store.



They should only be used temporarily to open the necessary amount of checkouts to deal with a peak in trade. They shouldn’t be in place at all times.



The screens have been introduced because of concerns about large queues forming, which places a risk to social distancing in other areas of the store where there is no possibility of placing a physical barrier to protect staff or customers.



I acknowledge that the barriers do make it quite tight in the checkout area, however they should only be in place for short periods of time during peak trade. The spacing provided would fall within H&S requirements. Staff will be aware of the barrier being in place and should take extra care when entering/exiting the checkout area. Staff should also not enter/exit at the same time as each other, and if there is a customer present, the staff member should ask them to step back as they enter/exit, the same as they would if the barrier were not in place.



If there are any staff for whom the barriers would create a particular difficulty or hazard, I would expect this to be reviewed on a local basis and a sensible decision taken. There should be enough room for checkout chairs, and those that have difficulty standing should be provided with a chair.



The use of the barriers should not increase or change in any way the number of people that are allowed in the store at any one point.



Your store should still be following all of the social distancing measures that have been put in place in recent weeks, and the fact that we are coming into Easter weekend does not change any of the measures that are in place.



I would recommend that you seek the support of the Usdaw Reps in your store in raising concerns about the change in approach in your store, which from what you have described is not in line with Tesco policy.





Regards,



Pauline Foulkes

National Officer

USDAW

The above is a email reply that I sent in the week. Same thing happened in our store let double number customers in very crowded lots staff refused go on a till and eventually thet day barriers got took down and back to every other till open.

QuoteThe use of the barriers has been approved as a temporary measure when all checkouts, operating with every other one open, are at full capacity and causing a build-up of queues in store.

The use of the barriers should not increase or change in any way the number of people that are allowed in the store at any one point.

If one in one out is observed at all times with a reasonable set number in store why would more tills need to be open at any particular time.

Thats my view, the barriers are a inadequate solution to a problem that should not exist.

By admitting they should only be used temporarily, they are admiting their inadequacy.

Basically "we temporarily want to expose you to unnecessary risk".

Tesco won’t be buying any law if staff start dying,they will just look for scape goats can’t really see who other than Lewis and his arse lickers.

Quote from: Nomad on 12-04-20, 08:46PM

QuoteThe use of the barriers has been approved as a temporary measure when all checkouts, operating with every other one open, are at full capacity and causing a build-up of queues in store.

The use of the barriers should not increase or change in any way the number of people that are allowed in the store at any one point.

If one in one out is observed at all times with a reasonable set number in store why would more tills need to be open at any particular time.

exactly the point I've been trying to make. If queues are building to the point that more checkouts are needed, then there are too many people in the store. But quite franklyI am scared to raise this with management because they all have some kind of god complex and thus think that they are above the rules

Re: Pauline Foulkes reply email..

Questions for clarification...

1. Peak times? Has the "one in one out " policy ceased?
2. Barriers have been approved. By whom?
3. Spacing between would fall within H&S requirements? As these are unprecedented times, to what H&S section is she referring?
4. Any staff for whom the barriers would create a particular difficulty or hazard...I think a contagious life threatening virus could be classed as that!
5. The use of barriers should not increase or change in any way the number of people that are allowed in the store at any one point...
Your store should still be following all of the social distancing measures that have been put in place in recent weeks, and the fact that we are coming into Easter weekend does not change any of the measures that are in place....kind of contradicts her opening sentence " Tesco have introduced barriers to be used between checkouts at peak times"

This woman is being paid a fortune, by you and others, to sit in her secluded office in the clouds, spouting a load of c**p!  >:(

Some of it is bit contradicting.  Dont know who authorised I so concerned sent email to them not best response but does say keep social distance. Customers cant with all tills open and those screens are not suitable. Just get all checkout staff refuse to go back to back and if needed complaint against store bosses

Quote from: lucgeo on 13-04-20, 09:36AM

This woman is being paid a fortune, by you and others, to sit in her secluded office in the clouds, spouting a load of c**p!  >:(

lucgeo, you certainly have a way with words  ;) which I agree with more than ever on this occasion  :thumbup:

Somebody please ask her how the tills become overly busy when the numbers in the store are supposedly controlled.

She’s probably working from home  :-X

Goodbye statement from a useless union......the rules aren't there to be changed what so ever just greed and agreement ....... true to form from union and Lewis and his crew.

The bigger issue that I can see is the capacity guidelines, our store has a capacity guideline of 200 which is madness....so with all things in place including back to back checkouts some managers feel that the store can go to this. You see this in our competitors as well.

Luckily we have a couple of managers who (don’t laugh) have taken this virus seriously and are doing everything possible they restrict the store to 60 when on duty.

Yes you still get queues at checkouts this just humans shopping erratically, Tesco expects people to walk up and down every aisle. Will be interesting to see if new measures come out this week.

In the local small store last week, they had displays of Easter eggs, blocking half aisles gaps, to keep people going up and down each aisle on the one way system. They had staff members monitoring end of aisles to keep people going one way, and staff members front end of aisles, directing to empty checkouts. However they weren't challenging more than one shopper to one trolley.

A relative works in a big ASDA in the next town, they have tightened their procedures, the queues are longer, but the store is maintaining the 2m spacing. They are also challenging more than one shopper per trolley, insisting the able people remain outside, and only one of them shop. If the monitoring is slackened on my weekly trip tomorrow to my local Tesco, I will go to the next town's ASDA instead.

I would never let a manager dictate their unprofessional reasoning as to why I can risk my and my family's health based on their interpretation of reasonable requests.

Carers are becoming a big problem in our store, they for some insane reason keep bringing their patients to the shops and then get arsey with us saying one per household.

Usdaw partnership agreement doesn't contain a no strike clause, not even sure that would be legal as the right to withdraw labour is a pretty fundamental one.
Nothing to stop anyone joining another union, you're still entitled to representation etc.
Don't know about anyone else but worst people in my store for not keeping distance are staff members.
Madness, you do realise that 'carers' who take their clients out are there to assist them, not because they are incapable of shopping for themselves. People needing assistance is specifically stated as an exception in the policy as far as I'm aware. Not surprised they're getting started with you. What's your attitude to single parents who have to bring children with them? Do you discriminate against them too?

No carers should be doing the shopping for those at risk people not dragging the injured/ frail or those with low immune systems round the hell hole of a supermarket at these times.

Single parenta totally fine they have no other chioce.

The guide is that we ask people to shop alone when possible but we don't police it. We should not challenge as we are not aware of the reasons behind why some people are not shopping alone.  You are wrong to challenge them.  It's much like the hidden disability and sunflower lanyards.
It's a guide, it should not be enforced.
Single parents can't leave children with other people. It's not ideal having children in store but they do still need to eat.
In my store most people do shop alone, but not all.  It's calm, even friendly. Another colleague from a store close to us has complained that we do not enforce one way on all aisles, we are only doing so at beginning and end of shop. We are not preventing people from missing aisles they never go down. We allow them to go back fir something they have forgotten. It is not causing issues. People cross keeping distance. We get lots of happy people thanking us and saying the atmosphere in the store is good.
Many customers wear masks and gloves but not all.  Some colleagues do too, but not all.  We are not regimented but it works.  There was an official brief handed out to the "here to help" colleagues saying not to enforce or judge.  Just encourage and support.

Can I ask the size of your store ? In the smaller stores, as my local one, the customer volume is not great, and the system does work well. However this is not always the case in the bigger stores, such as my old store which was an extra and another local superstore.
In bigger stores, the need for enforcement of social distancing should be more vigorously enforced.
I don't agree with allowing people to miss aisles, the system is in place to protect all customers, not for some to disregard it as they don't want anything in that aisle. If they have forgotten something, they should be asking at the checkout or on the shopfloor if a member of staff could get it, but even then, I personally would be reluctant to expect a staff member to go fetch it!
I think the atmosphere of the store, depends on the size. You can't compare the smaller stores with the big extra's whose colleagues are under greater pressure due to the higher footfall.

I work in a SS but have an extra closer to home. I did go into the extra last week and all was fine, no queues at door or tills but was late morning mid week. The SS I work in tends to be busy up until about 1400 but less so after this time. We tend to have a queue when we open, never used to have this. It builds and at its busiest from about 9-12. Customers are informed of one way as they enter store etc. However, evenings are very quiet but a little rush again at about 1800.
When busy the one way is not enforced but it naturally slips into just being. Customers directed to aisle 1 as they enter and clear signage as they go round the store. During quieter times there are empty aisles. There should be a two way flow at the back of the store anyway for customers to go back for forgotten lines. As we are a SS our aisles are wide enough for people to cross or for customers to go round others. They just need to be on the sides and not stood in middle of aisle.
The office is restricted to two people. The canteen has tables separated and chairs at either end.  The desk is not using middle till. The checkouts are only opening half the tills. We have the dividers in but they put the customers back to back and have only worked on the self service tills but makes things harder for colleagues when it's busy but the self service on the whole are very quiet just now, for us anyway.

Regarding express ...

We have 4 tills, only 2 open.  How are we supposed to adhere to social distancing when lottery/paypoint/cigarettes are all behind the tills and were climbing round each other to get to them ?

The stores are all set up differently.  What works in one won't work in another. More screens are on the way, for CSD and PFS anyway. It is to widen the screens already in place. From the brief it looks like there will just be a slot at the bottom for passing money through, similar to at a post office. When the original screens came in there was a brief about how to fit all the different types.

Quote from: almostlost on 20-04-20, 10:46AM
Regarding express ...

We have 4 tills, only 2 open.  How are we supposed to adhere to social distancing when lottery/paypoint/cigarettes are all behind the tills and were climbing round each other to get to them ?

Unsure how the arrival of screens would alleviate your concerns? Perhaps a suggestion from the colleagues of a better way of implementing the different purchases without invading each other's space? You are not there just to be told "this is how it is" if it isn't working, and it's causing anxiety.

Perhaps having one runner behind the tills, to fetch the required item for them when needed,  being the only one in the area at any one time?

Tesco are in no position to tell people to risk their lives.......it’s basically down to the fact they just see you as hours and not people they are only interested in profit nothing else.These clever sods in their ivory towers need to put themselves in the firing line,bet they’re all working from home.Playing with lives,ignoring mental health the company is full of s*** now your just a number folks.

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18696341.southend-tesco-branches-criticised-coronavirus-guidelines/ (https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18696341.southend-tesco-branches-criticised-coronavirus-guidelines/)

QuoteTWO Tesco branches have come under fire over alleged failures in following Covid-19 safety guidance, as well as refusing to co-operate with council bosses.

Independent councillor Martin Terry, who oversees public safety in Southend, was left furious after visiting the Tesco petrol station on Prince Avenue in Westcliff and discovering apparent failures in following crucial safety measures.

He said problems included no limit on the number of customers in the kiosk at once, no requirement to wear masks and no hand sanitiser available for customers.

The problem (as it always is) is Mickey Mouse managers who are too big for their boots, you don't see this happening outside of Retail because the managers there actually possess reading comprehension.

Not wanting to divert this topic, but.  I will always believe that 'manager' is a big stretch of the meaning of the word especially in a large company retail environment.  They are instructed by HO in
(A) what to sell.
(B) How much to sell it for.
(C) Where & when to display it in the store.
(D) How much to hold in stock.
(E) What times to open/close the store.
(F) What course of action (or not) to take with customers who commit a legal transgression.
(G) What procedure(s) to follow with any employee that strays from the correct path.

Exactly, Retail Managers only have limited creative license (if you want to call it that) in what they can do, and most of that is in promotion and merchandising activities, for everything else there's either a policy to adhere to or a process to follow, 90% of the issues on this forum stems from these managers making up policy, shoehorning/bullying employees into doing things they don't want to or simply not following policy or process.

 :D :D :D and when you follow all the rules/orders etc from head office you are being told you are not good enough beacuse you are not creative enogh to make some changes.

It would help that people employed are will to do a days work for a days pay
I find most I work with just walking around chatting like its a  holiday. Also even when you have been in a post for 9 yrs they still have no idea of their job and how to do it
I get so fed up with lazy people and get away with it
Me I'm always in the office cause liars have said things
Liars are believed lazy get away with it