Retailers want vaccine passport certainty before opening
The nation’s leading retailers have called on governments to provide a legal framework for shoppers to declare their vaccine status when walking into stores.
The nation’s leading retailers, from fashion and sporting goods to auto parts and furniture, have called on governments to provide a legal framework for shoppers to declare their vaccine status when walking into stores, as the chains seek more certainty about how to handle the prickly issue as shops reopen.
Companies such as furniture retailer Nick Scali and Super Retail Group, whose retail banners include Rebel Sport, Supercheap Auto and Boating Camping Fishing, have also increased their pool of available casual staff to build a “reserve bench” of employees in case a store is declared a Covid-19 exposure site, forcing staff to isolate themselves for weeks.
These are two of the many minefields retailers are now preparing to cross as they prepare for an easing of restrictions in NSW, Victoria and the ACT, allowing them to open their bricks and mortar stores to customers for the first time in months.
Top of the list of their concerns is how retail front line workers will determine whether shoppers have received both Covid-19 vaccinations, how to prove their vaccine status and the legalities around even asking for proof in the first place.
“Customer abuse is not a new phenomenon but we have absolutely seen increases of instances and I can see a request like that (vaccine status) being very frustrating for customers,” Super Retail chief executive Anthony Heraghty told The Australian.
“I think being really clear about expectations and process would be helpful – if that’s what the government wants.
“Could a check-in app cover any kind of vaccine requirement?
“It is just being very clear about expectations. We can execute against that but we just need to know the rules.
“We have got training available for our team members for any number of customer interactions.
“You would argue that potentially this would be a high-stakes engagement, interaction with the customer, and we want to make sure our team members are well supported in understanding what are the rules of the game.
“Having incredibly crystal clear rules as early as possible would be a great help.
“I think it is unreasonable to expect individual businesses to make their own determination. It has to be a policy setting like masks or checking in.”
Mosaic Brands chief executive Scott Evans, whose chains include Noni B, Katies and Millers, has been busy refreshing stock for summer and preparing staff and is also looking for vaccination guidelines from government.
“If somebody comes back and isn’t vaccinated, what’s going to be the rule around that?” he asked.
“(It’s) more serious for us because we play in the mature space – we are a 55-age plus business and we generally have mature ladies inside the stores.
“We have to make sure that we are absolutely putting everybody’s safety first.
“The second thing we are keen to understand from the government is if you are double-vaccinated and you work inside the store and get Covid-19, you’ll have some time off like the flu, that will be normal – but if you are in close contact, what will be the rule?
“If I am store manager and happen to get Covid-19 and I have a second in charge and a part-timer who has been with me that day, do they have to self-isolate for a period or is it business as usual provided they are fully vaccinated?
“There are too many questions at the moment and not enough answers with regards to what are the rules going to be. They are obviously in Canberra trying to thrash it out and make sense of it all but you can’t close the store every time you have a close contact.”
Other retail challenges include the need to secure staff to prepare for the opening of stores, potential short-term closures if there is a Covid-19 exposure and the flow of workers between stores within a retail chain.
Recently Woolworths revealed that more than 3000 of its staff had been forced into home isolation due to Covid-19 exposure, causing some shortages on the shelves.
Nick Scali chief executive Anthony Scali said: “We are getting ready to reopen and we think it will be quite strong, pent-up customer demand. We are going to have to over-employ because if stores get shut down because someone with Covid-19 walked in those people who worked in that store will have to isolate for 14 days.
“You will have to have a reserve bench almost ready to go in, and that is the sort of planning we are doing.”
Super Retail CEO Mr Heraghty said his retail chains had slightly higher casual staff levels in preparation for reopening, in case of disruptions and store closures triggered by fresh Covid-19 outbreaks.
At department store Myer, chief executive John King is hiring for the expected Christmas rush and opening up of stores.
“We feel strongly that we have planned well for Christmas in terms of marketing, merchandising, online, product and offer, in-store theatre, and we are recruiting a lot of people for Christmas.
“As soon as we are allowed into (our stores) they will be set up and we will be off and running.”
More Coverage
Chalmers to boost watchdog’s merger powers
An overhaul of the ACCC’s merger powers, including the ability to block deals without having to go to court, will move a step closer on Wednesday.
Country Road owner glosses over workplace scandal
The South African owner of Country Road Group has glossed over the sexual harassment and bullying scandal at the retailer, referring to ‘internal pressures’ in its annual report.