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| Coronavirus: Holland & Barrett keep stores open despite staff pleas | Coronavirus: Holland & Barrett keep stores open despite staff pleas |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Holland & Barrett has kept its shops open during the coronavirus crisis, but staff are campaigning for them to shut arguing their health is at risk. | Holland & Barrett has kept its shops open during the coronavirus crisis, but staff are campaigning for them to shut arguing their health is at risk. |
| The alternative health chain has 750 UK stores and counts as an essential retailer because its products cater for people with special dietary needs. | The alternative health chain has 750 UK stores and counts as an essential retailer because its products cater for people with special dietary needs. |
| But staff have set up a petition, pleading with management to close stores over safety concerns. | But staff have set up a petition, pleading with management to close stores over safety concerns. |
| The chain said staff and customer safety is of "paramount importance." | The chain said staff and customer safety is of "paramount importance." |
| The petition has attracted 2,600 signatures. | The petition has attracted 2,600 signatures. |
| Workers have two complaints. They argue that what the chain sells is not essential, unlike supermarkets or pharmacies. | |
| But they also warn that most stores are too small to be safe, with no room for social-distancing. | But they also warn that most stores are too small to be safe, with no room for social-distancing. |
| 'Fear and stress' | 'Fear and stress' |
| A Holland & Barrett worker - who asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing their job - told the BBC: "Holland & Barrett is putting our lives in danger with the pursuit of profit over life. | A Holland & Barrett worker - who asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing their job - told the BBC: "Holland & Barrett is putting our lives in danger with the pursuit of profit over life. |
| "The general atmosphere is one of fear and stress with a lot of our workers and colleagues quite frightened to speak their minds." | "The general atmosphere is one of fear and stress with a lot of our workers and colleagues quite frightened to speak their minds." |
| They said: "We do not sell essentials and have people coming in to purchase flapjacks and sticks of liquorice, hardly an essential purchase." | They said: "We do not sell essentials and have people coming in to purchase flapjacks and sticks of liquorice, hardly an essential purchase." |
| In many of the shops, they said: "It is almost practically impossible to maintain social distancing, as the aisles are very short width and when we have to deal with customer queries, they do not respect the boundaries. | In many of the shops, they said: "It is almost practically impossible to maintain social distancing, as the aisles are very short width and when we have to deal with customer queries, they do not respect the boundaries. |
| Why are the shops open? | Why are the shops open? |
| A Holland & Barrett spokesperson told the BBC it had been advised by the government that it is one of the retailers that are expected to remain open. | A Holland & Barrett spokesperson told the BBC it had been advised by the government that it is one of the retailers that are expected to remain open. |
| "This relates to the fact that 90% of what we sell is food, vitamins and food supplements, which many of our customers rely on to manage their dietary or underlying conditions," they added. | "This relates to the fact that 90% of what we sell is food, vitamins and food supplements, which many of our customers rely on to manage their dietary or underlying conditions," they added. |
| Examples the company cited included pregnant women in need of folic acid supplementation; Coeliacs; those with milk and egg allergies; those outlined by the government as "at-risk" groups in need of vitamin D supplementation; and those caring for customers with compromised immune systems, in need of additional support at this time. | Examples the company cited included pregnant women in need of folic acid supplementation; Coeliacs; those with milk and egg allergies; those outlined by the government as "at-risk" groups in need of vitamin D supplementation; and those caring for customers with compromised immune systems, in need of additional support at this time. |
| Holland & Barrett said it has provided gloves, masks and hand sanitiser to all stores and has also installed shielding screens at the counter. | Holland & Barrett said it has provided gloves, masks and hand sanitiser to all stores and has also installed shielding screens at the counter. |
| It said social distancing is being enforced "with clear guidance in store". | It said social distancing is being enforced "with clear guidance in store". |
| "We have limited the maximum number of customers allowed in the stores at any one time, dependent on store size, and tape has been installed marking out a two metre distance from the tills with clear signage throughout stores." | "We have limited the maximum number of customers allowed in the stores at any one time, dependent on store size, and tape has been installed marking out a two metre distance from the tills with clear signage throughout stores." |
| Staff have pointed out that customers wanting to buy any of the products Holland & Barratt sell can do so through its online store. | Staff have pointed out that customers wanting to buy any of the products Holland & Barratt sell can do so through its online store. |
| Holland & Barratt said: "We are bolstering our online capacity as quickly as possible so customers can order from home where possible, and have set also up a new customer phone line for those customers who cannot access our website for home delivery." | Holland & Barratt said: "We are bolstering our online capacity as quickly as possible so customers can order from home where possible, and have set also up a new customer phone line for those customers who cannot access our website for home delivery." |