Workers are unsure about whether or not they should be working as their bosses claim essential service status.
The manager of Kmart Petone has sent staff a group message asking them to “keep it simple” and continue to work their normal shifts on Thursday, two days into alert Level 4, with at least 10 cases of Covid in the community.
In a Whatsapp message seen by Newsroom, the Kmart manager told staff their uniform was optional, but they had to bring thick socks and wear steel capped shoes to work for Kmart’s online service and for presentation.
“I am sure you all have received your emails and directions as to what Kmart is going to be doing in Covid lvl 4. To keep it simple we ask you continue to come in to work your normal shifts starting tomorrow at 6am."
"If online is under control there will also be a variety of tasks to complete in store like load fill or presentation. This will depend on the day’s order volumes.”
The manager said staff would be provided with PPE and told them that if they had booked in leave they could use it or forgo it to work at the store.
The union representing the workers, First Union said this was "really concerning". Organiser Ben Peterson said staff were confused by the mix messaging, and some were afraid to say they wouldn’t come in for fear of missing out on pay.
"They'll do the social distancing as well as they can, but the retail stores and set up for that like dispatch centres would be."
Peterson says he's concerned this is happening across the retail industry.
According to the government's public health response legislation, only essential service providers can work during alert Level 4, this includes supermarkets, suppliers of supermarkets and some essential goods providers that can work in online stores. But other retail stores can not be open to the general public to limit transmission in the community.
A Kmart spokeswoman said it was operating online services for essential items only in line with recent Government restriction.
"The health and well-being of our team members, customers and community remains our number one priority and we are committed to ensuring all safety precautions are made."
On Wednesday, The Warehouse Group asked staff to work at its stores.
"To keep it simple we ask you continue to come in to work your normal shifts starting tomorrow at 6am." –Kmart manager.
Newsroom understands staff were told to work across different dispatch centres, however a spokeswoman for The Warehouse said she was unaware of this happening and the company was looking into the matter.
The Warehouse Group owns The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming, Torpedo 7 and the e-commerce website The Market. The group is operating "dark stores”, fulfilling online orders.
Peterson said The Warehouse backed down from an "expansive view of what essential means" after pressure from workers resisting working in store during the Level 4 lockdown.
The company spokeswoman said on Wednesday evening all stores were closed to the public and would remain closed during the alert Level 4 lockdown.
However some staff were still working at its online dispatch centres for essential products like heaters, but were following guidelines set out by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, she said.
“To fulfil these orders of essential products, we have a limited number of team members operating under strict health and safety guidelines from our North Island fulfilment centre and some key locations to meet the demand.”
“At this stage, no essential orders from The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming or Torpedo7 are being fulfilled from Auckland stores. A small number of fulfilment centres will be operating outside of Auckland to support online essential orders.”
