Waterstones and Pets at Home face coronavirus social media backlash
Many Brits are not happy with Waterstones and Pets at Home amid the coronavirus outbreak. And they have been letting these retailers have it on social media.
Earlier this week, Boris Johnson announced plans to close all schools in the UK to halt the spread of the coronavirus. They will be shut until further notice for all pupils except children of key workers and the most vulnerable. This is a sizeable number of kids and so many teachers will remain on the frontline over the coming months.
Pets at Home is in the firing line for trying to get its staff on the coronavirus key workers list. “Very disappointed @PetsatHome. This is not what the key workers list should be used for. You are endangering teachers, chn & society by telling your workers to send their children into school. The gov stated schs are open for chn of essential workers. Dog collars are not essential,” said primary school teacher @emmaccate.
Meanwhile, Waterstones and CEO James Daunt have been called out by their own employees. @kk_liber accused the retailer of poor working practices. “Working in @Waterstones today following the lockdown. No hand sanitiser provided, no wipes, no disinfectant, no reduced shop hours, cash still being accepted,” they commented.
“We're being told by head office that gloves and masks are not permitted, meanwhile administrative staff have all been sent home for their "safety"—but who gives a fuck about the the frontline staff who are out there filling @Waterstones CEO James Daunt's pockets?” they added.
“Today I witnessed customers openly coughing, the elderly mingling with the general populace. Absolutely NO social distancing being observed. I spent most of my shift feeling sick to my fucking stomach, tears in my eyes, almost experienced a complete breakdown on the middle of the shopfloor midday.”
In a statement posted on Twitter, Waterstones said it was continuously assessing the situation and responding to rapidly changing advice from the government and public health bodies with the aim of ensuring its stores are a safe environment for all.
Pets at Home did not respond to our request for comment.
UPDATE: Waterstones is gearing up to close its stores. Further details here.
