Telefonica wins praise for reopening consultation

Mobile giant Telefonica “is a good example of a company working responsibly with a recognised trade union” to reduce the risk of Covid transmission rates going back up as we come out of lockdown, the CWU communications union has said.

The company actively consulted with the CWU “every step of the way” and allowed it to constructively feed into the process of reopening its 2020 retail outlets in England.

This included piloting a return in a small number of shops before a limited return to work with a maximum of three team members entering the workplace at any one time to test out new ways of working. The exercise was carefully timetabled to ensure social distancing and included role play sessions on how to interact safely with customers.

Stores are being provided with personal protective equipment (PPE), including cloth face masks, disposable gloves, hand sanitiser, face visors, sanitising spray and mobile perspex screens.

Crucially, the union reports, reopening preparations included the creation of new rotas to allow social distancing and take into account staff members’ special circumstances.

“It’s very welcome that the company has factored in the need for around one in five of its stores employees to have either a change of hours or other special arrangements stemming from the fact they are shielding an exceptionally vulnerable person, self-isolating, or have childcare or other caring responsibilities that simply cannot be covered,” said CWU assistant secretary Sally Bridge.

https://www.cwu.org/news/detailed-plan-agreed-for-o2-store-re-opening