8
FEATURE
Retailers hit by Covid-related staff shortages Some 25% of retailers said they had been forced to close for a period of time, which could be shorter hours or closing for a full day, according to a Retail Excellence survey
As the Omicron variant surges, retailers’ staffing levels have been severely affected As ShelfLife headed to print, the government had just announced that from Friday, 14 January onwards, the restriction rules for Covid ‘close contacts’ would be relaxed. The news comes as a welcome development for retailers who have struggled to maintain staffing levels in the face of the Omicron variant’s high transmissibility rates. As a result, boosted people who are identified as close contacts are no longer required to restrict their movements. They are instead being advised to wear a medical grade mask or a FFP2 for ten days, and to take regular antigen tests. Close contacts who have not had their immunity boosted have still been asked to restrict their movements for seven days and to also take regular antigen tests. The HSE says boosted means an individual is either at least seven days post booster or has a combination of primary vaccination and infection within the last three months. Meanwhile, anyone who has Covid-19 now has to self-isolate for seven days; down three days from the previous rule of 10 days’ isolation. The announcement is an important one for the retail sector, given that Covid-related staff shortages have led to a quarter of retail staff being forced to close for a period of time in recent weeks, according to a survey by Retail Excellence. Duncan Graham, MD of Retail Excellence, said many of its members were operating with a “skeleton staff” as upwards of 20% of employees were off work due to Covid-related issues. “About 25% said they had been forced to close for a period of time, which could be shorter hours or closing for a full day or something,” Graham said. “If things don’t
ShelfLife January 2022 | www.shelflife.ie
improve, 50% said they would anticipate having to close for a period of time in the coming weeks.” Describing the situation as another blow for businesses, particularly smaller ones, Graham said before restriction guidelines were relaxed that the problems were occurring “primarily” as a result of the close contact isolation rules, and if they were eased in some way then the situation would improve. “Clearly there are people who are off because they contracted the virus, but it’s the close contact rules that are causing the biggest problem,” he added.
Impact on grocery sector Wexford People previously reported that Pettitt’s SuperValu had to keep its Key West branch closed for a period at the beginning of this month due to Covid-related staff shortages. Pettitt’s St Aidan’s store manager Nicky Byrne said a decision was taken to adapt the service provided to customers as a result of some 40 staff members in total between the two stores being unable to attend work in recent weeks due to contracting coronavirus infection or becoming household or close contacts following the Christmas break. “One of the main things I would like to highlight is how brilliant the staff have been,” Byrne said. “They have to be commended. We have an amazing team of people who have been so resilient throughout all of this. “Everyone has been there to help each other and lean on one another for support during a difficult time. They have been doing everything they can to keep the store trading.” He also thanked customers for their support, noting: “Everyone understands that there is an issue with regard to staffing levels.”
Over 100 absent on one day Meanwhile, Liam Ryan is the owner of the Ryan’s SuperValu group in Cork and operates three stores in Cork and one in Limerick. He told The Pat Kenny Show earlier this month that 102 staff were absent on just one day alone (Wednesday, 5 January). He explained: “We’ve learned to cope over the last 21 months… our regular staff have stepped up to the plate and have done a wonderful job. But since Christmas, we’ve had a particular issue with the new variant. “We are trying to take a positive outlook,” he added The number of close contacts seems to have settled and staff whose isolating period is over are coming back.” Liam Ryan said the staff are doing a “fantastic job” covering other jobs wherever possible, but they are under “great pressure”. “Yesterday, we had 102 staff missing – either directly through Covid or as close contacts,” he said, speaking on Wednesday, 5 January. “That has improved this morning – we’re down to 91 people out.” The business has made temporary adjustments in response to the current situation – including earlier closing times for one store on several days the previous week. “We as a SuperValu group have specialists such as butchers and bakers… one store has a particular issue, in that two butchers are out,” he said. “Because we’re a group, we’re able to manage staff and fill in the [gaps].” Ryan believes there will be staffing issues for the next 3-4 weeks before the current wave tapers off, but hopes they’ll “be back on track” by the end of January. ■
