Retail Excellence has said that Irish retailers will need to consider reformatting stores and implementing counters specific to each colleague, which will need to be sanitised for shift changeover before reopening.
In a letter, sent to its 2,100 members and seen by Checkout, the group stated that central to a reopening plan for retail companies will be social distancing.
The group noted that a another matter for retailers to consider regarding distancing measures are payments.
Contactless Payments
Retail Excellence said it is aware that some large national retailers are planning to only accept contactless payments when they reopen.
This might only be for a short number of weeks, but it is an important consideration, it added.
The group highlighted that retailers who have had to remain open to serve our nation have implemented rigorous social distancing protocols for colleagues, such as marked feet images behind the counter where colleagues must stand, canteen facilities only allow for one person to sit in an area away from anyone else
These are protocols that will be required when stores reopen, it added.
'Mandatory COVID-19 Testing
Some retailers are considering mandatory COVID-19 testing of its staff before they return.
Many employers will implement daily temperature testing of all staff, while larger format stores will potentially implement thermal infra-red readers at entrances for colleagues and customers alike, it said.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
