Question: What are best practices for shop owners and managers?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Shops and branches
section_headers: 4. Managing your customers, visitors and contractors
4.1 Manage contacts
section_content: In this section

4.1 Manage contacts
4.2 Providing and explaining available guidance

4.1 Manage contacts
Objective: To minimise the contact resulting from visits to stores or outlets.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Defining the number of customers that can reasonably follow 2m social distancing within the store and any outdoor selling areas. Take into account total floorspace as well as likely pinch points and busy areas.


Limiting the number of customers in the store, overall and in any particular congestion areas, for example doorways between outside and inside spaces.


Encouraging customers to use hand sanitiser or handwashing facilities as they enter the premises to reduce the risk of transmission by touching products while browsing.


Encouraging customers to avoid handling products whilst browsing, if at all possible.


Suspending or reducing customer services that cannot be undertaken without contravening social distancing guidelines. This may include re-thinking how assistance is provided, for example, using fixed pairs of colleagues to lift heavy objects rather than a single colleague lifting with a customer.


Encouraging customers to shop alone where possible, unless they need specific assistance.


Reminding customers who are accompanied by children that they are responsible for supervising them at all times and should follow social distancing guidelines.


Looking at how people walk through the shop and how you could adjust this to reduce congestion and contact between customers, for example, queue management or one-way flow, where possible.


Ensuring any changes to entries, exit and queue management take into account reasonable adjustments for those who need them, including disabled shoppers.


Working within your local area to provide additional parking or facilities such as bike racks, where possible, to help customers avoid using public transport.


Using outside premises for queuing where available and safe, for example some car parks.


Managing outside queues to ensure they do not cause a risk to individuals or other businesses, for example by introducing queuing systems, using barriers and having staff direct customers.


Working with your local authority or landlord to take into account the impact of your processes, including queues, on public spaces such as high streets and public car parks.


Shopping centres should take responsibility for regulating the number of customers in the centre and the queuing process in communal areas on behalf of their retail.


Having clearly designated positions from which colleagues can provide advice or assistance to customers whilst maintaining social distance.


Working with neighbouring businesses and local authorities to consider how to spread the number of people arriving throughout the day for example by staggering opening hours; this will help reduce demand on public transport at key times and avoid overcrowding.


Avoid sharing vehicles except within a family, for example on test drives. If it is not possible, keep the number of people in the vehicle to a minimum and as distanced within the vehicle space as possible, and use other safety measures such as ensuring good ventilation.


Continuing to keep customer restaurants and cafes closed until further notice, apart from when offering hot or cold food to be consumed off the premises.



Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Has extensive information about how store managers should handle social distancing during the pandemic.
This answer does address the question. This answer provides guidelines that shop owners can follow.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Acceptable

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Shops and branches
section_headers: 7. Workforce management
7.3 Communications and training
section_content: In this section

7.1 Shift patterns and working groups
7.2 Work-related travel
7.3 Communications and training

7.3 Communications and training
7.3.1 Returning to work
Objective: To make sure all workers understand COVID-19 related safety
procedures.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Providing clear, consistent and regular communication to improve understanding and consistency of ways of working.


Engaging with worker and worker representatives through existing communication routes and worker representatives to explain and agree any changes in working arrangements.


Developing communication and training materials for workers prior to returning to site, especially around new procedures for arrival at work.


7.3.2 Ongoing communications and signage
Objective: To make sure all workers are kept up to date with how safety
measures are being implemented or updated.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Ongoing engagement with workers (including through trade unions or employee representative groups) to monitor and understand any unforeseen impacts of changes to working environments.


Awareness and focus on the importance of mental health at times of uncertainty. The government has published guidance on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19).


Using simple, clear messaging to explain guidelines using images and clear language, with consideration of groups for which English may not be their first language and those with protected characteristics such as visual impairments


Using visual communications, for example whiteboards or signage, to explain changes to production schedules, breakdowns or materials shortages to reduce the need for face-to-face communications.


Communicating approaches and operational procedures to suppliers, customers or trade bodies to help their adoption and to share experience.


*[COVID-19]: coronavirus

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Has clear information about how store managers should protect customers and workers during the pandemic.
The answer provides clear guidelines such as awareness and focus and communicating approaches.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Acceptable

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Shops and branches
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.5 Common areas
section_content: Objective: To reduce transmission due to face-to-face meetings and maintain
social distancing in meetings.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Staggering break times to reduce pressure on the staff break rooms or places to eat.


Using safe outside areas for breaks.


Creating additional space by using other parts of the working area or building that have been freed up by remote working.


Installing screens to protect workers in receptions or similar areas.


Providing packaged meals or similar to avoid fully opening staff canteens.


Reconfiguring seating and tables to optimise spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.


Encouraging workers to remain on-site and, when not possible, maintaining social distancing while off-site.


Considering use of social distance marking for other common areas such as toilets, showers, lockers and changing rooms and in any other areas where queues typically form.



Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Has guidance on how to keep workers safe during the pandemic.
This provides guidelines pertaining to best practices that shop owners and managers should follow.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Acceptable