B&Q workers’ anger over being forced to ‘risk their health so customers can buy garden furniture’

A B&Q worker has told of their “frustration” and “anxiety” at being forced to “risk their health” so customers can buy garden furniture.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Monday that all “non-essential” shops are to shut – although hardware stores count as essential and can remain open.

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For the past two days, B&Q has remained closed to the public while it puts together a plan to keep customers and staff as safe as possible.

The retailer has 296 shops across the UK. Use its store locator tool to find your nearest.

But one B&Q employee says that in the meantime, staff have still had to go in to stock shelves without being given protective masks or hand sanitiser, and without stores being deep cleaned.

In an open letter on social media, the 30-year-old employee who has worked full time for B&Q for almost a year, says employees are now all being asked to come in from 8am to 5pm.

Previously, starting times were staggered between 6am and 9pm, they said.

They’ve also had to sort out deliveries, which are still being sent to homes, and dish out click and collect orders, which customers have been allowed to pick up from stores today.

But the staff member claims B&Q can’t police whether customers buy non-essential items or not, and claims to have already had customers in the car park wanting to buy garden furniture and paint.

They wrote: “In my opinion, tidying up the store while B&Q bides its time and works out how to interpret the guidelines is irresponsible and more importantly, not essential work.

“The government’s guidelines are that nobody should leave the house unless it is essential and I’ve been asked in to stack shelves with 50 staff all in a closed store to basically “tidy up”.

“When I left the store I noticed that the car park was full – not of staff but of customers that were wanting to come in.

“They didn’t want essential hardware though, they wanted paint and garden furniture.”

They continued that workers who’d come in included pregnant staff members and over-60s who are among those the virus may cause particular harm to.

But the worker stressed they felt they had no other option as they wouldn’t get paid otherwise and they weren’t sure how they would survive financially.

The B&Q worker added that they had a 30-minute to one hour journey by public transport to and from the store, which only added to their stress.

They concluded: “I’m now not only angry, disappointed and confused that I’m expected by my employer to go in and risk not only my health but also everyone in my household’s health, but I’m wondering whether the employees’ interests have ever been at the helm of our ‘family’.

“I’m in a quandary about whether I risk losing my job or not getting paid and help stopping this horrible virus.”

Other B&Q workers have responded to the Twitter post saying they feel the same.

One wrote: “I feel exactly the same way, I’ve worked there for almost three years, it’s so awful how they’re treating us.”

Another said: “There are thousands of people in this company that completely agree with you and feel the same.

“Do not second guess yourself, it’s about time the employees forced the issue. Let’s see what happens.”

And someone else added: “I’ve never felt so let down by an employer in my life. I’m angry, sad, scared, frustrated and anxious.”

While your employer has to listen to your concerns if you’re worried about going into work, it doesn’t have agree to let you stay off.

Instead you may be able to arrange to take the time off as holiday or unpaid leave, but there are no guarantees.

If your employer keeps paying you, it can claim up to 80 per cent of your wages back from the government’s “Coronavirus Job Retention scheme”, up to a maximum of £2,500 each month.

A B&Q spokesperson said: “We appreciate this is an unprecedented situation and we know this is a worrying time, not only for our customers, but for our colleagues too.”

They added that stores have been closed since Monday and that they will remain closed to customers unless for contactless click and collect or home delivery.

“Any colleague who feels unable to work can choose to stay at home with agreement of their line manager who will ensure they understand the options available to them.

“Depending upon their circumstances, these include a number of options such as being paid to stay at home if over 70 years’ old, paid to self-isolate, paid if they are an extremely vulnerable person or are living with an extremely vulnerable person, paid if they’re pregnant, paid emergency Carers’ Leave, taking unpaid leave and paid holiday.”