Coronavirus: Workers afraid, angry about going to work during lockdown

Thursday, 26 March 2020

Many workers are upset they have been told to go to work during the lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus, but employers say everything is being done to keep them safe.

The Government has lifted its Covid-19 alert level to four across New Zealand, and any workers in non-essential industries must stay home. Some people will work from home, but many employees in workplaces from restaurants to factories can not.

But there has been widespread uncertainty about what is an essential service - for example brewers can continue to make beer, but must close their retail outlets.

Workers at plastic container manufacturer Sistema walked off the job on Wednesday over coronavirus concerns, and employees in many other places expressed similar worries.

*** Coronavirus: Essential workers don't need a letter of authority, but some have one

* Coronavirus: Sistema workers walk off job 

* Supermarkets, construction sites urged to protect essential workers**

Some ANZ workers were upset they were still required to go to work and operate in a call centre.

'How is that self-isolating?? What controls will they have in place to keep those workers safe during this lockdown period?? What can't this work be done from home??' asked said the husband of one ANZ employee.

'This work directive seems to be in opposition to what the Government has asked us all to do.' 

ANZ spokesman Stefan Herrick said call centre work was classed as an essential service, and there were some staff who needed to come into the workplace.

'Most ANZ staff are working from home. However, just like with other essential services, there are some staff who we need to come into work, this includes our Contact Centre,' Herrick said.

'Some Contact Centre workers who are able to work from home are doing so, and we're working to increase this number. Those who are vulnerable, live with vulnerable people or who have carer responsibilities are working from home.

'For those who are working at our Contact Centres, we have extended physical spacing between staff, are ensuring staff interact with the same people each day, and work at the same desk. As more staff work from home, more space is created in the office.

'We're also restricting access to a small number of ANZ-only people (excluding critical service providers, such as cleaners). Desks and other surfaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected, and staff are provided with sanitiser and wipes.'

Staff had been briefed on the importance of following the government protocols at home to not endanger people at work, he said.

Employees at tech company Garmin were also upset they had been asked to come in to work, and told to use their holiday pay if they chose to stay home.

Workers were asked to come in two at a time, on staggered days, one employee said.

'This is not acceptable. The country is lockdown for a reason.'

​Garmin Australasia general manager Matthew Thomas said the company had taken the Covid-19 outbreak seriously.

'We have made provision for our New Zealand based sales and technical teams to operate from their homes during the lockdown.'

Garmin's New Zealand operations provided aviation, marine and satellite communication products, he said.

'While our Australasian call centre (now working remotely) is able to resolve most issues, should a rare hardware fault occur, we need to be in a position to resolve the issue or supply replacement products on short notice.'

Garmin Australasia's New Zealand warehouse would operate with skeleton staff, and with distancing guidelines in place for staff interaction, and for shipments.

The company had sought advice from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, he said.

An employee at bargain retailer Crackerjack said they were told their company was an essential service and would remain open during the lockdown.

'For those of us who are living with at risk people are not willing to work during a lockdown period as we are endangering our families, however, we have been told that we MUST attend our shifts and if we request for leave 'it will be declined' as said by my manager.'

Crackerjack chief executive Craig Faulkner said on the company's website that it would continue to trade.

The company was an official supplier of cleaning supplies to the police, and 70 per cent of its products were hygiene, cleaning, food and grocery, 'so we meet the criteria of Covid-19 Essential Services for the following sector: Fast-moving consumer goods.'  

The Council of Trade Unions and Business NZ jointly called for New Zealand businesses to do everything possible to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus and maintain jobs.

'Good employers are doing their bit by keeping operations going, supporting staff, and working on strategies so staff can stay employed,' said CTU president Richard Wagstaff.

'We are all relying on the dedication and expertise of those workers in essential services and we NZ owes them a debt of gratitude.'

Business NZ chief executive Kirk Hope said good employers were taking up the Government's support packages 'to enable staff to take sick leave, isolate, work from home if they can, and stopping business operations if they are not an essential service'.