Waterstones has come under fire after claims that it is forcing staff to use holiday days if they need to self-isolate.
Staff have also claimed that they are being forced to carry on coming into work but aren’t allowed to wear face masks or gloves and should still accept cash payments.
One Twitter user wrote: ‘Waterstones staff have been told they have to use their holiday up if they need to self isolate, and if they don’t have enough holiday left for this year it’ll be taken out of next year’s holiday! How is that legal?’
Another, who works for the bookselling giant, wrote: ‘Working in Waterstones today following the lockdown.
Waterstones has come under fire after claims that it is forcing staff to use holiday days if they need to self-isolate
‘No hand sanitiser provided, no wipes, no disinfectant, no reduced shop hours, cash still being accepted.
‘We’re being told by head office that gloves and masks are not permitted, meanwhile administrative staff have all been sent home for their ‘safety’. But who gives a f*** about the the frontline staff who are out there filling CEO James Daunt’s pockets?
‘Today I witnessed customers openly coughing, the elderly mingling with the general populace absolutely no social distancing being observed.
‘I spent most of my shift feeling sick to my stomach, tears in my eyes, almost experienced a complete breakdown on the middle of the shopfloor midday.
Staff have also claimed that they are being forced to carry on coming into work but aren’t allowed to wear face masks or gloves and should still accept cash payments
‘I counted over 350 customers filing into the store today and tomorrow I’m back in for round two.’
The worker said staff felt they were being ‘held hostage’ and decided they would no longer be courteous to customers refusing to adhere to governmental advice on social distancing to stop the spread of coronavirus.
They added: ‘If I or my loved ones who I’m exposing this virus to are going to potentially #diefordaunt, I’ll go down screaming and cursing this sick, rotten company.’
One staff member tweeted to say that workers feel they are being ‘held hostage’
Responses to the tweet flooded in with support for Waterstones staff and urged shoppers to stay away.
A counter-movement, calling for a boycott, has also started on Twitter, as users plea with book lovers to order novels online from other stores.
Scottish author Irvine Welsh, who wrote Trainspotting, responded to the claims and said: ‘It’s’ abhorrent that Waterstones are treating their staff this way.
‘I know writers like myself are heavily dependent on them and I’m shooting myself in the foot, but their management are acting the c*** and messing with the health of their staff.’
Adam Kay, author of bestselling This Is Going To Hurt, said: ‘I am begging my beloved Waterstones to do the right thing and close.
Adam Kay, author of bestselling This Is Going To Hurt, said: ‘I am begging my beloved Waterstones to do the right thing and close’
‘Every single person who comes in is endangering others, including your own staff.
‘In a few days you will have no option but to close. Meantime, do the right thing. You’re better than Wetherspoons.’
Polly Samson wrote: ‘Hey Waterstones, I’m a big supporter of yours and with my book about to be published I have more skin in the game than most right now but I’m begging you, for everyone’s sake, please stop selling from the shop floor.
‘You need to shut your shops now.’
Comedian Shappi Khorsandi said: ‘Hey Waterstones please listen. We are all only human and unused to such unprecendeted times so as long as you’re open, humans will browse.
‘Shut and lock your doors please.’
Responses to the tweet flooded in with support for Waterstones staff and urged shoppers to stay away
The claims come as Boris Johnson announced on Friday the closure of all pubs, restaurants, cafes, clubs, gyms and cinemas in a bid to stop the spread of the ever-raging coronavirus which has so far killed 240 people in the UK and infected 5,018.
James Daunt, the managing director of Waterstones, said last week that the virus had led to ‘unprecedented demand’ for books and a 17 per cent increase in sales, as he called for all bookshops to be kept open.
The chain is one of a number of high street stores that have remained open despite the warning against all but essential social contact.
Some stores, including Ikea, TK Maxx and Apple, have closed their UK stores temporarily while others, such as John Lewis, are preparing to shut on Monday.
Waterstones has been contacted for comment.