Lidl apologises over ‘casual attitude’ to face masks claim
SHOPPER WAS UPSET TO SEE ‘NO-ONE ON THE DOOR’ CHALLENGING SHOPPERS WHO WEREN’T WEARING ONE
LIDL have apologised after a customer said she had seen a number of shoppers not wearing face masks - and claimed some members of staff were not wearing the coverings appropriately.
Sylvia Jackson, 71, criticised the “casual attitude” of the company as she spoke out about what she saw during recent trips to its supermarkets in Carlton Road, Carlton, and Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield.
On one occasion the retired nurse and support worker said she didn’t feel safe and she described how she even took it upon herself to quiz some shoppers about why they weren’t wearing masks.
She claimed there weren’t any members of staff positioned at the entrances of the stores to monitor the situation when she visited each time.
In response, Lidl clarified that security guards, or team members, are positioned at entry points during peak times and apologised if any of its safety measures weren’t in place when Mrs Jackson visited.
Speaking of her experiences, Mrs Jackson, who lives in Bakersfield, said: “The first time I went into the Carlton store I was surprised there was actually no-one on the door directing people to the sanitiser station and checking people were wearing masks. At that time we had just heard Covid numbers had risen in the area.
“I walked further down the aisle, two ladies came in with their masks under their noses - and I had not long since been talking to my niece, who is a doctor in the health service working with Covid patients.
“She was emphasising the continuing need to follow the rules. I plucked up the courage to speak to these two ladies... They were very compliant.
“Then I saw somebody who was not wearing a mask, I said ‘excuse me, you are not wearing a mask.’
“She said ‘I am exempt.’ I saw other people, two more people, not wearing masks. I thought ‘I can’t go around challenging everyone.’
“I spoke to the gentleman on the checkout and said ‘I am feeling quite upset that the rules are not being kept.’
“Then as I walked out of the store, there was an employee wearing a mask inappropriately, just covering her mouth.”
In the Netherfield store, she said “there was no-one on the door” and that she felt ‘flustered’ when “two people walked past without masks”, adding: “I am sure there can’t be so many people that are exempt.”
She explained she told a store assistant she did not feel safe there because there were so many people without masks.
She added: “My niece contracted Covid, was very ill but fortunately managed to survive. I have other relatives and friends within the NHS, they want us to adhere to the rules.”
Mrs Jackson’s husband Richard, 72, who himself didn’t go into the supermarkets, said: “It’s not always possible to keep two metres away from people inside supermarkets, even when you are trying - but it’s important everybody should be wearing a mask so you minimise the risk.” A spokeswoman for Lidl said: “At Lidl GB, our top priority remains the health and safety of our customers and colleagues. “As such, we have continued to implement a range of social distancing and Covid-19 secure measures across all of our stores. This includes positioning security guards or designated team members at entrances during peak times to regulate customer numbers and to remind those not wearing a face covering of the Government guidance and their own responsibility to keep themselves and others safe. “We also remain mindful of those who come under Government exemptions such as customers with hidden disabilities. “To clarify, whilst supermarkets cannot enforce the wearing of face coverings, the authorities have the power to issue either a fine or fixed penalty to those who do not comply and are not exempt. “To help communicate the regulations we have signage in place across all of our stores and have issued updates on social media and our website.
“In line with government guidance, our colleagues are expected to wear a face covering whilst on the shop floor unless they are exempt or other mitigations are in place, such as a perspex screen. We apologise if any of these measures were not in place at the time of the customer visiting our stores, and can confirm that we have since taken the opportunity to raise these concerns with our regional team.”
I am sure there can’t be so many people that are exempt.
Sylvia Jackson