COVID-19 UPDATE

Seasons IGA Supermarkets understand that this is a difficult time for many. Please be assured that we are taking full precautions, in accordance with the latest government guidelines, to ensure the highest safety for you, our staff and the community at large. 

This is an update to share what we are doing to protect public safety and provide continued Supermarket services. 

• We’re educating our people: Staff have received up-to-date training and education about correct hand-washing procedures, safe equipment usage, avoidance of face touching, hygiene best practices and sanitisation protocols.

• We have a dedicated Sanitisation Team: Key members of staff are following sanitisation regimes to regularly sanitise high-traffic areas of our store, including but not limited to fridge handles, entries, exits and hand railings.

• Strict ‘no-symptom’ attendance policies: We have strict policies for staff with any medical symptoms to a) stay at home, b) report directly to our HR Team and c) self-isolate and/or seek appropriate medical attention. Staff are not permitted to return to work until symptoms are fully recovered and medical and/or government mandated isolation periods have been fulfilled.

• We’re promoting Social Distancing: Staff have received training about social distancing, as per current Government guidelines. We have additional signage displayed throughout the store to promote Social Distancing compliance. We have ‘Social Distancing’ 1.5m Stickers displayed at Front Registers.

• Access To Hand Sanitisers: All Front End registers are supplied with hand santisers and there are additional wipes provided for your hands and trolleys at the front of store.

• Limited purchase numbers for high demand items: Due to unprecedented nationwide surges in supermarket purchasing, we are experiencing temporary supply shortages of certain core line items. While we are doing our best to order more, we are can only receive what is available from our warehouses and suppliers. For this reason, we are placing ‘Limited purchase numbers’ on certain high demand, staple items with low supply limits. This is a measure that has been undertaken by many supermarkets across Australia, to ensure the fairest possible access to necessary goods for all members.

Looking after our local communities is our top priority. Therefore, to ensure those who are most vulnerable have access to essential items, IGA is now providing a Priority Shop home delivery service to many areas, that will offer a choice of four different package options.

Eligible customers include the elderly (70+), people who are immunosuppressed, people with a disability and people who are required to self-isolate.

To register for IGA Priority Shop, please complete the registration form so that we can validate your eligibility and our ability to deliver to your location.
If you can’t register online, please call 1800 018 384.

The IGA team will review and contact you within two business days.

At Seasons  IGA, we take the health, safety and wellbeing of our Staff very seriously. 

In addition to all measures described above to provide the most up-to-date health, hygiene and safety protocols, promote adherence to social distancing guidelines and ensure any team members remain home to recover, we have implemented the following:

• A Health & Wellbeing Program for all staff. 

Overseen by a trained health professional, staff members receive weekly wellness tips, videos, resources and guidelines to support their mental and physical health during this challenging time. In accordance with this program, all staff have the opportunity to book in for personalised health coaching appointments or general support sessions with an appointed health professional. This service is fully provided for free to all team members employed by Outridges IGA. 

• Specialised HR Support.

Our HR personnel are working tirelessly around the clock to provide support, clarity and clear communication to all team members as questions, leave arrangements and protocols evolve.

• Dedicated COVID-19 Officers.

As the government guidelines and new developments around the pandemic are constantly shifting and evolving, we have appointed two dedicated COVID-19 Officers who are staying up-to-date with breaking news and most recent developments. They are also staying abreast of all best-practice recommendations coming through professional bodies associated with supermarket regulation and food safety. 

• Timely communication for staff updates and reminders.

We have a sophisticated ‘BURPs’ payroll and employee communication software. Via this software, we are able to send updates and reminders to staff phones and inboxes in a timely and responsive manner. 

• Rotating Shifts

Where possible, we are conducting non customer service related activities outside of trading hours. This is in the mutual interest of limiting both staff and public interaction and exposure. 

• 1.5m Perspex Glass Dividers For Front End Registers

These are a mechanical barrier for minimising potential virus transmission between customers and staff alike. 

We have received an overwhelming amount of correspondence about potential measures we could be taking as a store to protect public health and safety.

We thank you sincerely for your concern and understand the need to do everything within our power to protect the community.

At this stage, we are acting in accordance with government and state guidelines. At this point, this means that we cannot refuse entry to customers who may display symptoms of illness. Isolation, for the present time, is an individuals’ social duty and as a supermarket (and not a government body) we cannot police this within the external community.

In terms of gloves and masks, we are acting in accordance with QLD Health and Federal Health legislation. With this in mind, wearing masks and gloves is not currently recommended. Furthermore there are currently limited numbers available for masks and gloves as these have been diverted to our medical teams.

Thank you for your understanding.