Policy brief & purpose

This company policy includes the measures we are actively taking to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. You are kindly requested to follow all these rules diligently, to sustain a healthy and safe workplace in this unique environment. It’s important that we all respond responsibly and transparently to these health precautions. We assure you that we will always treat your private health and personal data with high confidentiality and sensitivity.

This coronavirus (COVID-19) company policy is susceptible to changes with the introduction of additional governmental guidelines. If so, we will update you as soon as possible by email.

Scope

This coronavirus policy applies to all of our employees who physically work in our office(s). We strongly recommend to our remote working personnel to read through this action plan as well, to ensure we collectively and uniformly respond to this challenge.

Policy elements

Here, we outline the required actions employees should take to protect themselves and their co-workers from a potential coronavirus infection.

Sick leave arrangements:

• If you have cold symptoms, such as cough/sneezing/fever, or feel poorly, request sick leave or work from home.
• If you have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, you can return to the office only after you’ve fully recovered, with a doctor’s note confirming your recovery.

Work from home requests:

• If you are feeling ill, but you are able to work, you can request to work from home.
• If you have recently returned from areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases (based on CDC announcements), we’ll ask you to work from home for 14 calendar days, and return to the office only if you are fully asymptomatic. You will also be asked not to come into physical contact with any colleagues during this time.
• If you’ve been in close contact with someone infected by COVID-19, with high chances of being infected yourself, request work from home. You will also be asked not to come into physical contact with any colleagues during this time.
• If you’re a parent and you have to stay at home with your children, request work from home. Follow up with your manager or departmental leader to make arrangements and set expectations.
• If you need to provide care to a family member infected by COVID-19, request work from home. You’ll only be permitted to return to the office 14 calendar days after your family member has fully recovered, provided that you’re asymptomatic or you have a doctor’s note confirming you don’t have the virus. You will also be asked not to come into physical contact with any colleagues during this time.

Traveling/commuting measures:

• All work trips and events – both domestic and international – will be cancelled/postponed until further notice.
• In-person meetings should be done virtually where possible, especially with non-company parties (e.g. candidate interviews and partners).
• If you normally commute to the office by public transportation and do not have other alternatives, you can request to work from home as a precaution.
• If you are planning to travel voluntarily to a high-risk country with increased COVID-19 cases, we’ll ask you to work from home for 14 calendar days. You will also be asked not to come into physical contact with any colleagues during this time.

General hygiene rules:

• Wash your hands after using the toilet, before eating, and if you cough/sneeze into your hands (follow the 20-second hand-washing rule). You can also use the sanitizers you’ll find around the office.
• Cough/sneeze into your sleeve, preferably into your elbow. If you use a tissue, discard it properly and clean/sanitize your hands immediately.
• Open the windows regularly to ensure open ventilation.
• Avoid touching your face, particularly eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands to prevent from getting infected.
• If you find yourself coughing/sneezing on a regular basis, avoid close physical contact with your coworkers and take extra precautionary measures (such as requesting sick leave).

Disclaimer: This policy template is meant to provide general guidelines and should be used as a reference. It may not take into account all relevant local, state or federal laws and is not a legal document. Neither the author nor Workable will assume any legal liability that may arise from the use of this policy.

 

 

Covid-19 Updates

 

In this time of uncertainty with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) we want to reassure you that the health and safety of our customers and staff is of the highest priority. We will continue to operate as best as we can given the circumstances and to fulfil and despatch orders as quickly as possible.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. If you have any feedback feel free to email at sales@bootblack.com.au

 

Hours of Operation

As an online retailer our store is still available 24/7. Orders will continue to be processed and dispatched during business hours. 

Risk Minimisation

During this difficult time, we’ve taken extra special measures to help you shop more safely by:

• Following the advice of the Australian Government and World Health Organisation, and their recommendations for minimising the spread of this virus;
• Increasing the cleaning and sanitisation of storage and workspaces;
• Preparing our teams to respond quickly to any emerging situation should it occur, to best ensure the health and safety of everyone involved; and
• Asking any team members feeling unwell to stay home.

Domestic Delivery Timeframes

Australia Post have advised there are delivery delays due to:

• reduction in air freight capacity and passenger flights (which also carry our parcels)
• a significant increase in parcels volumes, many which require manual sorting
• hygiene and social distancing requirements in our network (such as social distancing through zoning, dedicated shift start times to reduce cross over of workers)that they are currently experiencing delays to their domestic services.

The Australia Post tracking tool provides you with the most accurate guidance on estimated delivery dates and advises you of any delays while your parcel is in transit. Click here for more information via the Australia Post website.

International Delivery Timeframes

Australia Post have updated their Estimated Delivery Times based on delivery performance over the past four weeks. These timeframes are estimates only and are subject to change, we recommend you check their website regularly to read the most up to date Estimated Delivery Times.

Melbourne lockdown impact on service

The announcement by the Victorian Government now enforcing stage 3 and 4 restrictions throughout Victoria, as well as the redirection of international flights arriving into Melbourne has impacted international delivery timeframes for Victoria. Australia Post are continuing to assess the potential impact on international services daily. At this point they expect minimal impacts on outbound services, and slight delays for inbound services to Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Contactless Delivery

To help protect the health of you, your family and our delivery partners, signatures for a delivery will not be required. Australia Post have introduced measures to limit physical interactions between drivers and our customers.

If you’re not home, they will find a safe place to leave your parcel and take a photo of the parcel so you know it was delivered safely. If they can’t find a safe place, they’ll leave a card letting you know, your parcel can be picked up and signed for from a nearby Post Office. Further details can be found here.

Delivery Notifications

Australia Post automatically sends out tracking notifications when the parcel is:

• Accepted into our network
• Due for delivery the following day or later that day
• Awaiting collection at a Post Office
• Delivered

Australia Post Update (20 July 2020)

The following information has been provided by Australia Post: 

In response to the restrictions announced yesterday by Premier Andrews we want to reassure you that our Post Offices across the State remain open and continue to serve our customers and communities.

Protecting our team members and customers is our absolute priority so from today, our posties, delivery drivers, retail and processing staff will all be wearing face masks in the Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire areas.

In our Post Offices extra measures to help keep you safe continue with:

• Limits on the people in store
• Social Distancing 1.5m line marking
• Extra Cleaning
• Protective Screens

Deliveries and collections

We continue to follow the process introduced earlier in the pandemic, whereby we no longer require a signature for parcel collections and deliveries both within our Post Offices and for deliveries to the door. Posties and staff will ask for your name and sign on your behalf.

For regular updates about the impact of the pandemic on our network and service, please visit our dedicated webpage.

 

 

Australia Post Update (10 August 2020)

The following information has been provided by Australia Post: 

Last week, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that stage 4 restrictions would apply across Melbourne until 13 September 2020. We are pleased to confirm that our Post Offices will remain open during this difficult time and our posties and drivers remain on the road to service Melbourne communities.

We're adapting our processes

In line with these new restrictions, we are required to reduce the number of people in our metro Melbourne distribution facilities. Staff will also begin working split shifts, with cleaning taking place in between, as part of our COVID Safe Plan.

These restrictions do not apply to any of our operations and deliveries network in regional Victoria.

What this means for you

These constraints will have an impact on our ability to service businesses who rely on us for their customers' online deliveries. They may also affect how fast we can deliver to the broader Australian community.

You may notice in the coming weeks when tracking your parcels that they're being processed and delivered from alternate locations. This is to ensure we keep items moving through our network as quickly as we can, while adhering to the stage 4 regulations.

Our priority will be to make sure that essential services, such as medicine, are available to keep our most vulnerable members of the community safe.

And while we're doing everything we can to deliver your online purchases as safely and quickly as possible, we hope you understand that these additional restrictions may result in increased delays.

Keep track of your parcels

Our tracking tool, accessible on our website and app, gives you the most accurate guidance on estimated delivery dates, as well as any delays while your parcel is in transit.

More information

For regular updates on how the pandemic is impacting on our network and service, please visit our dedicated webpage.

New Zealand Post Update (12 August 2020)

The following information has been provided by New Zealand Post:

Last night the country learned that New Zealand has four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community. As a result, Auckland moved back into Level 3 lockdown from midday today with the rest of the country moving to Level 2 at the same time.  

As an essential service, NZ Post will continue to provide delivery services nationwide. To ensure the safety of our people and our community, we have moved back to contactless delivery, 2m physical distancing and, in line with Government guidelines in Auckland, the wearing of masks. 

NZ Post retail outlets

Most of our NZ Post outlets across the country remain open with added safety measures in place. However, in Auckland, under Alert Level 3, some stores may be closed and our opening hours may be different to normal so please check our store locator at PostShop locator for the most up to date information. 

Box Lobbies

Our Box Lobbies are open, but in Auckland may have reduced opening hours. In some cases, our parcel collection service within some Auckland Box Lobbies will be temporarily unavailable while we put additional safety measures in place. If you have a parcel to collect, we recommend you visit our website at nzpost.co.nz/parcelforyou to arrange a redelivery or redirection to a new address.

Parcel to collect

If you’re in Auckland and receive a card letting you know you have a parcel to collect, we recommend visiting our website at nzpost.co.nz/parcelforyou to arrange redelivery or redirection to a new address, as some of our Auckland parcel collection sites will be temporarily closed while we put additional safety measures in place. 

 

Last updated 12th August 2020