TSB is planning to open branches from 9 am to 5 pm with effect from Monday, 29th June. Some branches will also open on Saturday from 9 am – 1 pm for appointments and self-service only. The two employer sponsored staff unions – Accord and Unite – are supporting the extension of opening hours.
Before the branch opening hours are extended, some Area Directors have already jumped the gun and are now telling staff that they should work their normal contracted hours and use the time when the branch is closed to do staff training and or catch up on work. That’s rubbish. We would like to hear from staff who have been told that by their Area Director or Branch Manager.
TSB has said consistently that it is committed to ensuring that branches remain a safe place for staff to work. If that’s the case, then opening hours should not be extended until, and only until, larger, more robust protective screens have been provided for till positions, interview rooms and in-between staff and fitted in every branch. Equally, we would expect all branch risk assessments to have been completed and signed off by Area Directors and Carol Anderson before opening hours are extended. All of the risk assessments carried out should be published on the bank’s website in line with Government guidance.
If TSB extends opening hours – with the support of the two in-house staff unions – before the new safety measures have been fully implemented it will be playing Russian roulette with the health and safety of branch staff and customers. We have been telling TSB for weeks to put in place extra safety measures, knowing full well that lockdown would be eased.
It will be unacceptable, given that they have had countless warnings from us, for TSB branches to wait weeks or months to get the proper protective equipment they need to deal with more customers.
Members with any comments or issues, they would like us to deal with should contact the Union’s Advice Team on 01234 716029 (choose Option 1).