Answering your Questions

This article will take approximately 1 minute to read

Published 29 May 2020 in Phil's blog

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Last week in my blog I asked our colleagues to ask me a question - it could be on anything!

Take a look at my video Q&A below answering your questions:

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Deborah Adams (HEALTHCARE) 22 Aug 2020 14:50

I would like to know, why despite having a letter from the hospital telling me I must self isolate for at least 7 days before my procedure, I have been told I need to take this time off as unpaid leave. It's not like I have chosen to go on holiday and taken a risk , it is a health matter. I think this is very unfair particularly as I have worked at times during the pandemic against medical advice. I thought you were a caring society!

Phil Ponsonby (CEGOVSEC) 24 Aug 2020 15:40

@Deborah Adams (HEALTHCARE) Hi Deborah, I would advise you to contact the HR helpline (01926 516469) on this. They will be able to confirm our policy which is designed to help you. Thanks Phil

Keith Harrison (FUNERALS) 2 Jun 2020 21:19

I am finding it hard to comprehend why the masonry department are not eligible for any extra benefits. Despite ; working continuously during this pandemic, delivering coffins,engaging with cemetery staff , organising removal for burials and many other client facing roles. Personally i am worse off than my colleagues who are furloughed i am still having to put fuel in my car on a regular basis .

John Street (CEGOVSEC) 3 Jun 2020 18:51

@Keith Harrison (FUNERALS) Keith, I have asked Brian Hill to contact you directly to discuss your feedback. Regards, John

Shaheen Valli (PERSONNEL) 1 Jun 2020 13:09

What a great session, really engaging very well facilitated by Peter Lockey also, great questions and answers. good coverage of the business as a whole really liked the format. Thank you to everyone involved and especially our front line colleagues.

Debbie Rogers (TRAVEL) 1 Jun 2020 06:56

Very interesting to hear comments and replies, I choose to redeploy from travel to food to help my local colleagues, and I am so proud to be part of the team , just 1 question... The travel side was mentioned as a few branches opening from 15 July was this correct or was it 15 June .. I understand it will not be all branches, please can you clarify.. Many Thanks

Phil Ponsonby (CEGOVSEC) 1 Jun 2020 08:53

@Debbie Rogers (TRAVEL) Debbie, thanks for your comment and also for your efforts in supporting the food business. We hope to open a number of travel branches from the 15th June and not July as I said in the interview. Thanks for spotting that! Best wishes Phil

Karen Whatling (FOODRETAIL) 31 May 2020 10:21

I see that central co op are giving their staff an extra weeks pay in June, for all their work during the coronavirus, will midcounties co op be offering any reward like this for their staff ?

John Street (CEGOVSEC) 31 May 2020 13:01

@Karen Whatling (FOODRETAIL) Karen, different businesses have delivered rewards in different ways. Our approach was to apply the 10% uplift to the hours worked for 9 weeks, along with other benefits such as 20% colleague discount in food stores and the provision of a lunch allowance for frontline colleagues. Central England's approach was a one week salary reward plus enhanced colleague discount. Regards, John

Alistair Johnson (CHILDNURSE) 30 May 2020 01:09

Guess i should start shopping at coop.. dont suppose you could put one closer to bilston could you?

Nigel Hawkins (CEGOVSEC) 29 May 2020 20:55

Excellent format, very informative and an ideal method of keeping up to date. Thank you.

John Street (CEGOVSEC) 30 May 2020 01:14

@Nigel Hawkins (CEGOVSEC) Thanks for the feedback Nigel.

Simon Thornley (FOODRETAIL) 29 May 2020 18:17

I think this is a great format, really engaging, far better than in a written down paper Q+A and well worth 40 mins of anyone's time

John Street (CEGOVSEC) 30 May 2020 01:14

@Simon Thornley (FOODRETAIL) Thanks for your comments and feedback Simon.

Simon Thornley (FOODRETAIL) 29 May 2020 18:25

I'd also like to add, I think the credit that is given to the 'Front Line' should be replicated back up the chain to all Senior/Field Management as well as those Colleagues who are head office based. As a Front Line manager, I can not fault the support that have been given over the past few challenging weeks, measures have been taken and put in place at a rapid pace and feedback on these has always been receptive and measures adapted where felt it has been required.

Barbara Dunne (COMMUTY70) 29 May 2020 17:30

Mahoosive thanks to: Phil for excellent, open & honest vlog, everyone on the front line & behind the scenes & the Exec for taking a pay cut at this time (values in action) and I would be happy to give up a day of my 2020 holiday to give as a bonus to a frontline worker. Keep safe everyone

Laura Burford (FUNERALS) 29 May 2020 16:28

I agree with the comments of Jayne Palmer. This format is convenient for me. It was interesting to hear (from funeral point of view) that we are planning for another wave, even if it doesn't come, and senior management being honest about lessons learnt the first time. I don't think any of us have ever experienced this in our working lifetime but the opportunity to learn lessons and grow from it can only be a good thing. Thank you

John Street (CEGOVSEC) 29 May 2020 16:37

@Laura Burford (FUNERALS) Laura, thanks for your comments and feedback. Regards, John

Jayne Palmer (PERSONNEL) 29 May 2020 15:43

Really found this informative and think we should have more of this format in the future. Phil is very candid and it makes me as an employee examine the big picture (instead of seeing it only from my point of view) and appreciate what we stand for and that we are all in this together.

John Street (CEGOVSEC) 29 May 2020 15:48

@Jayne Palmer (PERSONNEL) Thanks for your feedback Jayne.

Linda Freeman (FINANCE) 29 May 2020 14:25

Hi Phil, I raised a question at the AGM to which I don't think I have had answered yet? please advise.

John Street (CEGOVSEC) 29 May 2020 15:47

@Linda Freeman (FINANCE) Thanks Linda. We are in the process of collating responses to the questions asked at the AGM and will be emailing that summary to those attending over the weekend. Where the questions relate to the future of specific sites we will ensure that colleagues in those sites are notified first, and as soon as we can. Hopefully the few questions that fit into this category, including yours, can be answered in full in the coming weeks.