BA survey reveals bookseller staffing concerns over self-isolation

A third of indie bookshops have had staff self-isolating in the past month, according to a survey by the Booksellers Association (BA).

Respondents said they were also worried about how government policies will affect staffing and the ability to open, with almost three-quarters of the 204 booksellers surveyed saying they were either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” that requests via the Test & Trace app for staff to isolate will negatively impact the running of their business.

Twenty-two booksellers (11%) said they had to change their trading hours to accommodate changes in staffing, while 12 (6%) had been forced to close their shops completely owing to a lack of staff, with closures ranging from half days to a full 10-day period.

Laura McCormack, head of policy and public affairs at the BA, said: “Over recent weeks the Booksellers Association has been hearing from a number of booksellers who have had to close their shops owing to self-isolation staffing issues. We are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact that these closures and event cancellations will have on the recovery of the bookselling sector, as the number of businesses impacted by the 'pingdemic' continues to rise.”

The BA said it continues to urge the government to provide clear guidelines for booksellers and the wider retail sector around safety precautions, judicious use of technology to keep citizens safe and the economy ticking over, and best practice as booksellers adapt to changing government regulations, working with other trade bodies to point out the challenges the current system is creating across retail and up the supply chain.

Earlier this week The Bookseller spoke to a number of indies about the easing of restrictions, with the overwhelming majority reporting that they intended to keep measures such as mask wearing and social distancing in place after so-called "freedom day" (19th July). Many were concerned about the impact of staff isolating. Hazel Broadfoot, owner of Village Books, said the number of people being told to isolate via the government's Covid app was “a real worry” and “very concerning for bookshops with a small number of staff”.