Our message to you

30/03/2020

Times like these are far from normal...

In these challenging times that we are all currently living through, we know that some of you will be seeing areas of our business still operating and wondering why.

Our key objective from the outset of this situation has been to support the welfare and livelihoods of all employees. We will be honest with you, this has been hugely challenging in rapidly changing circumstances. But we are absolutely determined to deliver for our staff on this objective.

Like many millions across the country, we have been continuously following guidance given to us from the UK and Scottish Governments. UK Government guidance is clear to us; “every worker – whether critical or not – should work from home if they can but may otherwise travel to work.”

But we understand that we can only carry out our work if we follow the measures required of us to stop the spread of disease. Therefore, we have taken the following measures to date:

• We immediately identified staff in high-risk groups and moved them out of the workplace.
• Where it is possible for our staff to carry out their work from home, we have enabled them to do so.
• We immediately closed our retail shops temporarily in line with government instruction.
• For the significant number of our employees who work in manufacturing and are unable to carry out their work from home, we have been adapting to unprecedented new ways of working. We are practicing, as far as is practicably possible, social distancing and thorough hand hygiene. We have more to do and we will review and improve these safety measures continually.

"The government is not saying only people doing “essential” work can go to work. Anyone who cannot work from home can still go to work.... Every worker – whether critical or not – should work from home if they can but may otherwise travel to work.”

UK Government Website - 29th March 2020. Source: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

This is a worrying time for those staff who cannot work from home but by working safely and responsibly we can work collectively towards a common goal - to protect our health, welfare and livelihoods of all employees’ while continuing to support food producers so that they can safely grow the fish that makes its way to so many dinner tables and provides part of the nation’s food security - particularly vital at times like these.

To our employees and their families, please be assured that the health, welfare and protection of your livelihoods remain our number one priority and we will continue to adapt and improve daily, the measures we have in place to achieve that and follow government guidelines as they are updated.

To the local communities that we work in, we stand ready to support you in whatever way we can, and we will be gearing up this week to do just that and making contact with our local communities.

We appreciate your support and your understanding during these tough times.

Stay well and stay safe.

Gael Force Group