Key Summary
Frontline Co-op workers have accused the supermarket of prioritising profit over staff and customer safety by having too few people on duty leaving them vulnerable and often alone to deal with work as well as rising retail crime level.
Staff at various Co-op outlets have reported being left alone on the shop floor to handle multiple responsibilities, including packing online orders, manning self-checkouts, and operating tills.
These concerns persist in both smaller convenience branches and larger food stores, where employees are reporting that they often feel vulnerable when colleagues are occupied with deliveries or on breaks.
The concerns comes as Co-op retailer’s decision to rolls out Project Lunar, a plan to introduce lone working with only one person on duty in quieter stores.
Project Lunar aims to improve profitability by reviewing product ranges, simplifying tasks, and having store managers or team leaders work alone during slower daylight hours.
Following a trial across five sites last year, the Co-op has confirmed the programme is now being rolled out to 60 branches nationwide, The Guardian reported.
In addition to this, many Co-op stores continue to operate under what is informally referred to by staff as a “one-on-one” model.
Under this arrangement, while one colleague handles stockroom duties or replenishment tasks, the other is left as the sole public-facing staff member, often managing tills without backup.
The Project Lunar rollout comes despite the Co-op’s own high-profile campaigning efforts around retail crime, including repeated calls for greater police support and legislative changes to tackle shoplifting and violence against retail workers.
A Co-op worker commented on the workers' network Organise, "It is a ridiculous idea! Most Co-ops need more than one member of staff to run it properly and correctly.
"The store I work in is really hit hard by shoplifters, even though we have security in store now! Maybe the powers that be should try and run a store on their own."
Another worker commented, "If Co-op thinks it's safe to work alone in stores, then I believe staff need to be paid somewhere in the region of between £15-20 per hour inc of a dangerous payment scheme, otherwise I feel CEO should also do at least three months as a lone worker to justify expectations for shop staff."
Another comment on the network web page reads, "Totally ridiculous! You are putting staff at risk. Co-op were known for customer service. You will be losing customers. Co-op are becoming one of the worst retailers. There is no security.
"You pay a pittance but expect supermen and women. Luckily I retired last year. The wages are rubbish, as for the share of the profits, that's laughable. Now to top it off you have stopped the staff discount, instead we get points towards our shopping. Us retirees needed that discount."
A Co-op spokesperson said, “Co-op is committed to serving and supporting our communities, providing good value prices, excellent promotions and quality products for all of our members and customers.
“Alongside a rewarding and safe working environment for our colleagues across all our stores. Co-op has been at the forefront of campaigning for a crackdown on retail crime, investing in the very latest security measures, with the safety and wellbeing of all colleagues as our clear priority.”
The retail group added that its Project Lunar stores were set up so workers would not be left alone during deliveries and at busier times of day such as opening and closing times.
