Logistics teams brave coronavirus restrictions

How have the last few months been for you?

First of all, I’m glad that my whole team has stayed healthy so far and that we have been able to reliably deliver products to our customers on time, despite the coronavirus situation. Maintaining this high degree of delivery reliability has been a huge challenge because in logistics, we don’t have a “backlog”: everything that is ordered leaves the warehouse on the same day. So we quickly had to devise a plan for how to continue working: with Hands-Face-Space regulations, short-time working arrangements, separate teams and shifts. During that time I worked together with Mathias Ott, Head of the Central Warehouse, and we acted primarily as “carers”, ensuring that the environment was safe for our employees and that we could continue to deliver. So far, we have managed that.

Wow, kudos for this accomplishment! Have you stuck with your measures from spring?

Yes, without interruption. Overall, implementing these measures takes a lot of organization, even just when it comes to eating. We are currently in the process of acquiring break containers to keep our colleagues warm and dry whenever they take their breaks. We maintain daily contact with Aramark to guarantee availability of food at the different break times.

What do you want to tell your team?

I want to extend my sincere thanks and praise that all of our colleagues, without exception, have complied with the rules for months and have really played their part! Without this discipline, we would not have been able to maintain such a high level of punctuality for our customers. Unfortunately, nobody can tell how long the situation will remain like this. My request is: please continue your great cooperation with us and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

What do you look forward to most when the pandemic is over?

Working together the way we used to. In the Logistics Department, we also have teams that aren’t allowed to meet, for example Incoming Goods and Returns. All this requires more effort and synchronization. We are all looking forward to getting back to normal.