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Australia’s Myer to temporarily close all stores, stands down retail staff

Myer Australia

Australian department chain Myer has temporarily close all its domestic stores, acting as a health precaution to the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the globe, and move to stem.

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The Sydney-headquartered Myer said the store closures would take place from 29th March, for an initial period of four weeks, until 27th April.

Myer said it has chosen to continue to operate all online businesses. To promote online sales, Myer has also reduced the threshold for free delivery to $49 per order (from $99) and relaxed its returns policy.

With the store closures, Myer on 30th March stood down approximately 10,000 team members across the store network and store support office. Staff will forego pay as result, with full time and part time workers given the choice to access annual leave and
long service entitlements.

Myer said it would return a small group of business-critical roles to undertake essential work during the period and to support its online businesses. These roles will operate on an equivalent of 80% of normal salaries and contracted hours.

Myer’s CEO and managing director John King, along with all of the executive team members, will not receive any remuneration during this period, but will continue to work in their respective roles, Myer said in a press release.

“We are now taking all necessary measures to minimise our cost base, including engaging in ongoing discussions with suppliers and landlords. The decision to temporarily close all Myer stores and stand down so many loyal and dedicated team members is one of the toughest decisions this company has faced in its 120 years of operation,” said King.

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“Our focus must remain on operating our business in a manner that protects the health and wellbeing of customers and team members, whilst supporting the government, and the communities in which we operate, in limiting the spread of Covid-19,” continued King.