COVID-19 Update: Shields Going Up at Cash Registers, Other Contact Points
Acrylic shields, like these at the Fort Hood Exchange, help protect associates and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch TV news coverage of the shields.
To protect associates even more from COVID-19, Exchanges around the world are installing clear acrylic shields at cash registers, customer service areas and restaurants.
The idea of the shields started with the Italy Consolidated Exchange team, which is at the center of the pandemic in Europe.
“The idea spread throughout Europe, and now we’ve installed these in all our main stores, Expresses, restaurants, Military Clothing stores and many concessions—roughly 150 facilities all across Europe,” said Tony Ventura, vice president for the Europe & Southwest Asia Region.
The Pacific Region and CONUS regions should have installation completed within a week.
In CONUS, many stores are following a how-to guide developed by Trey Williams, a visual merchandiser at the Fort Hood Exchange. He and Celina Forgot, services operations assistant at Fort Hood and former visual merchandiser for the Exchange in Italy, spearheaded the project.
On Friday, his team made and installed 17 shields in the main store, 12 in the Expresses, and two in the installation hospital’s Starbucks.
“Creating these guards took a real team effort,” Williams said. “We felt good that we could ease the minds of our associate and customers during the pandemic. When something like this happens, it really shows much the Exchange is truly one big family that will do whatever is necessary to protect the family.”
Associates at the Carlisle Barracks Exchange installed the barriers at four cash registers in the main store and at Subway.
“We really like the fact that these shields are protecting both customers and sales associates,” said General Manager Valerie Bright. “Several customers have thanked us.”
At Fort Bragg, shields are bringing peace of mind to associates working the cash registers and customer service desks.
“I am absolutely glad that these are up,” said cashier Lisa Whittington. “I had a customer who told me that he loves the idea of the guards and stood in my line because we had one hanging up.”
