Geek Squad's In-Home Agents Fear Spreading Coronavirus To the Elderly 37
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: Employees for Best Buy-owned Geek Squad who visit people's homes to install electronics are fearful that they may get sick or help spread the coronavirus as they are told to keep working during the pandemic. Many Geek Squad employees told Motherboard that their customers are most at risk of having a severe case of Covid-19, because many of them are elderly or have underlying health conditions. The news comes after Motherboard reported how Best Buy was running at "full capacity," allowing hundreds of customers in stores at once and leading multiple employees to believe Best Buy saw a business opportunity in staying open during a time of crisis. After publication, Best Buy announced it would shorten opening hours and limit the number of customers allowed inside stores.
In-house agents are tasked with setting up and repairing Best Buy customers' electronics in their homes. That might include installing a doorbell, television set, kitchen appliance, or setting up their computer or home router, for example. "They're expected to be in people's homes where there are no personal boundaries, no social distancing, touching of product, etc," one current Geek Squad employee told Motherboard. "They have compared their employees to 'essential workers' [...] such as gas stations, hospitals, grocery stores." An internal Best Buy email sent to agents and obtained by Motherboard reflected this, saying "The work we do is considered essential to our client's and customer's [sic] needs and we are being asked to continue to serve our clients in their homes." Elderly people who cannot install technology themselves may wish to have such a service during the looming quarantine period in the U.S. But multiple Geek Squad employees Motherboard spoke to highlighted how they may be putting clients at risk because in-house agents cater heavily to retirement communities and senior citizens in general. Best Buy says if a customer is showing symptoms while an agent is in their home, the agent is allowed to cancel the current appointment. Agents can also ask in a pre-visit call if anyone in the household is experiencing symptoms. But as for the first point, "you'd already be at the potential risk of exposure!" one agent said.
Another internal message said that customers no longer need to sign for completion of a visit, so as to minimize contact between clients and Best Buy employees' phones.
In-house agents are tasked with setting up and repairing Best Buy customers' electronics in their homes. That might include installing a doorbell, television set, kitchen appliance, or setting up their computer or home router, for example. "They're expected to be in people's homes where there are no personal boundaries, no social distancing, touching of product, etc," one current Geek Squad employee told Motherboard. "They have compared their employees to 'essential workers' [...] such as gas stations, hospitals, grocery stores." An internal Best Buy email sent to agents and obtained by Motherboard reflected this, saying "The work we do is considered essential to our client's and customer's [sic] needs and we are being asked to continue to serve our clients in their homes." Elderly people who cannot install technology themselves may wish to have such a service during the looming quarantine period in the U.S. But multiple Geek Squad employees Motherboard spoke to highlighted how they may be putting clients at risk because in-house agents cater heavily to retirement communities and senior citizens in general. Best Buy says if a customer is showing symptoms while an agent is in their home, the agent is allowed to cancel the current appointment. Agents can also ask in a pre-visit call if anyone in the household is experiencing symptoms. But as for the first point, "you'd already be at the potential risk of exposure!" one agent said.
Another internal message said that customers no longer need to sign for completion of a visit, so as to minimize contact between clients and Best Buy employees' phones.
Two words: (Score:1)
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And since people who are selfish bastards are also very commonly those that will accept their fate and die peacefully instead of trying anything to stay alive, this is something to really look forward to.
Not to mention that it's not the really greedy bastards that get to feel the consequences, or do you think any of the C-Levels at Best Buy are going anywhere near one of those stores?
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And since people who are selfish bastards are also very commonly those that will accept their fate and die peacefully instead of trying anything to stay alive, this is something to really look forward to...
Meanwhile, they will likely infect a lot of innocents first. Some people just don't get empathy, social responsibility or even informed self-interest. Sadly, a lot of them run companies. Which is why government action is required: the sub-set of the population who don't give a f*** about anyone is too big to ignore.
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Risk vs need (Score:4, Interesting)
However, for many elderly, having their home computer working IS an essential service. Without internet and all the email video chat, etc, communications that comes with it, many elderly will be isolated from their families (this social contact is actually critical for their emotional, mental, and physical well being, do not dismiss this lightly), as well as ordering stuff online they need to survive. Such as food.
These are the sort of tough calls that need to be made in hard times.
I think the ethical answer is to continue serving home customers but staff should be on a volunteer basis to do so and obviously take all precautions and actions necessary to limit contact while still doing critical work in the home.
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They're right, there is definitely increased risk on both directions with home visits.
However, for many elderly, having their home computer working IS an essential service. Without internet and all the email video chat, etc, communications that comes with it, many elderly will be isolated from their families (this social contact is actually critical for their emotional, mental, and physical well being, do not dismiss this lightly), as well as ordering stuff online they need to survive. Such as food.
These are the sort of tough calls that need to be made in hard times.
I think the ethical answer is to continue serving home customers but staff should be on a volunteer basis to do so and obviously take all precautions and actions necessary to limit contact while still doing critical work in the home.
For those in nursing homes I'm surprised the techs are even allowed in. My wife works in a nursing home and they've completely locked down. No visitors, no deliveries to residents, etc(this has already led to some meltdowns from residents who are big drinkers). Residents have to take meals in their room instead of the dining room. Doors are locked going in and going out, and even staff have to have their temperatures taken before they come in.
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But right now, at least with the family member I have. He is in the rest home and has very few visitors. He also does not have a computer or smart phone. The last time I was able to visit him, I took my tablet an
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I think the ethical answer is to continue serving home customers but staff should be on a volunteer basis to do so and obviously take all precautions and actions necessary to limit contact while still doing critical work in the home.
Additionally, Best Buy must provide Geek Squad employees with the appropriate protective gear and sanitizers, along with training in their use. Yes, working computers are critical for many people - but providing them with the service they need is no excuse whatsoever for putting many multiples of other people at risk of disease or even death.
12 o'clock fashers (Score:2)
I cannot believe the Geek Squad would be considered "essential". While it is unfortunate that the typical Geek Squad customer is probably at the highest risk for contracting COVID-19, somehow people manage to purchase electronics at other retail outlets and get the gear to work just fine.
In the long run, not killing all of your customers is probably a better overall strategy. News is still broadcast over the radio and TV via the old-fashioned ether and many of these people still have landline phones. So,
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I cannot believe the Geek Squad would be considered "essential".
Since a lot of people are working at home, at-home tech support is pretty essential.
While it is unfortunate that the typical Geek Squad customer is probably at the highest risk for contracting COVID-19, somehow people manage to purchase electronics at other retail outlets and get the gear to work just fine.
And some don't. Most other electronics stores "support" policy is to tell you to call the manufacturer.
In the long run, not killing all of your customers is probably a better overall strategy.
So this is going to kill *all* of their customers because everyone in Geek Squad has COVID-19, and everyone they visit is elderly and has a preexisting medical condition. Please stop getting your health information from clickbait.
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[...] Since a lot of people are working at home, at-home tech support is pretty essential.
I'm sure they will do wonders in getting your company's VPN software up and running. How about adding credentials to your smart card account to remotely access something---I'm sure they will be a great help. If you are actually working at home, your company should be helping you to work at home. (You do realize that "working at home" is not binge watching Netflix on your smart TV or adding another Sonos speaker to every room.)
[...]And some don't. Most other electronics stores "support" policy is to tell you to call the manufacturer.
Most people handle this just fine. Often people are better off without in-stor
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Just sell them an $42 case of water to get the bos (Score:2)
Just sell them an $42 case of water to get the boss off there back
https://www.businessinsider.co... [businessinsider.com]
To the Geeksquad Soldiers (Score:2)
This really sucks. If BestBuy keeps you busy, do your best to avoid spreading it. At the first sign of cough or fever take off sick till you know for sure. Buy a box of rubber gloves, because the best thing about them is wearing gloves reminds you to not touch your face.
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Buy a box of rubber gloves
Yea, good luck with that. (have you been to any store lately)?
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Last time I was, they still had everything... except toilet paper (And I'm not even kidding).
Test! Test! Test! (Score:1)
The way to stop this epidemic is to continuously test everyone and isolate them and their contacts if positive.
This is what China, South Korea, etc. have done and they have stopped the epidemic.
Of course, the US is handicapped by brain damaged leadership so we don't have enough tests and we don't have an effective public health apparatus so we don't have the capability to actually test large numbers of people.
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Vatican City: "we've already tested all our people, why are other countries so slow to do the same?"
Stupid (Score:2)
When is everyone going to realize that the entire problem we are trying to solve by Social Distancing is to stop the spread of the disease through non-symptomatic carriers? By the time someone shows symptoms its already too late to matter...
Stores running at full capacity for who, exactly? (Score:2)
Who are these hordes of customers that haven't got the memo yet???