OPSM has come under fire in the Australasian media with some outlets reporting large lockdown paycuts for the chain’s staff.

According to Stuff, OPSM was only guaranteeing its Auckland staff 25% of their usual wages during the February 2021 three-day alert level-three lockdown. However, a spokesperson for parent company Luxottica said that was wrong. “While Covid-19 continues to create uncertainty for our business, Luxottica is taking all possible actions to keep our people employed and protect the business at the same time. We are supporting our employees by paying 80% of the normal rate of pay, consistent with previous long-term lockdowns. Even in this challenging period, Luxottica confirms that its employees are its most important asset.”

When asked about Specsavers’ approach to lockdowns, Specsavers NZ director Brendan Thompson said it maintained the entire team on full pay. “That's a decision we have made… as have our partners in their own stores and we all believe it is the right decision given the circumstances. While these short lockdowns are never easy and do create a degree of anxiety for many, we know from experience that the bounce back is strong once the lockdown ends, helping our partners to quickly gain ground on lost trading days. It's really important not to generate further anxiety if it can be avoided.”

Similarly, Matthews general manager Miles Clifford said, “Our priority is always to support our team through the uncertainty of lockdowns and returning Matthews to optimal capacity as soon as possible. During the February lockdown in Auckland, we paid our team what they would normally receive in a normal week.”

Bailey Nelson’s NZ manager Maddy Mortiaux said Bailey Nelson had also focused on providing continuity of employment for its team and of service for customers. “In responding to each lockdown situation we've tried to balance team and customer needs with what the business can sustain in the absence of trade. We are proud of how we've navigated the Covid-19 challenges so far and are grateful to our resilient team.”