‘I’M frightened getting into the lift as we are a number of floors up,” one worker from a Tesco Bank call centre in Glasgow wrote in a message seen by the Sunday National. “How many people will be in it?” they worried. “The lifts are scary.”

The worker is one of a number who were sent a text to confirm that they and colleagues at this call centre were to be considered key workers. They were told they would receive a letter to confirm this which they could show to authorities if challenged on their commute.

Tesco Bank insists it has put the necessary precautions in place. “We are following government guidance, including social distancing in our workplace, and have introduced a 10% bonus scheme to thank our frontline workers,” a spokesman said, adding that free parking and food had been made available and vulnerable workers had been signed off on full pay for 12 weeks.

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But the worker said they did not feel safe. “When we move around we put our hands up and shout ‘social distance’,” they said. “But it’s impossible always to stay at a distance.

“We’ve got great camaraderie but we’re frightened.”

At a Sky call centre, one worker claimed that offices were not being adequately cleaned.

“People in Glasgow and Dunfermline have both had confirmed cases and they still refused to close,” they added. “They have closed the canteen, leaving us nowhere to eat. And as far as social distancing, people still walk by you, people still gather in groups and so on.

“The call centre has 400 employees. Sky claim they are only dealing with vulnerable customers but all departments are open. Sky are putting us all at risk. Over Glasgow and Uddingston they have over 1000 sales advisors.”

Another wrote in a message shared with the Sunday National: “A lot of us are having doubts and starting to become scared for our safety. It’s a joke. They will not allow us to work from home. We are forced to go in or not be paid.”

But a Sky spokesman denied there was any cause for concern, claiming it is minimising the number of people on site and making the environment “as safe as it can be”.

Additional cleaning was now taking place, he said, with some offices changing layouts and putting in place one-way walking systems to help people move safely around the space.

He added: “We are already complying with all government guidance and we are also taking extra steps to help keep our colleagues and customers safe, including providing thermometers and hand sanitiser, together with clear guidance on how to maintain social distancing.”