Update on Sports Direct: am told stores are closed but contracted staff are being told to go into work as normal and are working behind closed doors. Zero hour staff have had shifts cancelled and facing prospect of no work even if they routinely work 40-45 hour weeks.
Another member of staff tells me: “if we choose to self-isolate, as I am, we’re only receiving statutory sick pay. In terms of lay offs the company is telling staff it has no knowledge of the government’s 80% scheme even though it’s all over the news.”
Another employee in Sports Direct tells me they’re being forced to come in as “security guards” and to do odd jobs and told by management that if they don’t do so they won’t get paid.
Other parts of Mike Ashley’s empire being treated the same way. An employee of Jack Wills has told me though the shops aren’t open the staff have been called in and told if they don’t, there’s no guarantee they’ll get paid. Employee says they’ve been sat in the shop doing little.
UPDATE: I’m told Sports Direct employees have just been informed they don’t have to come in tomorrow.
