Undercover footage: manager at Sports Direct warehouse says worker can't leave during break
- 4 years ago
Warehouse workers at Sports Direct, the retail chain controlled by billionaire Mike Ashley, appear to be receiving pay below the national minimum wage, according to expert analysis of a new Guardian undercover investigation.
An undercover reporter recorded how staff at the Shirebrooke, Derbyshire were unable to leave the warehouse during their 30-minute unpaid breaks – a practice some employment law experts say should count as paid working time and, if correct, would push Shirebrook’s effective hourly wage rates below the legal minimum of £8.72 to about £8.20.
Frasers Group, the holding company for Sports Direct, said there was no legal requirement for it to provide separate facilities and, what was key, was that staff did not have to perform any duties or be at the company’s disposal during rest breaks. They said workers were allowed to use their breaks freely and for their own purposes.
An undercover reporter recorded how staff at the Shirebrooke, Derbyshire were unable to leave the warehouse during their 30-minute unpaid breaks – a practice some employment law experts say should count as paid working time and, if correct, would push Shirebrook’s effective hourly wage rates below the legal minimum of £8.72 to about £8.20.
Frasers Group, the holding company for Sports Direct, said there was no legal requirement for it to provide separate facilities and, what was key, was that staff did not have to perform any duties or be at the company’s disposal during rest breaks. They said workers were allowed to use their breaks freely and for their own purposes.