Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley to oversee working practices review

The review will be conducted by Mike Ashley, who founded the company

Hazel Sheffield
Friday 18 December 2015 09:33 GMT
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Mike Ashley, founder of Sports Direct
Mike Ashley, founder of Sports Direct

Sports Direct is launching a review of the terms of its agency workers in the new year.

The review will be conducted by Mike Ashley, who founded the company.

“Mike Ashley shall personally oversee a review of all agency worker terms and conditions to ensure the Company does not just meet its legal obligations, but also provides a good environment for the entire workforce,” the retailer said in a statement.

Sports Direct has put out a trading statement in response to what it calls “continued commentary regarding the working conditions of its employees and casual workers”.

The statements sets out some points relating to Sports Direct’s employment practices. Each relates to a claim made about the company. Sports Direct said:

  • No workers at its Shirebrook warehouse are on a so-called zero-hours contract
  • No workers are subjected to “naming and shaming”
  • The tanoy is not used to “harangue” staff
  • Sports Direct does not penalise staff for being ill.
  • All employees are subject to random searches

The Independent reported in March that Sports Direct was responsible for a fifth of all zero hour contracts in the retail sector in the UK.

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