Working conditions in the warehouse of fashion retailer Asos leave a lot to be desired. Employees are reportedly not given time to visit the toilet and not allowed to call in sick. BuzzFeed wrote about the warehouse following a three-month investigation. For its part, Asos regrets that only negative aspects are discussed.
BuzzFeed spoke to several (former) employees at the warehouse in Barnsley, UK, who called workplace safety "shameful". The website was also given access to internal documents, text messages and phone recordings. These show that employees are not given time for toilet visits or breaks to drink water. If they do, they miss their targets. Managers closely monitor staff scanning activities. Staff are therefore clocked to the minute.
In addition, it is not appreciated when employees call in sick or have to take care of a family member. Of these employees, the contract would be terminated.
Asos not happy with allegations
Responding to BuzzFeed's allegations, Asos states. "This affects not only us as a company, but especially the people who work there. People who portray our warehouse as a terrible workplace forget to mention that we offer more than 50 different education and development programmes, free psychological support and awareness training and food in our renovated canteen." The fashion etailer also calls it a shame that there is no mention of the £3 million cooling system installed to keep temperatures down in summer.
Bax shop also under fire for poor working conditions
Last week, Bax-shop was in the news due to complaints from former warehouse employees. According to CNV Vakmensen, which spoke to the former employees, staff are aggressively forced to work overtime. Moreover, those hours are not paid. "Packages are moved against health and safety rules at great heights and with danger for the workers," CNV Vakmensen said. One of the former employees claimed that staff have to lift much more than is responsible. Driving a forklift without a licence was also said to be a regular occurrence.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
Image: warehouse of Asos in Barnsley
