Mike Ashley now in hot water as disgraceful accusations are leaked by Sports Direct staff
It's emerged that Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct has been telling store managers to return to work on reduced wages - DESPITE them being on the government’s furlough scheme.
This comes after details were leaked from Sports Direct workers to The Guardian - who broke this story this morning - adding a further dent into Ashley’s already crumbling reputation.
More severe details have also emerged, claiming TWO store managers were told not to clock on while under furlough, something that would breach the government’s job retention scheme.
As a result, Ashley could land himself in some serious hot water because of this latest scandal. After all, claiming government money for staff expenditure due to COVID-19, while making staff work, could easily be seen as fraudulent behaviour.
“They are doing it secretly so people don’t know what they are doing,” one worker told The Guardian.
A 'U-turn' has now been announced by Sports Direct, but it's yet another sly move that Mike Ashley shouldn't be allowed to get away with.
Frasers Group, his main entity that controls his assets, asked Sports Direct and House of Fraser staff to return to work today on 90% pay, to help with stock checks and warehousing work given Sports Direct continues to operate online.
This news is the most recent of a long list of PR blunders by our failed football club owner since the start of the epidemic. Ashley was accused of ignoring government advice back in March, for attempting to open stores just hours after the Prime Minister had ordered a full lockdown of the country - forcing him to write a grovelling apology for his actions.
He unsurprisingly finds himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons once again.
Let’s hope the next time he’s making national headlines is due to him finally handing over the keys to our club to Staveley and the Saudis!
