Sports Direct operates ‘gulag’ warehouses, Guardian claims

-

Sportsdirect300

Sports Direct shares went into a tailspin yesterday and tumbled to the bottom of the FTSE 100 as its shares tanked by 12pc after a slowdown in sales and a report by The Guardian exposing dubious working conditions at the company.

The sportswear retailer has been accused by The Guardian of operating “gulag” warehouses that pay below the minimum wage. It was alleged that staff were docked pay for being late but had to be at work for extra time while they underwent body searches.

Sports Direct also lashed out against accusations that 80 percent of its warehouse staff were on zero hours contracts.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

“To be clear, no warehouse workers are on ‘zero hour’ contracts, all have contracted hours with the agencies”, Keith Hellawell, chairman of Sports Direct told The Daily Telegraph. 

Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.

Latest news

Curtis Holmes: Payroll is the driver for employee engagement

Payroll has long been treated as a back-office necessity: essential, but not something that shapes culture or drives engagement. This no longer stands.

Labour market yet to show major AI impact on jobs, govt adviser says

A government economic adviser has challenged predictions of widespread AI-driven unemployment, arguing labour market data has yet to show disruption.

Young workers ‘pressured into signing NDAs after workplace injuries’

Workers say injuries are being hidden behind confidentiality agreements while financial pressures leave many afraid to challenge unsafe conditions.

CIPD recognises 30 HR leaders driving change across UK workplaces

The CIPD has unveiled its HR30 list for 2026, recognising senior people leaders whose work has delivered measurable impact across organisations and workforces.
- Advertisement -

Brits dream of being their own boss, but still cling to the monthly pay cheque, survey reveals

Britons say they like the idea of self-employment, but most still value the security and stability of traditional jobs.

AI Coaching Won’t Replace Managers. It Will Expose Coaching Debt.

As AI coaching expands, employers may gain a clearer view of where manager support is falling short.

Must read

Malcolm Burenstam Linder: EU regulations ensure that ethical AI is used in hiring

As concerns around generative AI in recruitment grow, the EU is introducing legislation for how companies implement machine-learning tools...

Sylvia Sage: What should HR teams learn from Lloyd’s of London’s sexual harassment accusations?

"HR must engage everyone at every level of the organisation."
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you