Disgruntled ‘former employees’ leave scathing TripAdvisor-style reviews of their time at Mike Ashley’s much-criticised retail giant
Hundreds of people claiming to have worked for the company have slammed its zero-hour contracts and for 'caring more about profit than customers'
Disgruntled employees who claimed to have worked at Sports Direct have taken to the net to leave scathing TripAdvisor-style reviews of their time at the much-criticised retail giant.
The firm and its super-rich owner Mike Ashley have been criticised in recent weeks by politicians for poor working practices and terrible pay for its thousands of employees – many of whom are on zero-hour contracts.
And hundreds have slammed the firm on employer ratings site Indeed – with the company receiving an overall score of 2.9 out of 5 – and 2.4 for pay and benefits.
A recent review from an employee in Bradford read: “My time at Sports Direct was temporary, due to the fact that the management were unprofessional and unfriendly, not making new staff to feel welcome.
“The company cares little about customer service and more about company profit. I did enjoy picking up new skills, such as dealing with customers, earning commission.”
A former member of staff complained about the disruptive zero hours contracts, saying: “This is the worst company to work for. I worked here for just over a month before handing my notice in. You got paid minimum wage, kept getting 3 hour shifts when it took me an hour to get there.
“Told management, but kept getting them, they don't care about you and they treat you like dirt. Kept shouting at you in front of customers if you didn't sell a bag etc. Training was shocking they expected you to just get on with it when you hadn't been taught a thing.
“No matter how much you'd ask for more hours, you kept getting 1 shift a week, the most shifts I had in a week was 3. I was due in for a 6 hours shift once, 3 hours in they told me and 5 others to go home because they couldn't afford to pay us, because the store didn't take in enough money.”
RELATED STORIES
Another worker from Oxford added: “Sports Direct as a company does not really appreciate how much effort most of the staff members are making in order to keep the business running. I have managed to learn a lot during my time with the company. Thanks to the management team I had really good time working there.
“Other than that I did not really like it. The working hours are ridiculous - meaning you have time for nothing. There is almost 0 percent chance for personal development and growth within the company. In some areas such as Oxford or London staff are massively underpaid (Cost of living in those areas is much higher than others.)”
Another from Luton added: “What I can say really its Sports Direct, you either serve on tills or you're selling shoes. I was selling the shoes, pay was £4.25 so at that time it was the minimum wage. paid monthly, the work life was horrible, ungrateful customers and unhelpful staff members. However, there was a 15% discount which could only be used on Thursdays.
“Zero hours contract means it will be rubbish which it was randomly calling me to come and work just a 4 hour shift without a break. Closing the store is the worst, sweeping the floor and pretty much cleaning up people's rubbish. Overall the job is rubbish the company is rubbish the pay is rubbish and the staff members weren't helpful at all.”
Sports Direct have been contacted for comment.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368