Zarah ChoudharyHelloFresh has dismissed 79 employees at its Nuneaton Warehouse, in a move which the Community Union has alleged followed their speaking out against “dire working conditions.”
Members of the union working for HelloFresh will hold a demonstration at Regents Park Hall in Small Heath, Birmingham from 10.30am on Friday 18th October to protest the decision.
Community Union claimed that HelloFresh prevented staff from taking toilet breaks, and argued that the employees in question had been dismissed without due procedure.
Gavin Miller, regional secretary for the midlands at Community Union, said: “HelloFresh’s mass dismissal of workers who had spoken out against the dire working conditions on site is an outrage and a disgrace.”
HelloFresh denied the claims made by the union, both around break policies for staff and the dismissal procedure.
A spokesperson said: “After a number of team members refused to work during their shift earlier this year, we conducted a thorough investigation led by our people, legal, and leadership teams.
“This investigation, which included reviewing CCTV footage, interviewing witnesses on-site, and hearings directly with individuals involved, uncovered multiple serious breaches of employment terms, which resulted in the dismissal of some operatives.
“We promote and are committed to fostering a positive and supportive work environment for all employees.
“This includes offering multiple channels for feedback on work culture and practices.
“Our break policies are generous, all team members have allocated break times throughout their shifts, more than four times the legal requirement.
“Processes are in place to allow for toilet breaks whenever they are needed.”
Miller said: “The reputational damage these mass dismissals will cause to the company’s public image pales into insignificance against the damage to the livelihoods and wellbeing of the staff affected – many of whom are still understandably stunned at what has transpired.
“HelloFresh boast in their advertising campaigns that they are all about ‘saving stress’.
“That clearly doesn’t apply to the stress they are causing to the loyal workforce who now have no income and have not been listened to by their employer.
“We are clear that we will not allow our members on site to be treated this way, and we will be doing everything we can to support the workforce and protest against the company’s shameful course of action.”
