Argos driver saves firm £1.5m... and is given £10 as thanks
AN Argos employee proposed an idea that saved it £1.5million – and got a £10 gift voucher.
Driver Mark Heslehurst said the notion was one of several he emailed to the catalogue giant’s new owner Sainsbury after its boss sought costcutting suggestions from staff.
The single dad claims he was invited to present his ideas at Argos HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
“One that stuck was for our vans to use only Sainsbury’s petrol stations to refuel,” said Mark, 52.
“The chairman wrote to thank me for my ideas. Five months later a circular informed all staff of the new policy to fill up only at Sainsbury’s forecourts.” Mark says he wrote to a senior manager and was told the move had saved the firm about £1.5million.
He was later called into the office and given a £10 voucher as a token of thanks, he claims.
“That irked me a bit, as I’m a part-time driver on minimum wage and I know how much this saved them,” said Mark, of Middlesbrough. “I live in a one-bed flat and have slept on a camp bed for six years so my son can have his own room. I’d hoped for some career advance so that I could provide for him better. I’m disappointed. There is a discrepancy between £1.5million and £10.” Argos said they had already thought of the idea, adding: “We always appreciate colleague feedback but on this occasion we already had the suggested measures in place.”