‘AT XMAS THEY SHOULD SHOW GOODWILL’
Staff attending Sainsbury’s party must work over or be unpaid
DOOMED Sainsbury’s staff preparing for their store’s last-ever Christmas party have been told to work over or take unpaid leave – because they only get 30 minutes paid lunch.
The Sentinel has received a copy of the flyer sent to staff advertising two Christmas parties at the Hanley branch of the supermarket.
The festivities are running from midday to 1pm, and 1.15pm to 2.15pm on December 1.
They come ahead of the Etruria Road store shutting for good in early 2022.
The flyer states: “The sittings are an hour long. Whatever time you use over your break you will need to either make up or have as unpaid. Please inform us of your decision.”
Axed colleagues and shoppers have hit out at the supermarket giant’s stance.
One former worker said: “This is a pretty shabby way to treat people who are about to lose their jobs.”
Shoppers have branded the decision ‘ridiculous’.
Businesswoman Lynn Shemirani, aged 63, of Tittensor, said: “It’s a bit harsh. It’s going back to Scrooge with that sort of behaviour.
“At Christmas time they should show a bit of goodwill, especially after working through the pandemic as frontline workers.”
Retired John Hannon, aged 72, said: “It’s ridiculous. The staff are pretty decent in here and they’ve been loyal to the company. I think the company ought to show them a bit of loyalty.”
Chloe Edwards, aged 27, of Bucknall, added: “It’s just not fair.
You’re a number, not a person.”
Sainsbury’s has declined to comment on the Christmas party.
Instead, it directed The Sentinel to the statement it released when the store closure was announced earlier this year.
The supermarket giant is shutting up to 15 stores over the next two years and opening 10 new branches.
A spokesman said: “We have updated colleagues on the difficult decision to close our Hanley store and petrol filling station early next year. We are doing everything we can to find alternative roles within Sainsbury’s for those affected.
“Customers can continue to shop with us at our nearby store in Stoke.”