UK DIY News
13 new staff lose jobs in confusion over Telford Screwfix store lease
National DIY chain Screwfix took on 13 new members of staff to work at a new store in Telford – only for bosses to sack them on their first day when the lease fell through on a new unit in the town, it was revealed today.
The group were just two hours into training for their new positions when bosses told them they were heading back to the dole queue following complications with the new site at Stafford Park.
One worker said he had turned down two other job offers and was now unemployed after leaving a job.
Screwfix chiefs said it was due to ‘unavoidable circumstances beyond our control’.
A spokesman said talks were ongoing and it was hoped the firm would be able to offer positions at one of several new UK branches due to open later this year.
The unnamed worker said staff were shocked and left in tears after the news was broken to them at training on Monday at the firm’s store on Battlefield Enterprise Park in Shrewsbury.
The new staff had answered a job advert in December and underwent training and interview days in a bid to secure a post.
He said: “We were employed by them for two hours in the Shrewsbury store and then they said they didn’t have the lease for the premises in Telford.
“People were shocked. There were two people there already working for Screwfix and one was an assistant manager and was going to be made the new manager.
“She was crying because you can’t be a store manager without a store.”
A Screwfix spokesman said bosses had located a site in Telford which the firm was hoping to open in May.
But he added: “Due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control, the branch will no longer be opening at the proposed location. We will however be continuing to look for an alternative site.
“We have met personally with all of the team involved and hope to be able to offer them a position at one of our new branches.”
Source : Shropshire Star
www.shropshirestar.com/news/2012/04/05/screwfix-new-telford-jobs-lost-in-lease-mix-up/
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