Mike Ashley can’t be enjoying life at the moment. Newcastle United have lost their first two games in the Championship. To rub salt in the wounds, Sports Direct have reportedly been ordered to pay back pay to thousands of employees following Mr Ashley’s admittance that they had not been paying National Minimum Wage. Trade union Unite have stated that this runs to around £1 million.
The Guardian has also been continuing its campaign to bring the retailer to task for alleged breaches of employment legislation, suggesting that High Court proceedings have been commenced by 188 zero hours workers for failure to pay bonus payments.
None of this is going to support Mr Ashley’s assertion that he would take personal responsibility for improving the issues within 90 days of the BIS Select Committee hearing in June.
