HelloFresh under fire for staff dismissals amid ‘dire’ conditions claims

HelloFresh has been slammed for dismissing staff at its Nuneaton warehouse, “who had spoken out against the dire working conditions”, claims a trade union.

The online meal kit delivery company axed 79 staff last week amid a row over toilet breaks and dismissing workers without following “any sort of fair procedure”.

But HelloFresh vehemently denies these claims, “particularly those concerning break policies and termination procedures”.

The Berlin-headquartered business said that a number of team members refused to work during their shift earlier this year, which led to an investigation that found “multiple serious breaches of employment terms” resulting in dismissals.

Regarding break claims, HelloFresh said: ” 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.”

Around 1,000 staff are employed at the 237,000 sq ft site on St George’s Way, which became HelloFresh’s second UK production facility when it secured the lease in 2020.

Community Union says that whilst HelloFresh markets itself as “a consumer-friendly, forward-looking business”, it is “a company with an antiquated and draconian approach to its workforce” after preventing workers from taking toilet breaks.

In its advertising campaigns, the Union said the brand is all about ‘saving stress’ but “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”.

HelloFresh workers and Community Union will be holding the demonstration at Regents Park Hall in Small Heath, Birmingham from 10.30am on Friday (Oct 18), following the dismissals.

The full HelloFresh statement reads: “We refute the claims made by Community around our working conditions, particularly those concerning break policies and termination procedures. 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.”

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 market themselves as a consumer-friendly, forward-looking business, yet this is a company with an antiquated and draconian approach to its workforce – preventing workers from taking toilet breaks and dismissing them without following any sort of fair procedure in the process.

“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.

“Coming in the week that the Labour Government brings forward legislation to put the transformative New Deal for Working People into the statute book, the situation at HelloFresh demonstrates exactly why we need to empower working people and better protect them against the irresponsible behaviour of unscrupulous employers.”