Hundreds of Wren Kitchen workers have lost their jobs permanently due to the company’s response to the coronavirus crisis after being told they had not come up to standard following a performance review.
It is thought as many as 700 worker may have been let go by the company after being told they were “under-performing”.
The former workers say they are being made scapegoats by the company, which has admitted it wanted to reduce headcount in anticipation of needing fewer workers when stores reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak is under control.
All the Wren Kitchens chain is now shuttered until further notice and other staff have been sent home on “furlough” and will receive 80% of wages under the Government’s Job Retention Scheme.
It is understood five workers from each of the company’s showrooms was jettisoned following the performance review.
Wren is the 海角视频’s largest kitchen retailer and is owned by billionaire Malcolm Healey. The company cited a reduction in economic activity as the driving force behind the decision to lay off hundreds of staff at its showrooms and factories.
It sent them a “script” saying that after reviewing performance they were not being retained.
Staff, who were contacted by letter, text or phone call, said only workers who had been employed less than two years were given their cards, and that as many as 700 may have been let go nationally, with five from every showroom losing jobs.
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A Wren Kitchens spokesperson said: "In these unprecedented times, it is incumbent on all responsible employers to continually assess team numbers.
"Following the recent Government decision to close retail showrooms, a number of staff have had to be temporarily sent home and will be paid in accordance with the government’s furloughed employee scheme.
"Prior to that announcement, the company had already anticipated that there would be a reduction in economic activity due to the coronavirus and had identified team members who were under-performing and taken steps to reduce its headcount accordingly."
One worker, Louise Shapiro, said she was “devastated” at losing what she called her “dream job” at a company that was named as the 海角视频’s best employer in 2019.
Miss Shapiro, who worked a the Wren Kitchens outlet in Plymouth’s Gateway Retail Park, said no one had previously accused her of underperforming and there had been no issues with her work. She was stunned to receive a letter on Tuesday, March 24, saying she had been made redundant.
“I’m devastated,” she said. “I’ve done nothing but cry about it.”
She had been working for the firm as a kitchen designer since August 2018, training for three months before it opened its store at the new Gateway Retail Park.
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Miss Shapiro even bought a house with her partner on the strength of her salary, and now has to figure out how to pay the mortgage.
“This was supposed to be my forever job,” she said. “Not everyone does a job they love, I loved this job. It was fun and everyone in the Plymouth showroom was wonderful.”
Miss Shapiro was one of 18 designers among an overall team of 32 at the Marsh Mills unit. Three designers and two other workers have been axed.
Among them was Jacqueline Tucker, who said: “I started working for Wren in June of last year and this week I have been on annual leave.
“But on Tuesday afternoon I was called and told I was sacked due to poor performance. I have never had any meeting or conversation regarding poor performance.
“We have been treated with no regard or compassion during this difficult time.”