News

Asos must come clean on the scale of job losses at its sites in Leavesden and Camden

Download as PDF

GMB LONDON IS CALLING ON ASOS TO COME CLEAN ON THE SCALE OF THE JOB LOSSES IN THE OFFING AT THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTRE IN LEAVESDEN HERTFORDSHIRE AND AT THE COMPANY'S OFFICE IN CAMDEN, LONDON

The right thing for ASOS to do is to speak directly with their workers about 800 job losses rather than spinning the news in the national media, says GMB London  

GMB London is calling on ASOS to come clean on the scale of the job losses in the offing at the Customer Care centre in Leavesden, Hertfordshire and HQ in Camden, London.  

This follows a report in The Sunday Times business section on Sunday 26th July which said that 500 jobs would go, as the location of call centre staff are “aligned” to the parts of the world where the company customers live.  

The Daily Mail on Friday 24th July also reported the 500 jobs losses figure. (See links)  

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/asos-boss-nick-beighton-hangs-up-on-call-centre-staff-fn9db83p2 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8556333/Up-500-jobs-risk-online-retailer-ASOS-announced-restructuring-business.html 

Last week GMB London put out a press release based on an email circulated to all Asos staff by Nick Beighton, Asos CEO The email reads ‘It should be stressed that this is not an impact of Covid-19. Our recent P3 numbers and our ability to repay furlough, have little or no bearing on this activity. ‘This is about driving long term efficiency, and what we are doing here, simply, is returning to our pre-pandemic plan of re-shaping our organisation to help us deliver on the ambition of being one of the few truly global leaders in retail’. See notes to editors below for copy of the GMB London press release.  

Steve Garelick, GMB London Regional officer, said:  

"ASOS must come clean on the scale of the job losses it is planning at the Leavesden and Camden sites.  

Earlier during the lockdown 300 jobs there were offshored to the Philippines.  

It looks to GMB London that the 500 figure came from the PR Agency who represents ASOS.  

The fact that both the Sunday Times and the Mail had the same figure and that the Times confirmed the offshoring points to the PR agency as the source.  

Sunday Times report has all the hallmarks of a company announcement via the Sunday business sections of the national press. This is the standard modus operandi of the big PR agencies.  

A further 500 jobs being offshored on top of 300 earlier this year is a very significant loss of jobs in Leavesden and Camden.  

ASOS is attempting to manage the fallout from this cutting of 800 jobs. The right thing for the company to do is to speak directly with their workers rather than spinning the news via PR agency and the national media. " 

End  

Contact:  

Tony Warr, GMB London Region Senior Officer 077 1063 1336 

GMB London Region Press Office 079 7001 9643 

Notes to editors:  

Copy of previous GMB London press release on this dated Friday 24th July 2020  

ASOS FURTHER REDUNDANCIES IN LEAVESDON HERTFORDSHIRE TO FOLLOW 300 EARLIER JOB LOSSES TO CUT COSTS  

More pain to follow on from the 300 Staff made redundant at Leavesden during the pandemic with jobs offshored to The Philippines denying the National economy of much-needed tax income and local economy of much-needed jobs says GMB London  

GMB members employed by ASOS at Leavesden have been told that consultation on further redundancies will begin for staff employed at the workplace. 

The numbers of jobs to go, following the 300 jobs lost earlier this year, has not been made clear. See below notes to editors for the GMB London press release on the 300 redundancies  

Members have shared with the union an email circulated to all Asos staff by Nick Beighton, Asos CEO The email reads ‘It should be stressed that this is not an impact of Covid-19. Our recent P3 numbers and our ability to repay furlough, have little or no bearing on this activity. ‘This is about driving long term efficiency, and what we are doing here, simply, is returning to our pre-pandemic plan of re-shaping our organisation to help us deliver on the ambition of being one of the few truly global leaders in retail’. 

Steve Garelick, GMB London Region Organiser said: 

“If Nick Beighton were to be as transparent and open as possible as he says in his email to staff, he would just say that it is cheaper to move these operations abroad and keep the stockholders happy and wealthy. 

Asos employees working at the Leavesden customer care centre are told that many will receive their redundancy notice. This is a kick in the teeth for those employees who have worked through the pandemic.  

So more pain is to follow on from the 300 Staff made redundant at Leavesden during the pandemic with jobs offshored to The Philippines denying the National economy of much-needed tax income and local economy of much-needed jobs says GMB London  

GMB London Region condemns the decision and behaviour of Asos CEO, Nick Beighton. GMB London will do all that the union can to ensure that jobs at Asos are protected during the consultation procedures which we hope will be genuine.  

 GMB London Region is calling on Nick Beighton to do the right thing and put people before profits by keeping these jobs in the UK. 

  

GMB London Region press release 29th April 2020 

https://www.gmblondon.org.uk/news/gmb-union-calls-for-half-to-outsourcing-sackings-done-under-cover-of-national-crisis.html