The Body Shop has admitted to breaking employment laws by abruptly firing hundreds of employees without notice or providing any redundancy packages, as reported exclusively by The Independent.
Last Tuesday, Feb. 27, administrators terminated approximately 270 head office staff members through Microsoft Teams, leaving them without pay beyond the day and no compensation.
This included employees dedicated over a decade to the company and women about to go on maternity leave. The situation worsened when, on Thursday, the company announced an additional 489 job losses and the closure of 75 stores.
In the same source, The Body Shop's administrators reached out to acknowledge their failure to follow standard consultation procedures due to the urgency of cost reduction.
This revelation from company employees has triggered discussions about the balance between corporate obligations and employee rights. Everyone affected by The Body Shop's mass firing is exploring legal avenues, including collective claims through Acas, to seek compensation.
Interestingly, this incident coincides with VCPost's report earlier in February, stating that the cosmetics company is closing UK stores due to "immediate" restructuring. Although the plan heavily pointed to the need for job reduction, it focused on making their offerings better for the company's future.
Critiques on The Body Shop's Breach of Contract
In response to The Body Shop's "brutal" layoff, many raised concerns about a company's ethical standards known for its commitment to social responsibility, prompting reflections on corporate values and the protection of employee welfare amidst financial pressures.
The Insolvency Service has intervened to ensure that statutory redundancy payments are made promptly to affected employees. Should The Body Shop refuse, legal action will be pursued by laid-off employees.
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