‘If you think it’s a good idea, do it!’ Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin tells his 40,000 staff to go to work at Tesco after pub chain is forced to close amid coronavirus pandemic
- Wetherspoon staff say the company will not be paying them until end of April
- In a video message, boss Tim Martin encouraged staff to work at supermarkets
- He admitted that there would be delays in getting payments of salaries to staff
- Wetherspoon will be relying on a government grant to pay its 40,000 workers
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has told his 40,000 staff to work at Tesco during the coronavirus lockdown, after furious workers revealed they wouldn’t be getting their salaries until the end of April
The popular pub chain was forced to close after Boris Johnson ordered people to stay at home in the battle against the killer pandemic and shut all non-essential businesses.
In a video message to staff, Martin revealed that Wetherspoon would be relying on a government grant to pay workers.
However, this money is not expected to be available until the end of April, leaving staff facing serious financial difficulties in paying rent, bills and buying groceries.
Furious workers have sent a letter to bosses demanding full pay, while also revealing that their bonuses have been stripped.
But Martin’s advice is for them to work at supermarkets during the pandemic.
In his message, Martin says: ‘I’m very sorry about the situation that has occurred with our pubs. They’ve been shut as you know.
‘Unprecedented in the last 40 years and it puts everyone in a terribly difficult position.
‘And I know you’re all sitting there wondering what the hell is happening and over the weekend I had lots of phonecalls with different people and we’re trying to sort it out as best we can in this highly unusual situation.
‘I know that all our trade now has gone to supermarkets. Not only our trade, but the trade from cafés, leisure centres, restaurants etc.
‘So we have had lots of calls from supermarkets, Tesco alone want 20,000 people to join them. That’s half the amount of people who work in our pubs.
He then tells staff that it is up to them if they want to wait for government payments or if they want to go work at a supermarket.
‘If I’m honest, I could say you can get the furlough payments and stay at home,’ he added.
In a video message to staff, Martin revealed that Wetherspoon would be relying on a government grant to pay workers
Tim Martin has urged Wetherspoon workers to get a job at Tesco amid the coronavirus pandemic
‘If you’re offered a job at a supermarket, many of you will want to do that. If you think it’s a good idea, do it.
‘I can completely understand it. If you’ve worked for us before I promise we will give you first preference if you want to come back.
‘I completely understand if you don’t want to wait around for us to reopen but deeply appreciate your work.
‘I’ve so much enjoyed talking to you in my pub crawls over the weeks and best of luck.’