Working conditions so poor...

Graham_Devon

That people are afraid of calling in sick and go to work ill.

76 ambulances were called to Sports Direct within 2 years. 36 of those calls were for life threatening illnesses.

Now, I don't want to make too much of this, as Sports Direct do have thousands of staff, so going to be a far higher chance of needing emergency assistance.

However, the reason some of the ambulances were called out I believe are key here.

We have the "power of capitalism" thread celebrating capitablism. But here we have one of the results.

One of the cases involved 52-year-old Guntars Zarins, who suffered a stroke in the warehouse canteen.

His daughter Liga Zarina-Shaw said Mr Zarins had gone to work with flu symptoms because he was too frightened to take time off.

it's worth pointing out that Sports Direct operates a strike system, whereby calling in sick (regardless of reason) means you'll face a strike on your record. Any worker who received 6 strikes in 6 months will have their job terminated.

The figures and concerns have been passed on to the Health and Safety Executive for investigation.

Surely in the UK we can do better than this? Or is this all simply fair game?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34178412

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Now, I don't want to make too much of this...

...but you've taken the story and concluded it's a result of capitalism.

michaels

I thought it was the agency not sports direct who had the sickness policy?

I have no info on whether this is an atypical number of ambulance calls for that many workers at that skill level - do you?

Graham_Devon

wotsthat wrote: »

...but you've taken the story and concluded it's a result of capitalism.

I actually said it's one of the results of capitalism.

Not the result as you have concluded.

Graham_Devon

michaels wrote: »

I have no info on whether this is an atypical number of ambulance calls for that many workers at that skill level - do you?

Nope, but it seems those in the know are concerned enough to report it to the executive for investigation.

And that it's enough to concern them is all we have to go on.

CLAPTON

it would seem to be an evil of employment rather than anything to do with capital

on the positive side quite a few seem to have a good life style without being employed

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I actually said it's one of the results of capitalism.

Not the result as you have concluded.

Ambulance call outs to the post code where SD has their HO is one of the results of capitalism? That's not going too far?

There's little in the way of analysis here. 6 call outs were road traffic accidents in the same post code, 3 were pregnancy related, 1 was a dog bite and it's not clear how many call outs were for staff or whether they were work related.

It's two cobbled together stories. Sports Direct are horrid and ambulances are called to their postcode. Therefore the first story is the cause of the second.

Graham_Devon

CLAPTON wrote: »

it would seem to be an evil of employment rather than anything to do with capital

on the positive side quite a few seem to have a good life style without being employed

Capitalism wouldn't be as successful as it is without exploitative working conditions.

It's just that usually these conditions are thousands of miles away in China, Thailand etc.

However, these conditions are now becoming more commonplace in the UK. SportsDirect, Amazon, Starbucks to name a few.

We've come a long way from the Cadbury world of capitalism which invested in workers to draw loyalty back to the company.

Graham_Devon

wotsthat wrote: »

There's little in the way of analysis here. 6 call outs were road traffic accidents in the same post code, 3 were pregnancy related, 1 was a dog bite and it's not clear how many call outs were for staff or whether they were work related.

At least one where the pregnany lady should not be in work, especially the type of work she was doing, but was allowed in anyway.

I thought it would be abundantly clear that myself, and the article are clearly stating the dog bite and road accidents are perfectly genuine cases (the article specifically highlights them to show not all cases were like those complained about). It goes without saying that I'm not highlighting these cases (or it should do, but then you're here) But thhere are clearly others that have concerned enough people for it to be investigated.

mwpt

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Capitalism wouldn't be as successful as it is without exploitative working conditions.

I'm always curious what people mean by the word "exploit". Most people are lazy and would rather not be doing the job they're doing. Yet, they turn up at work every day for most of their life. Are all of these people being exploited? If not, can you define the difference imperatively, rather than in fuzzy lefty terms please.

CLAPTON

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Capitalism wouldn't be as successful as it is without exploitative working conditions.

It's just that usually these conditions are thousands of miles away in China, Thailand etc.

However, these conditions are now becoming more commonplace in the UK. SportsDirect, Amazon, Starbucks to name a few.

We've come a long way from the Cadbury world of capitalism which invested in workers to draw loyalty back to the company.

it just so easy


all the trade unions, guardian readers, BBC and the middle class 'concerned' should just start their own businesses - obviously without exploitation (don't bother to come to work if it's inconvenient) and on super pay with fantastic pensions and spending lots of money 'investing' in workers.


this companies with destroy the 'capitalists companies : just can't think why it hasn't already happened.