Asos warehouse staff under perpetual monitoring via CCTV

It seems as of constant CCTV monitoring and strict security searches may becoming rigour de jour in UK warehouses following the Sports Direct debacle which culminated in its founder Mike Ashley appearing before MPs on Tuesday.

A new report from the Independent suggests that thousands of warehouse workers at Asos, fashion e-tailer, are under constant supervision through the means of CCTV monitoring as well as the threat of random security searches. The report comes as MPs and unions highlight UK businesses use of both temporary and agency workers in order to thin down their rights' in numerous industries, including retail.

Asos warehouse workers forced to handle daily security searches and constant CCTV monitoring

Over 4,000 employees at Asos' distribution centre in Yorkshire are believed to have to deal with daily security searches as well as non-stop "big brother" monitoring during their work shifts through a CCTV test scheme. When a security alarm is triggered when staff are leaving the warehouse, the worker must remove his or her socks and shoes and allow further searches to take place. According to the report, one worker was even suspended for refusing to let a random security search take place before she finished her lunch on her break.

When FashionUnited reached out to Asos for commentary regarding the report, a spokesperson from Quiet Storm Consultants, the agency in charge of XPO Logistics, the firm which employs the staff at the warehouse near Barnsley responded. The spokesperson confirms that one worker was briefly suspended, on full pay pending an investigation to determine if security protocols has been breached. After the results of the preliminary investigation, the worker in question was taken off suspension on Monday, June 6 and returned to work on Tuesday.

GMB Union, the workers union who is representing the worker who was suspended, told the Independent that they have heard a list of complaints from other employees at the warehouse.The spokesperson from Quiet Storm Consultants told FashionUnited that the CCTV cameras were an addition to a network which has been in place at the warehouse since it opened, adding that at this stage it was simply a proposal open to discussion with employees.Workers at the warehouse who wish to comment on the CCTV monitoring system being tested in the warehouse can to do so via an internal, employee forum.

"We are fully engaged in an open discussion with our employee forum regarding our camera system, and have been since February," commented Ken Perritt, Supply Chain Account Director UK & Ireland, XPO Logistics. "Our employees understand that outstanding customer service is our top priority, and that the cameras will help us continuously improve our service and quickly solve any inefficiencies. This is completely standard in the industry. We continue to talk through these proposals with our teams on site before deciding on any final plans."

The employee forum consists of 27 workers, who have been elected by their colleagues, trained to ACAS Standards and are responsible for negotiating improvements for the warehouse workforce. Terry Green, chairperson of the employee forum, said that a "few concerns have been voiced about the enhanced camera system to the effect that 'big brother' is watching," but stressed that this is not the case at the warehouse. He said the CCTV cameras help workers address and tackle issues in regards to poor packing and quality control. "[The cameras] are important tools that help us better serve our customers. Our cameras are not directed at any one individual" said Green.

Photos: Asos warehouse in Barnsley