Kwik Fit accused of ‘screwing over its workers’

Article alleges that there is a culture of dangerous conditions, bullying, denial of rest breaks and wage theft

Kwik Fit
Photo: Bigstock

A journalist who spent weeks talking to Kwik Fit employees about working conditions says he is shocked by what he discovered.

Writing for Tribune, industrial correspondent Taj Ali, says he found “abysmal conditions in depots, a culture of bullying, and workers routinely being denied unpaid breaks despite having pay deducted from their salaries.”

Ali points to employee reviews as evidence of “a toxic work culture, widespread bullying and poor pay and conditions”, allegations backed by current Kwik Fit workers.

Callum, who started working at Kwik Fit five years ago, said: “The roof was often leaking so badly that, by midday, I would be almost completely soaked.“

He goes on to recall a time when the roof was removed, saying: “We had dust, pieces of brickwork and concrete falling on top of us. We had an excavator and a cherry picker in the middle of the workshop that we had to navigate around. It was terrible.”

Nick, who joined the company last year, is also critical of the working conditions, particularly during the winter, saying: “It gets really cold. There’s no heating or anything. It’s been quite chilly these past few weeks.

“I remember one time in November, I couldn’t feel my fingers. All the equipment was frozen. There are times when the compressor actually freezes. Everything in the building runs off that compressor and when it stops working, everything else just jams up. The tyre machine wasn’t working. You couldn’t get tyres off the ramps.”

Low pay is another issue, with Kwik Fit employees struggling to make ends meet amidst the cost of living crisis. Following a five percent pay rise, a Kwik Fit tyre fitter is paid around £20,000, but with inflation at 10 percent, this amounts to a pay cut. Nick says he is left with £80 before the next wage comes in.

The article alleges that the Kwik Fit exposes its employees to “dangerous conditions, bullying, denial of rest breaks [and] wage theft”, allegations the company denies.

A spokesperson for Kwik Fit told Tribune: “We are extremely proud of our centre employees and value them highly.

“Many progress to become managers and then on to more senior roles in the company. As they are the lifeblood of our business, we place great importance on ensuring that centre managers and their teams are fully supported.

“We gather staff feedback regularly and also have clear whistleblowing processes through which any kind of grievance can be instantly reported by employees, either under their own name or anonymously.

“All submissions are investigated and we take action where required. We urge any employee who has a concern they have not shared through these routes to do so in order for us to support them with any necessary action.”

Follow Taj Ali on Twitter

Source: Tribune

2 Comments

  1. They’ve always been a profit driven company but this goes beyond working, it’s like modern day slavery with young fitters caught between needing a job of any kind and being afraid to report issues because the KF whistle-blowing process isn’t fit for purpose.

    Reply
  2. I left kwikfit in may 2022 and had been there for 8 years. Was a centre manager and operations manager and all of the above is true. Conditions are poor and everyone is pushed to hit targets by pushing products i.e wheel alignment and all 4 wheels balanced to customers who don’t need it, I am all about doing the right thing and only do what is required not rip customers off. That’s how I built my reputation with my customers when I was a manager, customers would always recommend me for not overselling.. but the final straw for me was when they refused to carry over holidays from when we had lockdown and we were key workers, the government released a law that all key workers can carry over there holidays from COVID lockdown as we were all crucial to keep the country moving. But Kwikfit refused to carry over holidays and used Billy tactics so no one could get them carried over, just stealing money and time from the staff. For example I lost 3 weeks and most of the company employees were the same. Just goes to show kwikfit only look after themselves not the staffs wellbeing.. only use rules to suit themselves, people should boycott the company.

    Reply

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