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Staff at fast fashion brand Boohoo have called themselves “slaves” over their treatment and the conditions they work in. An investigation by The Times reportedly found that workers were forced to walk the equivalent of a half-marathon per shift in temperatures of up to 32C in a windowless warehouse. An undercover reporter spent a month as a picker at the brand’s distribution warehouse in Burnley where staff have complained of racism, sexual harassment, inadequate training, exhausting targets, and improper equipment.

In 2020 Boohoo was forced to announce a commitment to “improve and strengthen” following the scandal over the illegal low wages of suppliers in Leicester.

Most recently the retailer, which brings in sales of nearly £2billion a year, became the first UK brand to gain a Pride 365 certificate, meaning the company is committed to building a “truly inclusive workforce and striving to be better every single day”.

But the investigation allegedly found work is “grinding, physially demanding and monotonous” and a “far cry” from the glamourous models and celebrities associated with the brand.

Workers are said to be expected to meet a target of 130 items an hour, equating to more than two a minute to fulfil the 200,000 parcels the company ships on a daily basis.

The report claimed: “Employees at the warehouse are paid £11 an hour for shifts of up to 12 hours during which they pick items ordered by customers from miles and miles of shelving across several floors.

“They are constantly monitored via scanning devices worn on the arm which instruct workers where to go for the next item.

The GMB trade union is campaigning for a maximum temperature of 25C in the workplace, but the upper floors of the Boohoo warehouse are “notoriously hot, with no outside ventilation or air conditioning”.

One manager described it as a “sweat box”. 

The undercover reporter said he was warned by managers saying, “you’ve got two people who sit over in the other podium in the other chamber whose only job is to make sure you lot are doing your job,” and advised he was free to take one or two toilet breaks during a 12-hour-shift.

The report said ambulances have been called out to the warehouse “once a month on average over the past five years” with workers falling unconscious, fainting or suffering from fits, and complaining of chest paints.

The report also claimed some have suffered injuries from “heavy lifting”.

“This place just beats you down. Realistically we’re doing average or above average and you just get told, ‘No it’s rubbish, it’s not good enough’,” one worker told The Times.

A boohoo group spokesperson said the company is “taking every claim seriously, but does not believe the picture painted is reflective of the working environment at our Burnley warehouse.

It added that “making sure people are safe and comfortable in their workplace is our highest priority”.

It added: “That is why more and more of our colleagues are choosing to stay here for longer, with our turnover rate continuing to fall year on year. We offer generous rates of pay, well over and above the National Living Wage, with additional benefits including subsidised private healthcare. Through our employee engagement programme our colleagues tell us that they are happy with their working environment, feel valued and feel listened to.

“We have been operating our Burnley warehouse for 12 years and are extremely proud of the work that we do there, the amazing team we have on-site and the important part our business plays in giving back to the local community.”

The spokesman said Boohoo “strongly refutes” claims workers are forced to walk the equivalent of a half-marathon and said it includes “heat preparation” in the summer months to take “proactive steps” to keep staff comfortable. 

Speaking on reports on racism it added: “We have not had any formal complaints of racism but have, on seeing the video published by The Times, immediately opened an urgent investigation. We have a zero-tolerance approach towards racism and view allegations of racism with the utmost seriousness.”

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