“Usdaw urges Argos to withdraw their ‘fire and rehire’ threat to hundreds of back office staff who face losing thousands”, 25 May 2021

Retail trade union Usdaw is urging Argos to not use ‘fire and rehire’ tactics to force staff to sign up to a new contract that could result in the loss of thousands of pounds because of changes to pension contributions, holiday entitlements and travel allowances.

‘Fire and rehire’ is a controversial process where employers dismiss employees before re-engaging them immediately on less favourable terms and conditions, often affecting pay, benefits and working hours.

Dave Gill - Usdaw National Officer says: “Fire and re-hire tactics, to enforce contractual changes by sacking and then rehiring staff, is legally controversial and morally bankrupt … we’ve seen a growing number of businesses using the uncertainty of job security in the pandemic to manipulate workers into taking worse terms, simply because they are scared of losing their jobs.

“It is long overdue that the Government outlawed this practice…”