// Arcadia Group to end fixed-term employment contracts early due to coronavirus pandemic
// UK businesses have been affected in recent weeks
// The contract termination covers teams across Sir Philip Green’s fashion retail company
Arcadia Group has reportedly written to employees informing them it will be ending fixed-term employment contracts early as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sir Philip Green’s retail company, which owns the likes of Topshop, Topman, Burton, Wallis, Evans and Dorothy Perkins, said in a letter that UK businesses were affected by the outbreak and that the retail industry in particular has been “significantly impacted by high levels of consumer uncertainty,” Drapers reported.
Consequently, Arcadia said itmade the decision to end fixed-term contracts early and would issue staff with the contractually required four weeks’ notice.
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The contract termination covers teams across the fashion retail giant, including those in marketing, creative, store planning and visual merchandising.
Staff were notified of the changes before March 20, that day Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced government business grants and a job retention scheme that includes covering 80 per cent of wages of employees unable to work as a result of the pandemic.
Last week, an Arcadia spokesman said store staff ”have not been made redundant”, but that Arcadia would continue to “review the situation”.
Arcadia also informed staff that it made the “difficult decision” to close its 500-plus stores across the UK and Ireland on March 20 and its store staff would be paid their normal pay for March plus any outstanding overtime payments.
“The health and wellbeing of our employees, customers and communities remains our highest priority and we continue to closely follow the government guidelines,” Arcadia stated.
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