Staff at Ford company owed five weeks' wages

Between 80 and 100 employees of satellite television insurance business Something Group, in Ford Lane, were asked to work for no money for two weeks, to help the company get back on its feet, in late July, but have been paid only sporadically since.

Workers say they have been put in an impossible position, working for nothing, but unable to leave, as by doing so they will in effect be making themselves unemployed, and would not be entitled to government help.

Stevie-Jane Johnson, said she was owed almost five weeks' pay.

"I am finding it hard to survive at the moment. I live with a friend, and she is helping with my rent, even paying for my dog to eat, but there is only so much she can do. There are people a lot worse off than me, I know of people who have lost their homes and are sleeping in their vans, people with families they can't afford to support.

"We keep being told that we will get a cheque next week, but next week never comes."

Another worker, who asked not to be named for fear of losing her job, said it was a Catch 22 situation.

"If we walk out, we will get absolutely nothing, and we are just turning our backs on all the money they owe us.

"If we stay, we are working for nothing. They are playing with our lives. Try telling a child why there is no money."

She added that many staff members were suffering with depression and stress due to the situation.

"We are all so worried about what will happen. I sit every night worrying about it. I feel sick driving into work. Morale is so, so low and the atmosphere is terrible.

"I have never been in debt in my life, never borrowed money, and now I am over my overdraft, in debt to my family and missing mortgage payments."

Another, who also asked to remain anonymous, said she was at breaking point with the effect it was having on her family.

"I can't take much more of it. I have been told they hope to get a cheque to us by Thursday or Friday, then it will take five days to clear, but they don't know for definite.

"I'm now owed four cheques, but five weeks money in total. I really can't take much more of this. I'm on the edge."

Caroline Barnes, human resources manager at Something, said that all staff had recieved a written up-date as to the situation with their pay.

When asked about the difficult time workers had been going through, she said she was not prepared to discuss it.

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