B&Q Not Only Rope But Humiliation Too

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alexandraa
Posted by alexandraa on Sun 4 Feb 07, 9:21 AM

Just searching on Google this morning for the opening times of my local B&Q. Don't get excited I just need some wall fixings for some candle wall thingies I've bought. Found the opening times no problem but noticed on the list a link to a BBC news story….. so followed it.

Oh my flipping christ they must have David Brent working there as a manager is all I can say…… for your amusement here is the story -

B&Q 'dance routines' Criticised

Unions have criticised retailer B&Q for asking job candidates if they wanted to dance before being interviewed. Applicants for jobs as van drivers at B&Q's Norwich store were asked if they wanted to dance and pull funny faces. Several jobseekers danced to the Jackson Five tune Blame It On The Boogie and were photographed by bosses. B&Q said the dance was meant as a "light-hearted" exercise before the interviews began and said nobody had been forced to participate. But unions said the practice was "bizarre" and called on the home improvement retailer to stop it immediately.

'Nonsense'

One of those involved said he had found the experience "humiliating and embarrassing".

"We had to copy this bloke, one of the managers," Rodney Southern told the BBC. "At no point was I told if you don't want to do it you don't have to do it. We were told we had to do it."

One union official called on B&Q to "stop this nonsense", saying it was demeaning for all involved.

"This is utterly bizarre," said the GMB's Ed Blissett. "It seems to reduce jobs our members do to some kind of joke."

'Relaxation'

B&Q said the practice was not part of its formal recruitment policy but added that store managers had been encouraged to ensure candidates were "relaxed" before being interviewed.

"We made it clear to all of the candidates that they did not have to take part if they did not feel comfortable and that it would not influence the recruitment process at all," it said in a statement.

"The vast majority of interviewees said that it was a relaxed way to get the interview session under way."


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