“We are looking for volunteers who want to do the right thing and help society.”
HAHA!!! Good one Pret!
Below post I wrote on 31. March 2020 after being informed by a Pret staff about Pret wanting some staff to work in kitchens again DURING furlough under pretense of giving freebies to NHS and homeless people. In reality, apart from the typical PR stunt, Pret wants staff to be in place once the Government lifts the ban of closed businesses. And after first trying to cut hours/pay of all staff WHILE giving freebies in March, Pret now becomes “generous” to some staff.
UPDATE: 17. April 2020 on Instagram, Twitter and I’m sure on other social media channels. Critical voices about Pret opening 10 shops:
Link to critical post
Link to carleighsylvertiger’s post
Link to natalie_shilling’s post
Link to Jeck.Disney’s post
Link to Tweets
etc. etc. etc.
31. March 2020 post:
Pret is sneaking into the kitchen and being caught with the hand in the cookie jar!
Let me translate the bullshit that Pret is doing now while Boris Johnson is in quarantine (having shaken hands with corona-virus patients!)
UPFRONT:
Apart from the typical Pret A Manger PR, using NHS staff and now homeless people by wanting staff to work in Pret kitchens doing sandwiches for NHS & homeless people, Pret is VERY cheeky by wanting staff in place NOW during furlough, so when the government gives the green light for businesses to open again, Pret has already staff in place to get back to business FAST!
And after having tried to cut hours/pay by 25% DURING the first NHS freebies while the Covid-19 pandemic is in full swing, Pret NOW shows how “generous” they can be, selling this as “doing the right thing” while in reality putting their staff – who may be infected – in danger yet again! (My PLEA to NHS staff → LINK)
To Clive Schlee and Pano Christou,
how about YOU coming down from your arrogant, snobby, spoiled little hill, and do a “Buddy Day” for at least a week to fulfill the below “suggestions” from your Clare.
Part of the “Daily Pret” info from Pret HQ to staff on 30th March 2020:
My comments are in Italics below as a former Pret A Manger employee knowing this company’s bullshit inside out!
Page 1 of 4 – from Clare who earned her UK Managing Director position after being willing to be scrutinized by the press for Clive Schlee and then UK Managing Director, Pano Christou having ignored labelling warnings. ← Do click on these blue underlined links because they’re worth it!
Here she is, Clare, on behalf of dwarfs Clive and Pano, quote:
I hope you have all been keeping safe and well since I last wrote to you.
(since YOU last wrote?)
Since we closed our shops’ doors last Saturday,
(after being forced via Government orders)
I have been very proud of the work that teams all across Pret have done to continue to support those in need.
(while you use the NHS to cover up for not caring for your own workers’ needs…)
We made multiple donations of excess food and ingredients
(multiple self-idolizing and self-promotion)
to charities and over 2000 cases of smoothies and snacks to NHS staff working at over 25 different hospitals.
(yawn… the numbers… let’s talk numbers:
Pret turnover 2019 = £710 Million
Clive Schlee bonus 2018 = £30 Million
JAB Holdings / Reimann worth £28 Billion
Pret frontline staff £8.65 an hour
Any more numbers, Clive Schlee and Pano Christou?!)
In recent days, we have started to think about how we might become part of the growing efforts to help the NHS frontline staff further whilst our shops remain closed.
(In recent days – since being exposed by the Guardian via expret.org and my people the front-line Pret staff, we have started to think about how we might become part of the growing worry to keep our staff calm and away from the Unions and the press.)
We have been contacted by individuals as well as by NHS leaders and the project team for NHS Nightingale.
(aw! cute! Social Media is something else, isn’t it?)
Today, we have started work planning to open a small number of kitchens from the 6th April.
(have you now?)
These kitchens will start by producing a small range of products for delivery to NHS hospitals or staff quarters as well as enabling us to restart product donations to the homeless through our Pret Foundation charity partners.
(That’s a mouthful! [and this sounds like an addict to greed – listen up!]
Let’s take this apart:
“kitchens will start by producing” – in need labour
“delivery to NHS hospitals” – in need of business in the future
“restart product donations to the homeless through our Pret Foundation charity partners” – “restart” … in need of reputation
Once open,
(once open! There you go!)
we will be able to think about extending the number of kitchens and products
(we will be able to sneak more shops in while the Government has announced closures and Boris Johnson has tested positive for Covid-19 – positive = meaning he has the virus y’all … or did he just call sick!).
and start working with 3rd party delivery partners to get Pret food to more people who need it.
(Yeah right 😀 Good one!)
I am writing today to ask whether there are any members of our Pret family who would like to volunteer to return to a shop kitchen from the end of this week in order to support this effort.
( 😀 !!! I am writing to ask Clive Schlee and Pano Christou to do a “Buddy Day” to fulfill Clare’s request. Kindly. Please. Unless you are hiking the Austrian mountains in the snow!)
If you would like to volunteer, please email us at volunteers@pret.com by midday on Wednesday 1st April so we can get a sense of numbers.
(Yeah, I might email you on April Fool’s Day!)
Once we have identified volunteers, we will be in contact as soon as possible to confirm.
(You do that, but I have to inform you that your workforce … uhm … volunteers are busy signing up for the Unions)
It goes without saying that the safety of our people remains paramount and I want to let potential volunteers know that we will be implementing new standards in our shops to support social distancing. The first day back in a shop will involve training on these new safety standards.
(Oh Clare, please do try harder than this!)
Thank you in advance to those of you that will volunteer. I hope that by exploring this initiative we can play our part in continuing to support society, something we have always taken pride in.
(Yeah! 😀 )
With love,
(Big word, Pret, big word!)
Clare
(with sh!t in their pants)
To Clive Schlee and Pano Christou,
how about YOU coming down from your arrogant, snobby, spoiled home, and do a “Buddy Day” for a week to fulfill the above appeal?
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The above slideshow is just a selection, the list goes on in → Pret Staff Complaints.
And extensive accounts of Pret’s systemic bullying behind the facade, also witnessed by customers: Caught in the Act at Pret.
I worked at Pret A Manger and survived systemic workplace bullying during bereavement that involved HR, the top leadership, HQ and even the now “retired” former CEO Clive Schlee. I declined 4 settlement offers if I am silent about my ordeal. But I rather starve and speak out to help others. For an overview of important blog entries of my experience with Pret, please visit “My Ordeal with Pret A Manger”. The little arrow to the right next to each heading will lead directly to the post.
An incomplete list on what other Pret staff say about Pret’s bullying environment: Caught in the Act Bullying at Pret.
I tell my story for the first time verbally in below audio player interview on a podcast by The Adam Paradox, and wrote two articles in the Scottish Left Review.
Thank you for reading/listening.
Interview:
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Bullied during bereavement in Pret A Manger 