Sports Direct hails casual workers as ’integral’ after newspaper criticisms

Under-fire retailer Sports Direct sought to defend its treatment of workers amid claims it puts staff at its warehouse through “rigorous” searches and pays less than the minimum wage.

The group, which is controlled by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, faces allegations in The Guardian newspaper claiming it forces compulsory unpaid searches taking around 15 minutes on staff as they leave, while also docking wages for clocking in just one minute late.