Sky faces criticism over job loss communication

MPs are demanding answers from Sky after claims some staff found out about potential job losses from watching Sky News before being told by bosses.

About 2,000 jobs are at risk at Sky customer service centres in Stockport, Sheffield and Leeds as part of what the company said was a plan to transform the business to "offer quicker, simpler and more digital customer service".

A letter has been sent to Sky, signed by seven different MPs, asking for clarity over how workers were notified about the move.

The company said it fully understood how sensitive the situation was and that its staff were its "absolute priority".

The letter, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, reads: "Staff members at Sky Stockport were called to a meeting between 13:00 and 13:30 on 27 March.

"During this meeting, the news regarding potential redundancies was covered by Sky News.

"As a result, employees on sick leave, holiday or on a rest day were informed via the media."

It went on to ask the company to "confirm that all necessary efforts were made to ensure that all staff were notified of this news by Sky before it was reported in the media, including Sky News".

The letter was sent by Stockport MP Navendu Mishra and was co-signed by Clive Betts MP for Sheffield South East, Olivia Blake, MP for Sheffield Hallam, Sarah Champion MP for Rotherham, Gill Furniss, MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, Abtisam Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central and Alex Sobel, MP for Leeds Central and Headingley.

The issue was raised in parliament this week by Stockport's MP and was described as "unacceptable" by the Leader of the House of Commons, MP Lucy Powell.

Sky is the owner of Sky News but it operates editorially independently.

The company said it began notifying colleagues on the morning of 27 March before a call for affected staff at 13:00 GMT.

Sky said the vast majority of its staff heard the news from the company first and said its focus had remained on supporting employees and providing "as much clarity and care as possible".

Sky workers in Stockport said the situation had left them "heartbroken" and worried about the future.

One staff member said: "Behind every role at risk is a person – someone with a family to support, a mortgage to pay or children to care for.

"The stress this is causing can't be overstated. People are struggling to sleep.

"They are worried about how they will afford their bills, how they'll find new childcare if they have to travel further and what their future looks like."

Sky News has been approached for comment.

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