By Harvey Muldoon

One of the UK’s biggest supermarket chains could be facing toxic workplace environments

A report directly from the Co-Op addressed claims of alienation amongst employees and senior staff feeling that they don’t have a comfortable space to raise concerns about the direction of the company.

This is backed by the executive level of the company claiming the culture around the top discourages any sort of outspoken opinions, leading to questionable business decisions resulting in wage cuts, employees being let go, and a staggering drop in profits.

Lawyers have spoken in support of senior staff, they claimed they did not recognise any sort of critical comments raised from the colleagues in question, and do not believe they represent the views of broader leadership and colleagues.

It begs the question if the Co-op is truly guilty of a form of greenwashing (deceptive publicity by an organisation with the aim of presenting an environmentally friendly image) as the report in its bulk acts a considerable amount of evidence for a negative workplace.

One manager said: “You learn to look at your shoes. Nobody can speak their mind in this business – anyone who does has their card marked.”

To learn that the very people at the helm are responsible for presumably embodying these values is not just disappointing, it’s a form of corporate gaslighting.

Employers have been advised to use anti-bullying measures in the event of extreme circumstances. This is in hopes to alleviate the pressure of these claims.

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) is a trade union that represents over 360,000 workers in retail, where negotiations for better health standards are in place.

Usdaw have been openly critical about some of the decisions made by the business.

A spokesperson said: “We would encourage any Co-op colleagues afraid to speak out to join Usdaw and we will speak on your behalf.”

Ultimately, the path forward for the Co-op is not one of issuing statements or conducting internal interviews, but rather one that requires a fundamental re-evaluation of transparency and building trust and safety within the company.

Until the Co-op can genuinely demonstrate that its internal values align with external promises, the complaints in relation to workplace environment will linger and negatively impact the brand. The future of the Co-op hinges on whether it can prove that its ethical principles are more than just marketing: they are the bedrock of its entire operation.

Could the Co-Op be guilty of greenwashing it’s senior employees?