Sports Direct’s pledge to have a worker representative attend board meetings has been criticised as inadequate by business leaders and unions. The company, which has experienced a number of scandals relating to its treatment and payment of workers, announced the move on Tuesday. However, the Unite union dismissed the decision as merely a “PR exercise,” whilst an open letter to the Guardian from the Institute of Directors (IoD) claimed that fundamental changes were required to rectify the company’s corporate governance problems. It is important to "rein in" the influence of the firm's founder, Mike Ashley, the letter added.
Sports Direct’s pledge to have a worker representative attend board meetings has been criticised as inadequate by business leaders and unions. The company, which has experienced a number of scandals relating to its treatment and payment of workers, announced the move on 7 March. However, the Unite union dismissed the decision as merely a “PR exercise,” whilst an open letter to the Guardian from the Institute of Directors (IoD) claimed that fundamental changes were required to rectify the company’s corporate governance problems. It is important to "rein in" the influence of the firm's founder, Mike Ashley, the letter added.