Burnley Football Club defends policy on zero hours staff this month

Mr Lee Graves contacted the Burnley Express to express his disgust with the decision which has directly affected his 18-year-old son Lewis.

He said: "Burnley Football Club informed my son that he will not be paid from June 1st going forward.

"Lewis, who has severe ADHD, works in the catering and hospitality department, not just on matchdays but also during the week.

"Since lockdown, Lewis has also been working on a voluntary basis up to three days a week at the Burnley FC In The Community foodbank. However, as we live in Earby, he can now longer afford to travel there.

"He has put in very long hours over the last few years working at the club and would be back helping at the foodbank tomorrow if he could afford to get there.

"Burnley Football Club have hundreds of staff on zero hours contracts and many of these staff would be paid via the furlough scheme but the club have decided to leave these staff in a desperate situation instead.

"I am sure most would agree this is a poor decision from Burnley Football Club."

The Turf Moor club was praised at the end of March when they announced they would continue to pay all staff from the club’s own coffers.

A spokesman for Burnley Football Club told the Burnley Express that the club is treating the current period of lockdown, before the football season resumes shortly, as effectively being the close season, and would not pay zero hours workers, usually working in matchday roles, as per usual club policy.

A spokesman said: "Burnley Football Club made a firm commitment to pay all staff during the closure period, including zero hours personnel and non-matchday staff, who were paid in full for the final four games of the season.

"This means they were paid in both April and May, despite being unable to work due to the Government lockdown regulations.

"As we move into what is effectively the off season, club policy has always been to not pay zero hours workers, with the majority of these employees designated to match day roles.

"The club feels it has honoured a pledge to ensure all payments are made to employees and we are proud of the way we have stood by those people who help keep the club operational in normal times.

"The club will be making no further comment on this matter."

The Premier League season resumes on June 17th, with Burnley playing their first match since the break, against Manchester City, on June 22nd.