Sports Direct 'gulag' uses emojis to rate staff morale

The Sports Direct warehouse once described as a “gulag” is asking staff to clock-in by pressing a touchpad featuring a happy or sad face emoji to indicate if they’re satisfied with conditions – Guardian reports.

Staffers at the scandal-ridden Shirebrook Warehouse in Derbyshire are being identified by their fingerprints and, if they’re unhappy, asked to explain their grievances to management.

The claims, laid out by trade union Unite, include allegations that if workers press the sad face emoji, they’re then asked if they’re sure about their decision. If they press it again, they can be asked to explain their dissatisfaction to managers.

Those who express discontent are identified by fingerprint recognition on the touchpad. Unite say that the system is “bogus” because staff are unlikely to be candid if there is the possibility that they could be singled out.