Channel 4 show exposes shock behaviour of delivery staff

DELIVERY giant Yodel is to come under fire tonight when a TV documentary reveals staff at its Shaw depot hurling parcels as management turns a blind eye.

Undercover reporters from Channel 4’s “Dispatches” filmed employees carelessly throwing parcels around every day over 12 days. The documentary will expose how managers ignored workers dropping and throwing parcels - including fragile items.

The Sunday Times reported yesterday how the programme, “Where’s My Missing Mail”, to be aired at 8pm, will expose workers at the depot at Shaw’s National Distribution Centre on Linney Lane.

An undercover reporter is heard saying, “You’ve got to be careful throwing picture frames”, to which the Yodel employee replies, “It’s not mine, is it?”

The article also says smaller parcels are packed into cages but some workers threw them over the top, a 6ft drop, instead of opening the cage door.

They then, allegedly, stacked heavier items on top of them. One worker is heard saying: “Management aren’t bothered as long as they aren’t over-flowing everywhere. Place it instead of throwing it — but most of them are too lazy. They just throw it.”

Another issue to be highlighted in tonight’s documentary will focus on Yodel delivery drivers, who are paid per parcel and sometimes earn less than the minimum wage.

They apparently cut corners to make as many deliveries as possible by throwing parcels over fences and walls or leaving them in inappropriate places.

A Yodel spokesman said: "At the time of writing we haven't been provided with the undercover footage captured by Dispatches. However, the allegations brought to our attention indicate some unacceptable practices we are already addressing. If further issues come to light we will take appropriate action. We are very sorry for the occasions when we have let customers down.

"We handle over 155 million parcels every year and the vast majority of these are delivered successfully. Our customer satisfaction score has increased from a disappointing 35% two years ago to over 80% today, which is among the best in the industry."