Is this only just news?
it will be over 2000 shops (approx 10,000 jobs) across Hills / LadbrokesCoral / Betfred / Paddies over the next two years. It was inevitable with the changes to machines. My shop (and job) were safe but I've left anyway because A) The industry is scum and no one should work for them, B) I found a much better job and C) The way that staff - some of whom have worked for these companies for 20+ years - are being treated currently is abysmal. I've seen colleagues who have been friends for 15 years at each others throats over job competition worries. I've seen staff members hard-selling online accounts to clearly vulnerable individuals because they think bumping up their numbers will make them more likely to be "safe". All for jobs with crap pay, crappier working conditions, and support from upper management that is so tokenistic / lip-service that it's an actual joke.
Also;
The restrictions on machines don't go anywhere near far enough. They ARE highly addictive, people ARE still blowing small fortunes on them even with the limits (which don't affect slots, the most addictive product,
that the industry is very aware is the most addictive product, and deliberately pushes on Over The Counter customers in hopes of getting them interested, for profit). Oh and the basic message when they stopped the high stakes casino games - a move designed to protect gambling addicts who were losing their money, relationships and sanity? "Get them online they can still do it there". Incentivised to spend that money gambling elsewhere. Either casino games online, or onto the dogs over the counter. Grim. Really ****ing grim. Getting out has been the best thing that's ever happened to me career wise, handing in my resignation was so satisfying, but I still don't even get to feel happy when I think about it, because thinking about the industry at all just boils my blood
.