STAFF at a major employer in the region have told how cuts to contracted hours and increased workloads have seen them stretched to breaking point and in fear of their jobs.

Sodexo, an international firm supplying catering, cleaning and retail contracts, employs hundreds of staff in Catterick Garrison, mainly in roles supporting the Army.

In September last year, The Northern Echo reported on fears expressed by some of the then 850-strong workforce who had been told about planned restructuring to make efficiencies within the business, which is involved in a competitive tender process to maintain its garrison contracts.

An employee who works in one of the Army kitchens said after a consultation with staff which finished at the end of February, many chose to take voluntary redundancy rather than see their contracted hours cut to an extent they could not afford to remain.

The employee, who asked not to be identified, said: “In my kitchen there used to be seven chefs and now there are just two, and the contacted hours have also been reduced.

“So there are less people to do the work, and less hours to do the work in – there is no room to manoeuvre so if anyone is sick, or on holiday, there is no one to fill the gaps.”

He said he wrote to management last year to warn that staff were being cut to dangerous levels but nothing was done.

“At the same time Sodexo was cutting hours, they also introduced a new menu system which involved a lot more preparation – it is madness.

“In our kitchen, the management have underestimated our workload by around 3,000 meals in a week.

“We are open from 6.30am to 6.30pm seven days a week, providing three meals a day. But what has not been taken into account is the daily extras including making hundreds of pack lunches and container hot meals for soldiers.

“We have just been told to get on with it.”

He revealed that staff were already taking time off work due to stress and depression.

“We are being stretched like elastic bands – at some point we are going to snap.”

Sodexo did not respond when asked how many staff were currently employed at the garrison.

A spokeswoman said: “We always welcome feedback and we urge customers to raise any issues in our customer feedback books. We also encourage our staff to raise any concerns they have about their roles with their manager so that they can be addressed.”