NIGHTCLUB staff who were made redundant just three days into the New Year claim they are yet to receive their final wages, despite being told to expect it last week.
Former staff working at the InsideOut nightclub in Darlington slammed the club’s owners as “shameful and unprofessional” after they were “sacked” via a Facebook group message.
The once-popular venue on Beaumont Street last week confirmed its closure after operating in Darlington for more than 12 years.
The nightclub, which is owned by North Shields-based Ladhar Leisure Group, said it had taken the decision to terminate its staff’s employment and shut the venue down after management carried out a "careful review".
But last night, former InsideOut employees told The Northern Echo that their final wages remained unpaid, despite a written promise they would be paid by Friday.
A former employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “We were all told on January 2 that we would be closed this weekend, then on January 3 we were told via a Facebook message that we had been given the boot.”
Group messages seen by The Northern Echo confirm a message terminating its employees contracts had been sent via Facebook, which confirmed final outstanding wages would be paid by January 10.
However, the employee said recently sacked staff were yet to be paid a week’s wage, with some owed up to £300.
The employee said: “Some people can’t get Universal Credit until they have been paid and have a payslip showing they no longer work there.
"It just screams contemptuous of their staff – we have been trodden on. We took pride in our work.
"They even said if we do reopen, then get in touch – but shouldn’t you be getting in touch with us. You’ve booted us.
“I wouldn’t go back because of the way we have been treated – I understand it needed to close because it’s no longer profitable but the way we were told over Facebook – it’s just been disgraceful.
Another employee, who had worked at the club over the past several years, told of how staff thought the club's closure was to allow for a potential refresh in days leading up to the fateful announcement.
The employee said: "We were told to take the Thursday off work as they wanted to do things to the club.
"I genuinely thought it's been new year, maybe they want to restock and give it a lick of paint.
"But this wasn't the case, and we received a message from a guy in our staff group chat saying they were shutting the club down and all our contracts were terminated.
"I'm struggling to receive my pay – part of me is glad it's happened as I want to work for someone who respects their staff enough to talk and communicate with them."
In response to the employees' claims, a spokesperson for InsideOut said it could not discuss specific cases with The Northern Echo, but asked concerned employees to contact the nightclub again or the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) with their concerns.
After The Northern Echo contacted the club on Monday, some former staff today reported they had now received their wages but claimed some outstanding pay was incorrect.
A spokesperson for Darlington Borough Council previously confirmed the venue had a valid licence to sell alcohol in place at the time of its closure and confirmed it had not been stripped of its licence.
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