Swindon Wilko staff say uncertainty over jobs is 'horrific'

Employees at the stricken retailer's stores in the town centre and Greenbridge say they have been told that they have to keep coming in despite the uncertainty caused by the company's financial woes - and have been assured that they will still be paid for the work they complete. 

Both stores are currently holding administration sales offering at least 10 per cent off everything, and up to 50 per cent off items like Halloween and Christmas decorations. 

But there isn't an awful lot to buy in the sale as worried staff are mainly presiding over empty shelves, with pictures of both the Greenbridge and The Parade shops showing a dearth of stock in both.

The Greenbridge Wilko advertising an 'administration sale' (Image: Newsquest)

One member of the public who was at the Greenbridge Retail Park store reported seeing members of staff packing some things off the shelves while leaving others. 

And staff have further confirmed that no further deliveries of stock have been arriving to replenish anything that has been sold - which is what has led to the stores looking empty. 

They added they are in the dark about the situation and what the fate of the Swindon stores might be.

One employee told a member of the public that coming into work at the moment was 'horrific'. 

"We're going in every day and then going home not knowing if that will be our last day or if will be the next day or the day after," one said. 

The town centre Wilko also advertising a sale (Image: Dave Cox)

The homeware retailer was plunged into administration on August 10, sparking weeks of turmoil as administrators tried to find a potential buyer to take over. 

But the deadline for a rescue bid to be tabled passed on August 24, meaning that closures and job losses are almost certainly coming in the next few weeks with 400 stores and 12,500 jobs at risk. 

This would still be the case even with recent reports suggesting that both the owners of HMV and The Range were looking at making a bid for at least some parts of the ailing business. 

The union that represents roughly a quarter of Wilko workers, GMB, had previously said the majority of stores were to close in the next few weeks, but administrators PwC have said that for the time being all stores will remain open.