THE WETHERSPOONS boss faced backlash after he advised his 40,000 staff to seek work at supermarkets during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Owner of the major pub chain Tim Martin found himself under fire after his employees were told the company will only pay them for shifts worked up until March 22.

In a video sent to staff the millionaire suggested that if they wanted to stay at home and wait for the Government’s 80 per cent contingency pay to kick in they could, which could be until the end of April.

Mr Martin then suggested employees take on jobs at retailers such as Tesco.

He added: "If you are offered a job at a supermarket, many of you will want to do that.

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"If you think it’s a good idea, do it, I can completely understand."

A strike movement has now been formed by a group of Wetherspoon employees called Spoon Strike, demanding that the company gives them full pay.

In a statement issued on Monday they said: "Whilst other companies such as Costa have promised their staff eight weeks fully paid, Wetherspoons have left 40,000 people without their next pay day.

"With no means of paying for rent, bills or food, and no warning."

Strikers also said that employees will be deprived from bonuses they had already achieved.

Mr Martin was also slammed last week for initially refusing to shut the chain of 850 pubs.