Victoria Beckham reverses decision to furlough employees after facing furious backlash online
Victoria Beckham has reversed her decision to furlough some of her staff members amid the coronavirus pandemic after facing severe backlash on social media.
MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) previously reported how the former 'Spice Girl,' 46, had decided to take advantage of British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak's scheme to help companies during the outbreak as they faced severe losses.
Despite being worth $444 million, Posh put 25 of her 120 workers on "enhanced furlough packages" which meant taxpayer money would have gone towards paying 80 percent of their salaries.
The backlash online was swift and seems to have forced the 46-year-old into changing her mind about the decision.
"Victoria is devastated about the backlash she’s faced," an insider told the Sun. "The original decision to furlough wasn’t actually hers — it was more a board thing, and she was persuaded that it was the right thing to do. Obviously she now realizes this is wrong."
"Victoria realizes she still has some way to go when it comes to endearing herself again with the great British public, but she is going to do her position and influence to start giving more back."
The fashion designer has had a relatively difficult past few months as far as her businesses are concerned. Last November, it was revealed that she had recorded losses amounting to over $15 million and had to make dramatic cuts.
Despite boasting of celebrity fans including Michelle Obama, Cara Delevingne, Jennifer Lopez, and Meghan Markle, she has incurred losses of around $44 million since forming the brand more than a decade ago.
The troubles brought about by the pandemic saw her flagship store in Hong Kong facing closure, as well as her chief marketing officer and senior executive quitting her business.
She had subsequently decided to forgo her own salary, but at the same time, opted for the government scheme that would pay a majority of her 25 workers' salaries.
"Like many, Victoria has reluctantly had to furlough staff members. It wasn't a decision she took lightly but, for the long-term stability and profitability of the company, it had to be done," a source had said at the time.
"She has been personally keeping all her team involved with emails the whole way through, and has put all of the staff involved on enhanced furlough packages," the source continued. "She has even forgone her own salary in order to lead from the front."
But the decision had not sat well with most, especially in light of the news that other stars like Ed Sheeran, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Simon Cowell had refused to furlough any of the staff working for them.
Ricky Gervais had 'liked' a comment that read, "The f****** Beckhams, sorry I'm done with them now. Shame on them."
Piers Morgan, on the other hand, said, "Lost money year after year. Been bailed out by her famously rich husband David Beckham. Sorry, this furlough scheme was not for prima donna millionaires like you."
As of May 2019, Victoria and her husband David Beckham's joint wealth is estimated close to $444 million. Her handbag collection alone is considered to be worth $1.8 million.