BULLIED staff at Britain’s biggest mobile-phone operator have been forced to bark like dogs and do squats as punishment for poor performance, the Morning Star can reveal.

Tormented workers have lifted the lid on a “demeaning” workplace culture at EE after Zoom recordings, heard by the Star, between staff and senior managers were uncovered.

Staff at EE sites run by the Commture 365 franchise are heard being ordered to do squats if their shop has underperformed.

In one recording, an employee apologises to a senior manager about their store’s relative underperformance that month.

“You don’t need to be sorry, what you need to be doing is squatting, my love,” the senior manager tells her.

In a second recording, another EE worker is told to “just do a few squats” on the Zoom call in response to questions about how the previous day’s sales can be improved upon.

A number of female employees have expressed anger that they were expected to squat on camera in front of their managers and co-workers, arguing that it is a form of sexual harassment.

One female employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Star: “At the end of the day, we’re doing our jobs like we’re expected to do.

“We’re carrying on making profits for the company in incredibly difficult circumstances. So is this the respect we get in return?

“It’s completely dehumanising. There’s absolutely no need for managers to put us through this treatment. It’s sexist and it demeans our hard work.”

In other recordings, staff are told to make dog noises – in the style of the Baha Men song Who Let The Dogs Out – in a supposed attempt at motivation.

But many workers are practising Muslims and believe that managers want them to bark like dogs because they know the animal’s negative connotations in Islamic culture.

A Muslim employee, who also did not wish to be named, said: “I do the work that’s expected of me and I deserve being treated with respect in return.

“Nobody should have to go into work and expect to pretend to be a dog to satisfy their manager. 

“It’s pathetic from them and I think it would shock people if they found out how little EE think of their staff.”

Workers have privately told trade-union representatives that the bullying has led some to become clinically depressed.

But many say they are afraid to speak out lest they be intimidated into quitting their jobs.

CWU Midlands branch secretary Ali Moosa told the Star: “I was totally shocked to hear of this — what an utterly disgraceful way to treat people.

“I have been a senior union official for over 20 years and have never come across such a draconian and humiliating management style. 

“The CWU is now helping staff to bring the managers who have subjected staff to this bullying and embarrassing behaviour to account.

“We will not accept staff being treated in any way which isn’t respectful and professional.

“Workers at EE have acknowledged that without the involvement and support offered by the union, they would have been subjected to this behaviour without any recourse.

“It shows that being a union member is still as important in this day and age as any other time.”

EE said: “Earlier this year the franchisee thoroughly investigated the claims and dealt with them seriously.

“The unacceptable behaviour was isolated to one employee, who we understand has been retrained to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

It said that the incidents do not reflect its workplace culture and that a confidential helpline is in place to help employees raise concerns.