WELLINGTON’S largest employer, Relyon Ltd, is putting shopfloor workers on short time working from next week in response to a fluctuating order book.

Employees will lose the equivalent of one day’s work, although the lost hours will be spread throughout the week.

The company, which has been making mattresses since 1858, has about 300 staff at its Station Mills factory but those working in ‘salaried’ office jobs are not thought to be affected.

Two lorry drivers are believed also to have been made redundant in the latest round of cutbacks.

The situation was said to have arisen because of doubts over a contract with leading British retailer M&S.

Relyon managing director Alan Chapman refused to talk to the Wellington Weekly when approached on Thursday (July 4).

The company was bought out of administration in 2020 by Michco 2001 Ltd, formed by ex-Relyon Group chief executive Ian Topping with a number of private investors.