The owner of a Gateshead car hire firm has told her furloughed employees to ‘watch Netflix, drink beer and buy less drugs'.
Ling Valentine, of LINGsCARS, wrote a letter to all seven staff members, in which she said she would pay their salaries while they are off due to the coronavirus lockdown.
In the two-page document, which was shared on social media, Ling offers some advice to her small team during the furlough, and even offered them loans if they struggle financially.
Ling, who runs the company from its Low Teams base, said her staff should "buy fewer pizzas and recreational drugs", reports The Mirror.
The letter reads: "This virus is a right t***, but your employment position is not as bad as it seems.
"So, I am proposing to place you on furlough with effect from 01/04/20.
"You will remain an employee during this period. This is a temporary measure and as soon as we can return you to normal working conditions we will do so.
"Stay at home, watch Netflix, drink beer and avoid excessive masturbation.
"Our contract of employment with you reserves the right to lay you off or impose short time working.
“But as I am not a b****** we are not doing that and frankly if anyone is worrying about contracts and terms, you've got your head screwed on cross-threaded.
"Also if anyone gets into hardship. TALK TO ME.
"I'm happy to consider loans or salary advances (or even gifts) to help you out of you get in dire-straits, but we should all cut back a bit. Buy fewer pizzas and recreational drugs!
"So stay chipper, talk to me privately if things get sticky (not sticky like THAT), and keep smiling.
"Don't catch the bloody virus. Change hands at 99."
Ms Valentine appeared on TV's Dragons Den in 2007 and turned down a £50,000 offer of help with her business venture.
