Sports Direct bosses asked warehouse staff to press 'happy' or 'sad' emoji buttons to say how they felt about their working conditions - before using fingerprint recognition to ID unhappy workers, according to a trade union.

Unite said the survey at the leisurewear company's Shirebrook warehouse in Derbyshire - which was once dubbed a Soviet 'gulag' for its 'Victorian' working conditions - was 'bogus' because staff knew they might get in trouble for giving negative feedback.

Steve Turner, Unite's assistant general secretary, added that some problems uncovered in a damning government report in 2016 about the company, owned by billionaire business tycoon and Newcastle United boss, Mike Ashley, are still ongoing today.

Trade union Unite said the survey at the Shirebrook warehouse in Derbyshire - once dubbed a Soviet 'gulag' for its working conditions - was 'bogus'. Pictured: Mike Ashley at Shirebrook

Sports Direct bosses asked warehouse staff to press 'happy' or 'sad' emoji buttons (pictured) to say how they felt about their working conditions - before using fingerprint recognition to ID unhappy workers, according to a trade union

He told the Guardian: 'Would you risk having hours withheld, possibly losing your job and being called in by management because you indicated dissatisfaction with your work environment?'

But the leisurewear company said it had been working on ways to allow staff to provide feedback to bosses.

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'We believe these comments by Unite do not accurately reflect the position at Sports Direct.

Billionaire Mike Ashley's company was slammed for 'Victorian' working conditions in 2016

But the leisurewear company said it had been working on ways for staff to provide feedback

'We have a range of different measures in place to protect staff. These include a comprehensive system for staff to provide detailed feedback via an initiative called Your Company, Your Voice, plus a workers representative who attends meetings of the board.'

The spokesman added that the company has various groups and committees installed to listen to employees' grievances.

He also said: 'Whilst we are disappointed with Unite's stance we will continue to engage with the union, and we recently contacted Unite on this basis.'