The chairman of Britain’s largest sawmill company has insisted staff are not being told how they should vote in the independence referendum.
Martin Gale, of BSW Timber Ltd, spoke out following criticism about a leaflet circulated to workers in advance of the September 18 ballot.
The document identified potential issues that could result around currency and European Union membership in the event of separation.
Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, claimed the firm was using “psychological pressure” to persuade staff to vote No.
BSW employs 225 people in Fort William and 71 at Boat of Garten.
Mr Gale said the firm was a successful cross-border employer with a strong customer base and supply chain across Scotland, England and Wales.
“Our directors are exercising their duty of care in analysing the potential impacts on the business which could result from a ‘yes’ vote, and sharing this information with all our employees across the UK,” he said.
“As a company, we have very real experience of running duplicate business systems within the EU through our sawmill in Latvia.
“Although our Latvian operation is much smaller than our Scottish operation, it has resulted in significant additional cost burdens as well as challenges posed by the volatile and uncompetitive structure of sterling/euro currency exchange.”
Mr Gale said the board believed it was important for staff to be aware of these factors so they have a more informed picture of the debate.
“There is no intention of interfering with the democratic rights of staff to exercise their vote freely, a fact I make very clear in my communication to all of our employees,” he added.