Bosses at delivery giant Yodel have been accused of playing Scrooge over how it will pay its staff during the wallet-draining festive period.

Full-time workers at the courier service, which has a depot in Carlisle, will not get paid their December wages until the New Year – leaving them with the bleak prospect of having to cut back on at least some of the trimmings at Christmas.

The GMB union is crying “bah humbug” at the firm where employees have been paid on December 2, but will have to wait until January 2, 2020, for they next wage packet.

Many companies break the monthly cycle to pay staff just before Christmas, or in some cases, between Christmas and New Year, to help ease the cashflow pressures during a period of spending and celebrating.

But Yodel is staying icily steadfast on its monthly pay days.

And the situation for full time staff it at odds with temporary workers, who may be able to enjoy one more drink due to the fact they are paid every two weeks – and therefore will see a welcome boost to their bank accounts between Christmas and New Year.

The GMB’s Steve Garelick, said the situation was snowball in the face for workers at a time when they are busy spreading festive cheer, delivering presents to thousands of people.

“GMB know some companies love to play the role of Scrooge over the festive period,” he said.

“In this case Yodel are putting pounds before people.

“Yodel may find that GMB members feel such behaviour is counter-productive, after all a happy workforce is a productive workforce. Perhaps Yodel management have missed this in their management manuals.”

There is no love lost between the GMB and Yodel – even during this most wonderful time of the year.

It has previously criticised its owners, the billionaire Barclay brothers, claiming they have asked for 0 per cent finance on redundancies and forced self-employed drivers to sign a new contract that keeps them at the company for 28 days, or face the threat of no further work and contract termination.

Meanwhile, Yodel – which employs 38 people at its Carlisle base – has chucked a sprout back across the table at the GMB, saying it had informed unions and staff of the fix monthly pay arrangements, which came into force in September, earlier in the year.

Its chief executive, Mike Hancox insisted the company was not being frosty towards its workers.

“Recognising that these changes may have had an impact on colleagues as they adjust to the new payment period, where necessary we have worked with them to help minimise any potential disruption,” he said.