The John Lewis Partnership has faced complaints of “poverty wages” from workers after it suspended staff bonuses, Retail Gazette reports.
The company removed bonuses as part of measures seeking a radical turnaround.
Some John Lewis and Waitrose employees have claimed they receive less than the “real living wage” of £9.50 per hour, or £10.85 in London. Workers reportedly shared letters describing financial hardships and have launched an open petition via the Organise platform urging John Lewis to review its rates.
The campaign claims that one in five John Lewis workers do not receive the real living wage, it has attracted nearly 30,000 signatories.
The petition reads, “The John Lewis Partnership prides itself (and sells itself) on being employee-owned, which is supposed to make it a fairer, more ethical business.
“There’s nothing fair or ethical about paying your employees less than a living wage. The Partnership must change this and pay all Partners what we deserve.”
In response, John Lewis said the hourly rate for all non-management partners was £10.32 - above the “real living wage” - for the majority of UK staff.
On average, minimum rates of pay are 15 per cent higher than the official national minimum wage.
The John Lewis Partnership said it has made a commitment to raising its minimum pay to at least the real living wage when it makes an annual profit of more than £200 million.
The retailer is going through a turbulent time in the wake of the global pandemic as it closes stores and cuts costs.
In 2020 its prized staff bonus was scrapped for the first time since 1953, it will not be reinstated until 2022 at the earliest.
The retailer is scheduled to report its half-year results next week.
Source: Retail Gazette
The John Lewis Partnership has faced complaints of “poverty wages” from workers after it suspended staff bonuses, Retail Gazette reports.
The company removed bonuses as part of measures seeking a radical turnaround.
Some John Lewis and Waitrose employees have claimed they receive less than the “real living wage” of £9.50 per hour, or £10.85 in London. Workers reportedly shared letters describing financial hardships and have launched an open petition via the Organise platform urging John Lewis to review its rates.
The campaign claims that one in five John Lewis workers do not receive the real living wage, it has attracted nearly 30,000 signatories.
The petition reads, “The John Lewis Partnership prides itself (and sells itself) on being employee-owned, which is supposed to make it a fairer, more ethical business.
“There’s nothing fair or ethical about paying your employees less than a living wage. The Partnership must change this and pay all Partners what we deserve.”
In response, John Lewis said the hourly rate for all non-management partners was £10.32 - above the “real living wage” - for the majority of UK staff.
On average, minimum rates of pay are 15 per cent higher than the official national minimum wage.
The John Lewis Partnership said it has made a commitment to raising its minimum pay to at least the real living wage when it makes an annual profit of more than £200 million.
The retailer is going through a turbulent time in the wake of the global pandemic as it closes stores and cuts costs.
In 2020 its prized staff bonus was scrapped for the first time since 1953, it will not be reinstated until 2022 at the earliest.
The retailer is scheduled to report its half-year results next week.
Source: Retail Gazette