Blog: John Lewis Partnership results day gains added spice

The buzz of John Lewis Partnership’s results day is one of the most iconic days in the retail calendar and its usual vibrancy had added spice yesterday.

Outside the staff entrance to the retailer’s flagship Oxford Street store, Citizen UK protestors from the Living Wage Campaign bombarded those entering the store shouting “enjoy your bonus” while thrusting cake into their hands.

Campaigners, who included one dressed as the partnership’s founder John Spedan Lewis, called for the retailer’s cleaners - who are employed by contracted company ICM - to be paid a “living wage” which is defined as £8.55 in London and £7.45 outside of London.

It will be a thorny subject for the partnership which prides itself on putting its people first. The question is, should this be extended to outsourced staff suppliers too?

But perhaps the more pressing question is, with the “greedy fat cat” headlines referencing bankers’ bonuses still slapped like cheap wallpaper across the papers, is John Lewis really the right target?

Inside, the atmosphere was convivial and the idea this is a company which disregards the feelings of its staff feels trite as employees chatted about their holiday plans - which could include staying at one of the partnership’s many holiday resorts for free - in anticipation of a healthy bump in salary.

One department manager waiting halfway up the ground floor escalator, eagerly awaiting the bonus annoucement, joked “if it’s 18% I’ll slide down the bannister!” When a giant placard with ‘17%’ on it is drawn from an oversized envelope, the partner seemed secretly relieved not to have to achieve the athletic feat.

Significantly, there was no sign of senior management at the opening of the envelope - sure Charlie Mayfield, Andy Street and Mark Price wave to those assembled - but it’s not an ‘us’ and ‘them’ thing. It’s clear, this is a unilateral company.

A personal highlight of the day had to be quizzing Mark Price on how Waitrose has continued to pinch shoppers from its rivals. Whether it’s nabbing those after hummus from M&S or a tin of beans from Tesco, Price and his team have convinced shoppers Waitrose is the one for them. See my interview with him below.