Department stores and grocery business John Lewis Partnership is investing in staff pay “above and beyond the requirements of the national minimum wage” and well above inflation.
The partnership, which owns the John Lewis department stores and Waitrose food businesses, will pump an additional £108m into employees’ pay packets from April 1.
The increase will mean that hourly shopfloor pay goes up 6.9%, ahead of the official UK inflation rate of 3.4%. It amounts to an extra £1,600 a year for full-time frontline staff – called ‘partners’ at the mutually owned business – and comes on top of a £300m investment in pay over the past three years.
The minimum hourly rates for shopfloor staff will rise to £13.25 outside the M25 and £14.80 inside. Employees with specialist roles or who enhance their skills will be entitled to £14.31 per hour, rising to £15.98 within the M25.
The partnership said that 90% of the increase is “voluntary” and driven by the “desire to invest in partners, representing spend above and beyond the requirements of the national minimum wage”.
John Lewis Partnership chief people officer Helen Webb said: “Our partners are the heartbeat of our business. This £108m investment is about putting more money into their pockets month in, month out.
“This pay growth demonstrates a sustained commitment to partner pay, consistent with previous years. This ensures that the rewards for our partners’ hard work are built into their monthly pay as we continue to invest in the future of the partnership.”
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