John Lewis is awarding its staff an above inflation pay increase, following three years of bonus freezes. The retailer will invest £108 million to raise salaries for the majority of its 69,000 partners. From 1 April, shop floor staff at John Lewis and Waitrose will see a 6.9 per cent pay boost, increasing the minimum hourly rate to £13.25 across the UK and £14.80 within the M25.
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Staff with enhanced skills or specialist roles will receive £14.31 per hour nationally, rising to £15.98 in the M25. On average, this represents a £1,600 annual increase for shop floor employees. The rise exceeds the upcoming national minimum wage increase from £12.21 to £12.71 for workers aged 21 and above.
Helen Webb, chief people officer at John Lewis Partnership, stated: "This £108 million investment is about putting more money into their pockets month-in, month-out… ensuring the rewards for our partners' hard work are built into their monthly pay."
The announcement follows missed bonuses for the third consecutive year, despite profits tripling to £126 million. John Lewis is expected to report its 2026 annual results in March, which will indicate whether the bonus scheme will be reinstated for staff for the first time in four years.
Source: www.retailgazette.co.uk
