Tesco staff are due to be told that pay rates for Bank Holidays, Sundays, late nights and overtime hours will be cut, as Britain‘s biggest retailer continues to find ways to save money.
According to The Mail on Sunday, Tesco employees who are believed to have been receiving double time for Sundays and Bank Holidays, will be informed this week that as of July pay will be at just time and a half.
Higher pay rates for overtime will also be revoked, with extra hours paid at the standard rate, according to a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
And a premium for working the hours 10pm-midnight will be scrapped as part of the pay review.
In response to the claims, a Tesco spokesperson said:
“We have reached a positive agreement on a two-year pay and benefits package for store colleagues, which is one of the most competitive packages in the supermarket industry and is good news for the large majority of colleagues.
We will announce details of the deal once we have spoken to colleagues about the changes. Any colleagues out of pocket from the premium changes will be given advance notice and earnings will be protected for up to two years.”
The news comes just days after Tesco announced it will cease 24-hour trading at 76 of the 400 stores nationwide that currently open all hours, which will impose their own limitations on staff earning potential.
According to Tesco, the reduction in opening hours would enable staff to replenish more products overnight, leading to increased item availability and better looking stores. Supposedly there will be a ‘”minimal” impact on jobs as a result of its decision.
