B&Q will offer almost 27,000 employees two years‘ compensation in addition to further discussions over pay packages. The reimbursements follow ongoing complaints from staff and a signed petition which lobbied the DIY retailer‘s plan to slash employee benefits.
Earlier this year, the home improvement retailer said it would be lowering Sunday pay rates, bank holiday pay and some staff bonuses. Instead, the minimum pay rate for all employees has been increased to £7.66 per hour from the beginning of this month, 46p more than the national living wage. This will be a base salary for all staff, not just those over 25. Pension benefits and a paid 30 minute break will also be provided.
The Kingfisher-owned chain‘s most recent advancement also comes after Monday’s news that B&Q had hastily removed a job advertisement which required jobseekers to take part in a three day unpaid induction as well as paying for their own drugs test.
Following the removal of the questionable ad, B&Q noted that it had extended compensation to all its staff over the next two years.
“Over the next two years, we will continue to work with our colleagues to look at ways we can enhance our overall reward package to ensure we remain one of the best and most attractive employers in retail,” a B&Q spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, sandwich chain Eat also said on Tuesday that it had terminated paying staff their half-hour breaks and instead offered a pay rise. The food-on-the-go chain said that no employees lost out as average staff pay increased to £7.60 an hour.
