// John Lewis Partnership to make up to 1000 job cuts at its Waitrose and John Lewis stores
// The business is proposing a reduction in the number of layers between the most senior leaders & non-management staff
// The restructure forms part of the five-year Partnership Plan, which aims to reduce costs by £300m per year by 2022
The John Lewis Partnership has unveiled plans to make up to 1000 job cuts at its Waitrose and John Lewis stores in a bid to simplify management structures.
The Retail Gazette understands that the partnership wants to simplify its management structures in Waitrose and John Lewis stores – a strategy pursued by a number of other retailers in recent years – by reducing the number of layers between the most senior leaders and non-management staff.
If confirmed, the proposals would result in around 1000 roles being made redundant across John Lewis and Waitrose stores.
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Staff were reportedly informed of the proposals this morning.
The proposals are also reportedly part of the John Lewis Partnership’s wider Partnership Plan, the major turnaround scheme being spearheaded by partnership boss Dame Sharon White.
It’s thought that the money saved from the redundancies could then be used to reinvest in the stores’ customer experience, frontline customer service and visual merchandising.
Retail Gazette understands that within Waitrose, many of the managerial posts that it may lose would be replaced by non-management staff.
Meanwhile, staff will be supported and assisted in finding new roles to minimise compulsory redundancies.
“We have announced to our partners our intention to simplify our management structures in Waitrose and John Lewis stores, which will allow us to reinvest in what matters most to our customers,” a John Lewis Partnership spokesperson told Retail Gazette.
John Lewis Partnership’s five-year Partnership Plan will see the business aim to reduce costs by £300 million per year by 2022.
The plan will also see the partnership investing around £800 million this year to fund growth.
This is being done through head office transformation, operational restructuring and making efficiencies.
John Lewis Partnership operates 331 Waitrose stores and 34 John Lewis sites.
Should the new redundancy proposals go ahead, this would result, on average, in a reduction of about 2.7 roles per John Lewis and Waitrose shop.
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