B&Q is facing kickback from its store staff following proposed changes to their working hours and pay.
The DIY retailer has told staff it will cut staff hours from next month and increase pay to £11.31 per hour in January to compensate, Retail Week reported.
Employees on 39 hour-per-week contracts will move to 36 hours and 45 minutes in January as the business takes out unpaid breaks.
However, staff have raised concerns that the reduced contracted hours could limit their earning potential when the new national living wage rate of £11.44 comes into effect, arguing they would be better off with their existing contracts.
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B&Q dismissed the concerns and said it would be increase pay again in April to be above the national living wage rise.
A spokesperson for the retailer said: “To bring our approach in line with other large retailers, during the summer we undertook a pilot in two stores to reduce the length of breaks with a higher hourly rate of pay at £11.31.
“Following positive feedback from the pilot, we announced the changes to colleagues nationwide in November, followed by one to one briefings to go through the new framework.
“Our investment of £4m in our new policy, which has been welcomed by the vast majority of colleagues, ensures there is a fair break policy for all and means that no colleague is worse off, allowing colleagues to spend less time at work for the same pay or be at work for the same hours for more pay.
B&Q said it continued to work with store colleagues that had outstanding questions about the changes.
The retailer added that it would increase pay in April next year as part of its “usual annual pay review to maintain a competitive rate of pay in the market”.
A spokesperson said: “Next year’s pay award will be significant, recognising the contribution of our colleagues and ensuring we continue to offer one of the most competitive hourly rates of pay in the market, which of course will be well above NLW.”
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