© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Branding is seen on the John Lewis retailer in Oxford Avenue, London, Britain, September 5, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Picture
(Reuters) -John Lewis Partnership, the proprietor of John Lewis and Waitrose, is contemplating reducing as much as 11,000 employees jobs within the subsequent 5 years, the Guardian reported on Saturday.
A minimal of 10% of the staff-owned enterprise’s workforce may very well be affected throughout the group’s head workplace, supermarkets and malls, the report mentioned, citing sources.
The variety of roles are anticipated to be regularly lowered through the years with out substitute, the report added.
“The John Lewis Partnership has a plan to return to revenue, which includes investing closely to reinforce our buyer provide, know-how, shops and turning into extra environment friendly,” the corporate mentioned in response to a Reuters request for remark.
“That is working and efficiency is enhancing, however as we have now already introduced, that sadly means lowering the variety of Companions we want in our enterprise,” it added.
The British retailer warned final March it must minimize employees numbers and scrap any bonus final 12 months after its clients reduce on spending, prompting its annual loss to balloon.
The 159-year-old group has been struggling lately amid powerful competitors and the prices of growing its on-line providing.
John Lewis chair Sharon White, who will step down in 2025, additionally mentioned in September final 12 months that its turnaround will take two years longer than deliberate and value more cash resulting from inflationary pressures.