John Lewis has categorically denied plans for further job cuts, responding to claims made in The Times.
- An article in The Times suggested that John Lewis was consulting 7,000 staff about potential redundancies.
- John Lewis firmly refuted these claims, confirming only 153 roles were affected, as previously announced.
- The retail giant emphasised its ongoing commitment to minimal redundancies and internal job reallocations.
- This statement comes amidst planned leadership changes, with Jason Tarry set to become chairman.
On 1 September, The Times published a report suggesting significant job cuts at John Lewis, stating that 7,000 shop floor staff were under consultation. The piece attributed this information to undisclosed sources, claiming that John Lewis executives were planning an extensive restructure of store management teams, potentially leading to further redundancies.
In response to these claims, John Lewis issued a statement refuting the report’s accuracy. The company clarified that no additional role reductions were planned beyond the 153 previously announced. According to John Lewis, these adjustments were disclosed last month, aimed at enhancing customer service and operational flexibility. The retailer highlighted that the restructuring efforts intend to align staff roles more closely with customer needs.
John Lewis stressed its commitment to minimizing job losses by avoiding backfilling vacant positions and exploring internal redeployment opportunities for affected staff. This approach underscores the company’s priority to retain its ‘Partners’, the term it uses for employees, within the business wherever possible. John Lewis has consistently communicated its focus on creating more fulfilling roles and improving service efficiency across its stores.
The clarification from John Lewis also coincides with an upcoming leadership transition, as Jason Tarry prepares to assume the role of chairman. The retailer’s proactive communication aims to assure stakeholders and the public of its strategic direction while dispelling circulating rumours of widespread job cuts.
John Lewis remains steadfast in its strategy to enhance service and retain staff amid organisational changes.
