Co-op balances wage bill with four day week

Leeds Co-operative Society is introducing a four day week
for staff in its travel operation over the Christmas period to try and avoid
making redundancies as a result of 
September 11.

The 19-strong network of Co-ops in Leeds had been showing a
48 per cent rise in trading figures before the attacks, but the firm has now
been forced to take measures to protect its 200 staff from redundancy.

Employees have agreed to work a four-day week on their usual
pay for six weeks over Christmas. In the New Year, as business picks up, they
will work a six-day week but only be paid for five, balancing out the wage
bill.

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The company is cutting overheads and suspending recruitment
as well as offering reduced hours and temporary redeployment.

"We are only as good as our staff so we don’t want to
lose them and we’re doing everything we can to keep them together," said
personnel manager Amanda Harrison.