Employees at the John Lewis department store and supermarket group are to share a payout of more than £180m – equal to 20% of their salaries – after the retailer posted profits up 19% at £380m.
The staff bonuses, which will be shared by 69,000 partners who co-own the business, is the biggest for more than 10 years. All employees – from the chairman to the shop floor – will receive the same percentage payout.
More than 1,000 workers at the flagship John Lewis store in Oxford Street cheered and clapped when the 20% figure was revealed.
Managing director Andy Street, the group’s former HR director, said he planned to “buy some more land for my sheep”. He has a second home in Wales.
