Staff at Courts, the furniture retailer which went into administration at the end of November, are to receive a bonus of £50 a week following the re-opening of stores yesterday.
The bonuses will be paid by SB Capital Europe, which was appointed this week by the administrators to run the 88 Courts’ outlets. However, the majority of Courts’ 2,500 employees are still likely to lose their jobs.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
The decision to pay the bonuses comes after staff were threatened by customers, who were angry that products they had paid for might not be delivered.
Bob Marsh, managing director of SB Capital Europe, said it has been a difficult time for staff and that “if we are to help customers we need the staff to open the stores and we need to incentivise them. They need to be recognised for doing a sterling job”.