Dame Sharon White has been criticized by John Lewis partners for changes to redundancy pay. Photo: Terry Murden/Alami
Senior John Lewis staffer has condemned “personal attacks” from staff as the department store chain tries to contain a backlash over changes to redundancy pay.
Chris Earnshaw, staff council president John Lewis, said it was aware of the “emotion and pain” among workers after the partnership told them this week it was halving redundancy payments from next Thursday.
In an internal forum, Mr Earnshaw said: “I understand why this announcement will be difficult for many partners… However, I cannot pass by and justify personal attacks on a select group of partners who have challenged and worked so hard with them. project team over the last few months as this is not the kind of partnership I grew up in.”
Mr Earnshaw, who is elected by the partners to represent them, advised staff to “be respectful when expressing your views.” opinion.”
It follows a wave of criticism of the policy changes from workers after John Lewis this week told staff it was cutting benefits with a reduction of up to one week's pay per year of service.
The partnership said it was making the changes because its current two-week policy is “above typical market practice and is very costly.”
John Lewis is offering what it calls a partnership redundancy pay on top of the government's statutory redundancy pay.
In response to criticism posted on an internal forum, Chris Earnshaw advised employees to remain “respectful when expressing their opinions”
On Thursday, a spokesman said the severance pay was just part of a generous and attractive benefits package, adding: “We are making the changes because much of our current benefits package is aimed at partners after they have left, when we want to better reward those who now works for us. These changes will allow us to invest more in our partners who are still working in this business.”
However, the announcement has raised fears that John Lewis is laying the groundwork for major job cuts. Managers declined to comment on the possibility of layoffs.
Staff directed their anger at members of the partnership committee who discussed the changes, as well as chairman Dame Sharon White.
The committee is composed of employees who serve on the partnership board, which is elected by employees. Workers questioned why the broad partnership board did not vote for the changes, saying it went against the company's democratic foundations.
John Lewis said it had sought legal advice on who could make the decision on pay changes for redundancies, with the committee and chief people officer Lisa Cherry able to make the choice.
Lisa Cherry, JLP's HR executive, has come under fire after changes to redundancy benefits
One staffer criticized Ms Cherry, saying: “It's unfortunate that you've chosen to double down on this rather than stand up for what's right for this business and its people.”
Others directly addressed us. Mr Earnshaw said: “I would suggest, if you want the partners to believe that democracy still exists in the partnership, that you call an emergency board meeting.”
Dame Sharon was also criticized. , with one employee saying: “In Sharon’s short time in charge, she has managed to cause so much harm to the business and partners.
“I really hope that the headhunters we are now using to help choose a new chairman are not the same ones who chose Sharon.”
This comes amid tense relations between workers and Dame Sharon before she steps down as chairman at the end of her five-year term in 2025.
Staff voted last year to say they were not confident in the business's progress under Dame Sharon's leadership. although they supported its continuation in the second vote.
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