Marks & Spencer job losses: M&S confirms plans to axe up to 7,000 shop floor workers

0
156

MARKS and Spencer has today confirmed plans to axe up to 7,000 workers over the next three months as it struggles in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis.

It comes after HOAR revealed last night that the retail giant was planning to make cuts to its workforce.

M&S has confirmed plans to cut 7,000 workers

The losses will largely be customer assistants. There are 60,000 shop floor workers currently out of a total 80,000-strong workforce.

Other roles will also be lost in M&S’ central support centre and in regional management.

The retailer hopes a “significant proportion” of the cuts will be through voluntary redundancy and early retirement, and a consultation on the losses will begin with staff today.

M&S is already axing 950 management roles as coronavirus accelerates an ongoing shake-up.

The brand’s transformation plan, called “Never the Same Again”, is being stepped up after the disruption of lockdown when the M&S Food arm stayed open but its clothing arm was hit hard.

Food sales increased by 2.5% over the past 13 weeks, according to M&S’s trading update today. But clothing sales fell by 38.5% over the same period.

Chief executive Steve Rowe said: “As part of our Never The Same Again programme to embed the positive changes in ways of working through the crisis, we are today announcing proposals to further streamline store operations and management structures.

“These proposals are an important step in becoming a leaner, faster business set up to serve changing customer needs and we are committed to supporting colleagues through this time.”

Britain’s retailers are facing a double whammy of lower footfall amid the pandemic and the ongoing shift to online shopping.

Despite non-essential retailers reopening, the number of visitors to high streets and other retail destinations is still a third lower than before the pandemic. 

Debenhams has laid off 2,500 and has put itself up for sale.

It has hired advisers to look at a potential liquidation if it cannot find a buyer. Boots, WH Smith and John Lewis are among others shedding staff.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.hellofaread.com/money/train-ticket-discounts-and-flexible-season-tickets-should-be-launched-to-get-passengers-back-onboard-rail-watchdog-says/