John Lewis wants to cut 1,000 jobs

The John Lewis Partnership, the owner of the John Lewis department store chain and Waitrose, is cutting around a thousand jobs as part of a reorganisation of its store management.

Fewer management layers

The plan follows the closure of eight John Lewis branches earlier this year, which put nearly 1,500 jobs at risk. On average, close to three management positions per store will disappear, reports the BBC. In doing so, the retailer aims not only to cut costs but also to reduce the number of layers between the top and the in-store staff.

The proposed job cuts “will allow us to reinvest in what matters most to our customers”, said a spokesperson for John Lewis. More specifically, the retail chain will invest in customer service roles and the furnishing of its outlets.

Cuts

The retailer is trying to cut costs as shopping habits change and more people are shopping online. Last year, John Lewis announced the closure of eight stores with a potential loss of 1,300 jobs. As a result of the Covid crisis, eight more department stores were shut down this year.

Earlier this month, the partnership announced its plans to build 10,000 rental units over the next few years to keep its revenues up. The store network currently includes 34 John Lewis stores and 331 Waitrose branches.