Wages
This coverage examines wage trends and policies in the UK retail sector, focusing on pay levels, employer contributions, labour cost management, and compliance. Reporting highlights how changes in wages impact staffing budgets, recruitment, retention, and operational planning — offering insight for executives, HR leaders, and finance professionals managing workforce investments.
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Jun- 2022 -27 JuneSupermarkets
Investor support for Sainsbury’s real living wage mounts
A group of investors have put their support behind a shareholder resolution that could see all Sainsbury’s employees secure the real living wage when it goes to a vote at Sainsbury’s AGM on 7 July. The resolution, co-ordinated by ShareAction, is set to be the first Living Wage resolution to…
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24 JuneEconomy
UK consumer confidence sinks to new record low in June
UK consumer confidence has fallen to the lowest level since records began during the month of June, according to the latest figures from GfK. GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index decreased one point to -41, a new record with four measures down in comparison to the May 20 announcement, with one…
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Mar- 2022 -28 MarchSupermarkets
Lidl to create over 1,200 warehouse jobs by 2025
Lidl GB has announced that it will be creating more than 1,200 new warehouse jobs by the end of 2025 as it begins recruitment for its new Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) in Luton. Despite the pandemic, construction began on Lidl’s new 1.2 million sq ft distribution centre in Luton last…
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Feb- 2022 -21 FebruaryAdvice
Six ways retailers can handle labour shortages
The retail industry is challenged by labour shortages across the board, from delivery drivers to warehouse staff, store staff to IT specialists. And it’s a challenge faced everywhere from the UK to the US and Australia. The shortages can be traced back to a whole plethora of reasons – from…
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18 FebruaryNews
Retail sales up 1.9% in January 2022
Retail sales volumes rose by 1.9% in January 2022 following a fall of 4.0% in December 2021, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. It also revealed sales volumes were 3.6% above their pre-coronavirus (Covid-19) February 2020 levels. Non-food stores sales rose by 3.4% as home…
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14 FebruaryNews
Employers set to award record pay rises in 2022
Employers have reported that the median basic pay increase in their organisation (excluding bonuses) in the 12 months to December 2022 will be 3%, the highest figure recorded in the last 10 years of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) reporting. The CIPD’s latest quarterly Labour Market Outlook,…
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Jan- 2022 -19 JanuaryNews
Inflation hits 30-year high
Inflation reached 5.4% in December, its highest rate since CPIH stood at 5.1% in May 1992, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It revealed the consumer prices index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) rose 4.8% in the 12 months to December 2021, up…
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6 JanuaryDIY
B&M ups guidance following strong festive trading
B&M has announced it has raised its guidance for FY22 following a period of “very strong” trading in the run-up to Christmas. The retailer’s EBITDA is now expected to be in the range of £605m to £625m, ahead of analysts’ current estimate of £578m. Although total UK revenue was down…
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Dec- 2021 -9 DecemberDIY
IKEA exceeds Living Wage rates amid pay rise
IKEA has exceeded the new real Living Wage rates in its latest pay increase, which sees staff wages rise to at least £11.30 an hour in London and £10.10 in the rest of the country. Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the pay rise, as the union’s New Deal for…
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7 DecemberDepartment Stores
Harrods strike averted after pay rise victory
Planned strike action at Harrods has been averted after the luxury department chain offered its restaurant staff a pay rise amid an ongoing pay dispute. Its offer to take the pay above the London Living Wage came days into a ballot for strike action, organised by United Voices of the…
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