John Lewis has issued a directive encouraging its employees to work "more in person than not" in the latest sign of a shift away from widespread remote work. The John Lewis Partnership, which owns the department store chain and Waitrose supermarkets, sent a memo to staff—referred to as partners—asking them to increase their presence in offices, with suppliers, or visiting shops.
Hybrid Model Emphasized
The directive, first reported by The Telegraph, aims to foster "better outcomes" for the group. Despite the push, John Lewis stated that its official policy "hasn't changed" and remains committed to a hybrid working model. In the memo, the company explained that many organizations have seen improvements in collaboration and culture alongside better business performance as a result of hybrid working that allows more time in person while retaining some home-working benefits.
Office Space Considerations
The company also indicated it is considering options to "create more space" in existing offices to accommodate more regular attendance. This move comes a month after John Lewis revealed a 6% rise in pre-tax profit, before bonus and exceptional items, to £134 million for the past year. Workers received an annual bonus for the first time in four years as a result.
Company Statement
A John Lewis spokesman said: "While some in our industry are returning to the office full time, our policy hasn't changed and we are committed to the flexibility that comes with a hybrid approach. To drive collaboration, faster decision-making and creativity, our goal is for central teams to be in the office, with suppliers and visiting shops more than they are at home, so we are working with them to make this happen."
Pay Increases
Earlier this year, the John Lewis Partnership announced a 6.9% pay increase for its shop workers, effective from 1 April. Shop floor employees across both brands will see their minimum hourly rate climb to £13.25 nationwide. For those working within the M25, the minimum rate will further increase to £14.80.
