John Lewis and Currys: two UK retail giants boost staff wages and money - apply for jobs and careers online
The firms are investing millions in staff wages, but not everyone is celebrating đ
- John Lewis and Currys are raising staff wages ahead of Aprilâs UK minimum wage increase
- John Lewis workers will see at least a 7.4% pay rise, while Currys staff will get 6%
- John Lewis is investing ÂŁ114 million in wages, with some employees receiving up to 9.4% more
- But despite tripling profits, John Lewis wonât pay staff bonuses for the third year running
- Both retailers are hiring, with job applications open on their official careers websites
Two British retailing giants have joined other businesses in raising staff wages ahead of Aprilâs UK minimum wage increase.
John Lewis announced on Thursday, March 6 that around 65,000 shop workers will receive a pay rise of at least 7.4%, while Currysâ 15,000 retail employees will see a 6% increase.
Both raises exceed inflation and follow similar moves by retailers including Marks & Spencer, B&Q, Sainsburyâs, Lidl, and Costa Coffee.
John Lewis is investing ÂŁ114 million in the pay deal, raising its minimum hourly wage to ÂŁ12.40 nationwide and ÂŁ13.85 in London. Its previous base rate would have fallen below the new UK national living wage, which increases to ÂŁ12.21 an hour on April 1.
The retailer said that around three-quarters of the pay rise is voluntary, exceeding the legal minimum. Employees who have made an "exceptional" contribution could receive pay increases of up to 9.4%.
But itâs not necessarily all rosy, as John Lewis Partnership has also announced it will not pay a staff bonus for the third consecutive year, despite seeing annual profits triple.
The retailer said it would instead prioritise a ÂŁ114 million investment in staff wages and up to ÂŁ600 million in business improvements against a challenging economic backdrop affecting both customers and the company.
Next month, the group expects to take a ÂŁ45 million hit from the rise in national insurance contributions.
John Lewis chairman Jason Tarry said he is âdeterminedâ to reinstate the staff bonus âas soon as we possibly canâ but could not confirm if it would return next year.
âNow just isnât the right time,â Tarry told the PA news agency, adding that a decision on the 2025-26 bonus remains undecided, despite expectations of further profit growth.
Currys announced that its minimum hourly wage will rise to ÂŁ12.51 nationwide and ÂŁ13.51 in London.
How to apply for jobs at John Lewis and Currys
You can apply for jobs at John Lewis and Currys through their official careers websites. Here's how:
John Lewis
- Visit the John Lewis Partnership careers website at jlpjobs.com
- Browse jobs by searching for roles or filtering by location and department
- Create an account to apply and track your application
- Submit your application, including your CV and any required information
Currys
- Go to the Currys careers website at curryscareers.co.uk
- Search for vacancies by job type, location, or keyword
- Apply online by creating an account and submitting your CV.
- Monitor your application for updates
Both companies also advertise jobs on sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Totaljobs.
Are you job-hunting? To view thousands of roles available right now, visit the JobsToday website.