UK-based John Lewis Partnership will invest £108m ($145.9m) in employee pay, raising hourly shop floor wages by 6.9% from 1 April across both John Lewis and Waitrose.
The latest allocation follows nearly £300m added to the pay budget over the past three years.
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Of the £108m increase, close to 90% is discretionary spending above the UK’s National Minimum Wage.
From April, minimum hourly pay will rise to £13.25 nationwide and £14.80 inside the M25, equal to approximately £1,600 annually for a typical full-time employee.
Hourly rates for staff in specialist or higher-skill roles will increase to £14.31, or £15.98 within the M25 area.
In addition to base pay, the John Lewis Partnership said employees receive benefits such as discounts at John Lewis and Waitrose, pension contributions of up to 12%, and reduced hotel rates across its UK network.
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By GlobalDataIt also offers up to £275 for personal development and leisure, subsidised meals, and well-being support, including physiotherapy and counselling.
John Lewis Partnership’s chief people officer Helen Webb said: “Our partners are the heartbeat of our business. This £108m investment is about putting more money into their pockets month-in, month-out.”
The John Lewis Partnership is an employee-owned group operating two major retail brands: John Lewis & Partners department stores and Waitrose & Partners supermarkets.
In a separate development, John Lewis introduced a new supplier platform last year to broaden its fashion assortment.
Footwear label Russell & Bromley was among the first brands to join the system, which was powered by technology company Mirakl and designed to enable new brands to be added both online and via the retailer’s app.
