Marks and Spencer has invested £15 million in a package of support for its front-line employees during the cost-of-living crisis, including a pay review and extended wellbeing benefits.
As of 1 October, more than 40,000 members of staff will see their hourly pay rise to a minimum of £10.20. This follows a previous pay increase to £10.00 from £9.50 in April this year. The business stated that this represents an annual uplift of 7.4%, resulting in a full-time customer assistant earning an additional £100 each month compared with last year.
Mark and Spencer has also provided 4,500 salaried workers at pre-management levels in its stores and support centres with a one-off £250 voucher to use in-store.
Staff at the business' distribution centre in Castle Donington have been given the opportunity to have a free meal each shift, and the retailer has introduced free sanitary products across all stores and sites, free financial planning workshops, and free online planning tools and information via its wellbeing hub.
Marks and Spencer's staff and their families can also access a virtual GP service, the Unmind mental wellbeing app, health check screenings, free eye tests, and affordable meal planning advice designed by its in-house nutritionist, as well as 20% off its food.
Stuart Machin, chief executive at Marks and Spencer, said: “Whether you’re running a home or running a business, everyone?across the country?is feeling the pressure of rising costs. We want to do what we can to help ease some of that strain; that's why we have invested in price to deliver better value for our customers and, why we are investing in our colleague base pay for the second time this year.
“Our colleagues are our biggest asset, and?we want to ensure they are fully supported and rewarded for the remarkable contribution they make to Marks and Spencer.”
