Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is to invest £25 million into a cost-of-living package for hourly-paid staff to support them with rising costs.
It will invest £20 million in a pay increase, which will be the second one staff receive this year. From 16 October, Sainsbury’s and Argos’ hourly retail workers’ pay will rise from £10.00 to £10.25, and from £11.05 to £11.30 per hour for those based in London. This will take the pay increase for frontline staff to 7.9% this year and 28% over five years.
Around 127,000 hourly-paid employees across retail, local fulfilment and customer service contact centres will benefit.
The support package will also give staff access to free basic food items during their shifts from the first week in October until the end of December, as well as increased discounts.
According to Sainsbury’s, the free food will ensure that employees have something to eat while working and the discounts will help them manage their budgets. Temporary workers will also benefit from the pay rise and the free food.
Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “Every day I am hearing from colleagues who are really feeling the pressures of the rising cost of living. That’s why we are doing everything we can to help our colleagues as they face rising bills and living costs this autumn by investing £25 million into a package of support, including an early pay increase. This is the first time we have given two pay rises in the same year.
“We are proud of our track record on colleague pay and with this latest package of an additional pay rise, free food at work and bigger colleague discounts, we are very focused on doing as much as we can to help our colleagues and their families through this autumn and winter.”