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Sainsbury’s will award 137,000 colleagues with pay increase of 4%

LONDON, 2015-8-28— /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s will award 137,000 colleagues working in stores across the country an industry-leading pay increase of 4%, taking Sainsbury’s standard rate of pay to £7.36 per hour, effective from 30 August. This is the highest pay increase for store colleagues the company has awarded in over a decade.

  • Takes pay for store colleagues well above the Government’s new National Living Wage
  • Sainsbury’s store colleagues are among the best rewarded in the retail industry

This compares favourably to the Government’s recently announced National Living Wage of £7.20 per hour for workers over the age of 25 by April 2016.  Sainsbury’s has also decided not to differentiate between over and under 25s, so the new hourly rate of £7.36 will also apply to more than 40,000 colleagues under the age of 25*.

Sainsbury’s colleagues also enjoy a range of valuable benefits over and above hourly pay; for example, Sainsbury’s is one of the few retailers to pay colleagues for the breaks they take during their shifts**.  Other benefits highly valued by colleagues include a pension, life insurance, a discount card and an annual bonus. This year 133,000 colleagues shared a bonus pot of £50m.

Sainsbury’s CEO, Mike Coupe, said: “We’re delighted to announce a 4% pay increase for the colleagues who work in our stores across the country.  We know what a difference they make to our customers each and every day and we’re totally committed to rewarding them well for the great service they provide.  I’ve talked to thousands of colleagues over the past year and they tell me how much they value their package of benefits and the flexibility that we can offer as an employer, as well as hourly pay which has always been well over the minimum wage.  Their hard work, talent and dedication have been central to our success and will remain so in the future.”

Notes to Editors

*Under 18s in store begin on an introductory training rate for the first six months, before moving up to the standard rate of pay

** Sainsbury’s pays colleagues for a 30 minute break during an eight hour shift, and for a 15 minute break during a 4.5 hour shift. The example below clarifies the significance of paid breaks:

  • A full-time Sainsbury’s store colleague works a 39 hour week.  Her new hourly rate is £7.36 and, because sheis paid for her five x 30 minute breaks, she earns £287.04 per week
  • The Tesco hourly rate is £7.39 but their staff are not paid for breaks, so they earn £269.74 for a comparable working week
  • Sainsbury’s basic rate of pay for 137,000 non-management store colleagues will increase from £7.08 to £7.36 from 30August 2015
  • Sainsbury’s employs 161,000 colleagues across its stores, depots and store support centres

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Sainsbury’s will award 137,000 colleagues with pay increase of 4%
Sainsbury’s will award 137,000 colleagues with pay increase of 4%
EPR Retail News