Marks & Spencer modifies pay cut plan
Retailer acts on employee concern over unsocial hours variation
July 5 2003
Marks and Spencer has changed plans to end double time payments for working unsocial hours, in the face of strong employee concern
The UK high street retailer will now continue to pay staff double time for Sunday and Bank holiday work, However it is varying the timing when unsocial hours pay kicks in. The current period of before 9am and after 7pm will move to before 6am and after 11pm.
M&S staff will also receive a one-off lump sum to make up for any drop in pay in pay when the change comes into effect at the start of the next financial year. M&S said it was acting in the light of feedback from employees.
When the changes were announced last month, the Transport and General Workers’ Union, which is campaigning for recognition by M&S, said that it would lodge grievances on behalf of individual employees.
In common with other UK retailers, M&S has seen trading hours extend at almost all stores over the past decade. The development of convenience format Simply Food, especially in locations such as railway stations, has extended opening hours still further.
