John Lewis scraps bonus for first time since 1953
- Date: 17-Sep-2020
- Source: BBC
- Sector:Economy
- Country:Middle East
John Lewis scraps bonus for first time since 1953
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John Lewis has confirmed that staff will not receive a bonus for the first time since 1953 after it was hit by lockdown store closures.
The retailer - which also owns Waitrose - said it posted a £55m loss for the six months to 25 July after higher costs offset a 1% rise in sales.
Its chairwoman told staff on Thursday the announcement "will come as a blow".
Even before Covid-19 hit, the chain had warned it might not pay the usual staff bonus as competition ate into profits.
The last time that the chain, which operates as a partnership, decided not to pay a bonus to its staff was in the aftermath of World War Two.
Chairwoman Dame Sharon