Boots puts 300 head office jobs at risk with restructure plans
BOOTS could axe up to 300 jobs at its headquarters in Nottingham as part of restructuring plans.
The high street giant confirmed to The Sun that the cuts won't affect shop floor staff or pharmacists.
The health and beauty retailer said that a restructure will reduce the "significant impact" Covid-19 has had on its profits.
Boots has been allowed to stay open throughout the pandemic as it is classed as an essential retailer.
But despite this, retail sales tumbled by 48% over the second quarter 2020, while its opticians business saw sales dive by 72% compared to the same quarter in 2019.
Around 3,000 people out of Boots' total 55,000-strong employees are based at the retailer's head office.
What are my redundancy rights?
BEFORE making you unemployed, your employer should still carry out a fair redundancy process.
You are entitled to be consulted on the redundancy lay-off first and to receive a statutory redundancy payment, as long as you've been working somewhere for at least two years.
How much you're entitled to depends on your age and length of service, although this is capped at 20 years. You'll get:
- Half a week’s pay for each full year you were under 22,
- One week’s pay for each full year you were 22 or older, but under 41,
- One and half week’s pay for each full year you were 41 or older.
Sadly, you won't be entitled to a payout if you've been working for your employer for fewer than two years.
There should be a period of collective consultation as well as time for individual ones if your employer wants to make 20 or more employees redundant within 90 days or each other.
You are also entitled to appeal the decision by claiming unfair dismissal within three months of being let go.
The restructure could see up to 10% of the head office team axed, which is around 1% of the retailer’s total workforce.
Boots will hold a consultation period over the job cuts, which will last for 45 days. The restructure will then take place over six months.
Boots UK managing director Seb James said: "The events of the last year have changed consumer behaviours forever and we must adapt our business to meet these new needs.
"This means investing in our digital business, serving customers more efficiently and, above all, becoming much swifter and more agile.
"I am acutely aware that this structural change will be difficult for our amazing team in Nottingham and we will do everything we can to make sure that we support and help anybody who is affected.”
Last year, the shop announced it could cut more than 4,000 jobs and shut 48 of its opticians branches as the coronavirus crisis caused havoc across the retail industry.
Boots is also dishing out Covid jabs alongside other pharmacies in the fight against Covid. It has roughly 2,400 shops across the UK.
It is not the only retailer who has been battling against the Covid crisis.
Asda announced today that 5,000 jobs are at risk, including 3,000 back office workers, as part of a major restructure.
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The supermarket says the change is due to a move towards online shopping, sped up by the pandemic.
John Lewis is set to cut 1,500 head office jobs as well in a bid to cut costs and spur its recovery post-Covid.
The retailing giant says the workforce reduction will save £50million as it seeks to cut costs by £300million.