John Lewis faces demands to bring back bonuses

The John Lewis Partnership is facing mounting pressure to reinstate staff bonuses after a three-year hiatus, as it continues to regain stability and secure long-term growth.

Some employees have published an open letter and launched a petition through Organise - a platform supporting worker-led campaigns - urging management to bring back bonuses, according to The Financial Times.

The campaign has attracted almost 4,000 signatures, including current and former John Lewis and Waitrose staff, as well as members of the public.

The John Lewis Partnership, which operates 36 department stores and the Waitrose supermarket chain, is owned by its 69,000 employees.

However, some staff argue that the partnership model is being undermined by its decision to withhold staff bonuses, despite a return to profitability.

In the open letter, they wrote: "We’re working harder than ever, with fewer staff and growing workloads, but getting less recognition. The bonus meant something more than just money. It was a sign that the company saw and appreciated us."

"It is disheartening to see the bonus [paused] when so many partners have worked extremely hard and remained committed during challenging times," one employee told Organise. Another worker noted that other companies, despite not being partnerships, offer better pay and benefits.

The John Lewis Partnership last awarded a staff bonus for the year ending January 2022.

The retailer announced it would once again withhold the bonus earlier this year, despite reporting a 73% increase in pre-tax profit to £97 million for the year to 25 January 2025. The company had returned to profitability the previous year after three consecutive years of losses.

At the time, John Lewis stated that it did not believe awarding a bonus was appropriate, as the company focused on reinvesting in its turnaround efforts following a difficult period. It also highlighted that it had already increased staff pay by a total of £114 million earlier in the year.

Chair Jason Tarry, who succeeded Dame Sharon White in September, said in March he was "determined to pay a bonus as soon as we can".

The John Lewis Partnership said it takes pride in its benefits package, emphasising that the bonus remains a key element of its employee-ownership model, alongside its democratic governance structure.

"Our partners understand that we’re focused on improving their base pay and investing in our business, so we can best serve our customers," it said.