John Lewis Partnership is readying itself to cut jobs, possibly axe annual bonus’s, close one of its London headquarters and permanently shutter some stores in response to the coronavirus crisis according to news reports today.
In a letter to staff seen by the Evening Standard, John Lewis Partnership chair Sharon White told staff that the cuts were imminent and would form part of a post-lockdown cost-cutting drive. White said the department store chain, which confirmed today its plans to reopen its Oxford Street store on July 16 alongside nine other stores, was unlikely to reopen all of its 50 stores after lockdown.
The news comes after the partnership announced the next phase of its lockdown exit strategy, which includes reopening 10 John Lewis stores – including the Oxford Street flagship as well as stores in Wales and Scotland for the first time.
