Rewarding performance

To attract and retain talented people, we offer a competitive salary and a market-leading benefits package. In addition, we share profits in the form of an annual bonus which, in March 2011, paid 18% of annual salary – equivalent to nine weeks’ pay.

Our benefits package is designed to help Partners to balance their work and home lives, and encourage them to have long careers with us. It includes a non-contributory, defined benefit final salary pension scheme, staff discounts on most purchases and six months’ paid leave after 25 years’ service. We invested around £90 million in benefits throughout the 2010/11 financial year.

Last year, we produced individual annual reward statements to help Partners to understand the value of their total reward package. We are also exploring the possibilities of developing a flexible benefits package for Partners. 

We are increasingly involved in promoting wellbeing. For example, Partners in Sport (PinS) is our unique programme to engage Partners in sport and encourage them to lead a healthier lifestyle in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which John Lewis is sponsoring. In 2010, 190 Partners registered with the PinS Partner Coaching programme, which offers Partners the opportunity to train as sports coaches.

Another benefit is that Partners can stay, at a subsidised rate, at one of our five holiday centres. For those who want to continue their education or learn new skills, we also offer financial support and several sabbatical and extended leave options.

Our long-term aim is to develop a Partnership-wide performance framework that reflects our Partner Commitments and enables both transparent career development and effective performance-related pay.

(Photo of cabins)

The Partnership has modern wooden cabins on our Leckford Estate, which have proven popular as a holiday destination with our Partners. The estate is a working farm that supplies produce to Waitrose but also offers golf, cricket, bowling, tennis and swimming, as well as fly-fishing on the river Test.

“Our holiday centres aim to ensure all Partners can afford a holiday with their families and enjoy their leisure time. It is recognised that where individuals have access to a wide range of leisure opportunities and can develop outside of work, they will come back to work refreshed and relaxed.”

Carole Donaldson,

Resourcing Manager, John Lewis

(Photo: Partners at Waitrose Cobham celebrate the annual bonus announcement in March 2011.)