M&S raises staff pay for second time this year to help with cost of living

M&S has increased staff wages for the second time this year to help with the cost of living pressures.

From October 1st, more than 40,000 workers will see their hourly pay increase by 2% to a minimum of £10.20. 

This follows an initial pay increase from £9.50 an hour to £10 back in April.

The retailer will also be providing 4,500 employees with a £250 shopping voucher as part of a £15m package to help with rising costs, as well as free food to workers in both its stores and its warehouses. 

Staff will also have access to free sanitary products.

Additionally, workers will be able to attend financial planning workshops and get meal planning advice, all while continuing to receive a 20% discount on all M&S purchases.

Read More: Primark promises to freeze prices of children’s clothes to help parents with cost of living crisis

Stuart Machin, the chief executive of M&S, said: “Whether you’re running a home or running a business, everyone across the country is feeling the pressure of rising costs.

“We want to do what we can to help ease some of that strain.”

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This comes after retailer John Lewis announced it would be offering all staff free meals over the winter months to help with the rising cost of living.

The John Lewis Partnership, which owns John Lewis stores and Waitrose supermarkets, will offer the meals between October and January to all staff, including permanent, temporary and agency workers.

A spokesman for the retail group told the BBC that someone working a four-hour shift will be able to choose one meal – breakfast, lunch or dinner – depending on the time of day.

An employee working an eight-hour shift could choose two meals, he said, adding that the food will be delivered in different ways depending on the workplace.