Next warns of job cuts at HQ
ABOUT 75 FACE REDUNDANCY AS RETAILER LOOKS TO STREAMLINE ITS OPERATION
NEXT is planning to make redundancies at its Enderby head office.
The fashion chain joins a long list of big-name businesses streamlining their operations to deal with the consequences of the coronavirus.
A spokesman for the FTSE 100 company said 150 staff were under consultation at its headquarters.
The consultation process will run until the middle of next month when, the spokesman said, about 75 jobs could go.
The £4.2 billion-turnover group was forced to close all its stores when the lockdown was imposed.
In March it estimated its potential lost revenues for the year as between £400 million and £1 billion and revised this in April to between £1.2 billion and £1.6 billion.
Even as shops reopen, it expects to see sales down by 40 per cent over the year.
The business has about 9,000 people still to return to work and being supported under the government furlough scheme.
The spokesman said the consultation related to a wide range of departments, rather than wholesale reductions in particular areas.
He said: “About 3,500 people are (normally) employed at HQ – of which, currently, there are only about 500 on-site each day on rotation, so not the same people in every day.
”The total, UK head count for Next is about 40,000 people. Regarding furlough – at the very peak, 33,967 Next employees were furloughed.
“The current number is down to 9,209, mainly store and warehouse staff, and this is due to limits imposed by social distancing.”
The Next headquarters is understood to be just outside the new lockdown area which was imposed on Leicester and some surrounding areas earlier in the week.
The spokesman said the business had rigorous hygiene, hand sanitising and safety processes in place at its HQ, shops and warehouses, which have not needed changing in light of the latest Leicester lockdown.
He said: “The social distancing at HQ has not changed from the original 2m rule, nor have the one-way routes around the HQ offices been altered, and they will remain in place.
“Many who work at Next’s HQ do not live in Leicester.
“Those working at HQ and living outside Leicester, or outside the affected area of Leicester, will continue to go to work at HQ when they are planned to be there, on rotation, in the same way as they have over the past few weeks.
“Those living inside the affected area of Leicester may still come to work at HQ but only where it is essential for them to do so.
“Staff coming from these areas have been advised by Next that they should not use public transport or car share, unless living together.
“Of course, if any staff member shows any symptoms they have been told by Next they must not go in to work.
“Those living in Leicester are required by the government to come forward for a test.”