The DIY giant intends to cut staff hours from January and increase pay to compensate. The rise takes workers to £11.31 per hour – just under the £11.44 they would receive in April as per the new national living wage (NLW), regardless of any changes to hours.

According to internal documents seen by Retail Week, the changes would mean a worker contracted to 39 hours per week would move to 36 hours and 45 minutes, swapping unpaid breaks for fewer hours.