Aldi announced this week that it was hiking its staff pay for the second time this year, reclaiming its position as the UK’s highest paying supermarket – but how does it compare to the rest of retail?
Following a swathe of redundancies and furloughs during the pandemic, as well as the impact of Brexit on the free movement of workers, some retailers have been left with a shortage of staff.
As the cost-of-living crisis hits hourly-paid workers, retailers such as Sainsbury’s have also come under pressure to extend paying the real living wage to all staff – which currently stands at £9.90 nationally and £11.05 in London.
The national minimum wage for adults is £9.18, while the national living wage is £9.50.
As retailers battle to attract and retain colleagues on the shop floor, many have raised their wages, in addition to training and other benefits.
Retail Week explores the industry’s base hourly pay rates for shop workers, both inside and outside the M25.
Aldi may be the UK’s highest paying grocer but nationally, the top spot goes to Pets at Home, according to Retail Week’s research.
The pet specialist has pledged to pay workers the national living wage since 2015 and operates an “earn as you learn” system, where workers can earn more as they complete more training.
At the bottom of the ranking nationally are Kingfisher-owned retailers Screwfix and B&Q; however, both offer paid breaks, which on average brings rates higher.
Screwfix, B&Q, Tesco, Boots and Morrisons’ pay in London all fall below the real living wage, while Primark pays 65p below the hourly pay in London.
All retailers featured pay above the national minimum wage and above the national living wage, though neither of these includes weighting for the London area.
No comments yet