Homebase turns up the heat on B&Q

As pressure continues to build on B&Q, following their recent changes to staff pay and benefits, meaning some staff will be worse off under the new Living Wage, Homebase have responded by turning up the heat.

Seen as a perfectly timed move to put further pressure on B&Q, Wesfarmers backed Homebase has announced that all UK employees aged under 25 will now be paid the Living Wage. The increased rate of £7.20 per hour will mean that most of their full time store staff will see their annual salaries increase by around £550. 

B&Q's position is that they do not think it’s fair for people working side by side to be paid differently and therefore from 1 April 2016 they introduced a minimum rate of £7.66, 46p above NLW, for all employees regardless of age. They claim that they are still one of the best payers in the sector, despite the changes that have been made.

Read B&Q's response to the criticism here.

Meanwhile the only in-store nod to their new owner, Bunnings' branding has so far only been seen in the form of small uniformed and logo'd teddy bears in its BBQ display.

Source: Insight DIY Team