John Lewis | HR boss to lead new people strategy amid job cut fears

Job cuts have become a firm fixture in news announcements as high street retailers and airlines have all recently shared plans to cull jobs, due to the impact coronavirus has had on business.

This week it has been revealed that Greggs is mulling over job cuts as the end of furlough draws closer, meanwhile British Airways has warned it may cut up to 12,000 roles, plus retailer Marks & Spencer also shared that 950 positions could be lost.

Department store John Lewis recently disclosed that it would shut down eight of its stores, putting up to 1,300 jobs at risk. According to the BBC, the organisation stated that stores in Birmingham and Watford would not reopen as the lockdown eases, while it also has plans to close its At Home stores in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth, as well as travel sites London St Pancras and Heathrow Airport.

At the time of the announcement Sharon White, Chairwoman of John Lewis Partnership, said: “Closing a shop is always incredibly difficult and today's announcement will come as very sad news to customers and partners.