Pay and benefits
We aim to be a market leader in how we reward Partners. Our policy is to pay Partners according to the market rate for the job they are doing, and as much above that as is justified by performance. When we add to that the annual bonus, our pension scheme, the Partner discount and all the other benefits Partners enjoy, we believe our total reward is market leading.
Jon Williets, Branch Manager Waitrose Lymington and Sailing Club Dinghy Week Events Manager
Pay
Every Partner has the right to know the range of pay for their type of work and what is required to improve their performance and, therefore, their pay.
At the Annual Pay Review in March, we look at each Partner's pay rate to make sure that it is consistent with the local market rate and reflects the Partner's contribution to the business. We encourage Partners to discuss their pay review with managers so that they understand fully the pay decision.
Benefits
The most tangible advantage of being a Partnership is the annual bonus, where we distribute a proportion of profits equally to Partners as a percentage of salary. But the John Lewis Partnership has always believed that there should be more to a job than just work and pay. Hence our extensive range of benefits.
In line with our aim to provide a market-leading range of benefits, the Partnership continuously explores ideas for new policies and benefits. Here is a summary of the valuable benefits, on top of pay and bonus, that we receive as Partners.
Pension Discount Paid holiday Extended leave Life assurance Dining facilities Holiday and leisure facilities Partners in Sport Clubs and societies Ticket subsidies Education subsidies Bursary for the pursuit of excellence Working for a charity Special help in time of need Voluntary benefits and discounted deals
Pension
The John Lewis Partnership is one of the few companies that still offer a non-contributory, final salary pension scheme.
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Discount
After three months' continuous service, all Partners are entitled to full discount in John Lewis and Waitrose on most products. The discount rates in John Lewis are 12 per cent and 25 per cent depending on the product, and in Waitrose 15 per cent.
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Paid holiday
Paid holiday in a full year is 22 days plus public and bank holidays for Partners working five days a week up to section manager, rising to 25 days after three years' service. Department managers and above receive five weeks holiday in a full year. After ten years' service, holiday allowance increases to six weeks for all our Partners.
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Extended leave
Partners with more than 25 years' service can take paid leave for six months. This is seen by many Partners as an opportunity to learn new or develop existing skills or talents in sports, the arts and languages and to travel extensively. On their return, Partners come back eager to share the ideas and experiences they have gained during their leave.
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Life assurance
All Partners are automatically provided with free life assurance cover up to age 75. If a Partner dies in service, our scheme will pay three times his/her annual salary to the Partner's family or nominated beneficiary.
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Dining facilities
Most of our sites have subsidised dining facilities that offer a wide range of good quality, healthy food.
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Holiday and leisure facilities
After three months' continuous service, Partners can stay at a subsidised rate, with their families and friends at one of our five holiday centres and caravans. All are different, set in some of the most beautiful and interesting locations in the country including the Lake District in the north and Brownsea Island in the south. Each centre offers its own individual style and facilities both indoors and out.
Groups of working Partners can apply for funding to part finance a 'Once in a lifetime' trip. Successful applications have included mountain biking across the Atlas Mountains, sailing in the British Virgin Islands, horse riding in South Africa, walking in New Zealand and climbing Kilimanjaro. In true Partnership spirit these trips are often combined with voluntary work in the community they visit such as the Riding Club trip to South Africa where they spent half their time helping to complete and equip a new school room.
Golfing Partners can enjoy the use of our facilities in Berkshire and Hampshire while members of our sailing clubs make the most of the five yachts that we have available on The Solent in Hampshire throughout the sailing season. Our sailors frequently take part in regattas and races in the area.
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Partners in Sport
A programme that enables Partners to engage in sport, touch the spirit of the Olympics and have a healthier lifestyle in the run up to 2012. Partners can apply for anything from training to coach in a sport to help in setting up fitness clubs and facilities in their branch and even involvement in national sports associations. Partners of national or international level can apply for support to help them in their bid to compete in the 2012 Olympics.
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Clubs and Societies
We support a large number of subsidised sports clubs and societies at local and Partnership wide levels. Partners are encouraged to join the clubs covering a wide range of sports which include abseiling and climbing, football, gliding, golf, mountain biking, netball, racquet sports, riding, skiing, sailing, surfing and swimming.
Our subsidised non-sport clubs and societies are also open to all Partners and include drama, photography, music and art. The clubs help and encourage Partners to develop their talents and provide a platform to demonstrate them in the form of plays, concerts and exhibitions.
All the clubs organise events and activities both here in Britain and abroad with many of these events including training and advice for Partners new to the sport or activity. In the spirit of the Partnership, Partners are able to enjoy opportunities that might not otherwise be possible, from diving in the Red Sea to performing in a concert in Venice.
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Ticket subsidies
Partners can get a 50 per cent subsidy on tickets for the theatre, opera and music performances, up to a maximum amount per year. This subsidy is also available for entry to exhibitions and museums. We also have corporate membership of English Heritage, the National Trust, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, the Royal Academy of Arts and the Royal Horticultural Society.
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Education subsidies
The Partnership gives generous financial support to Partners who want to continue their education or learn new skills whether work related or of personal interest. Many Partners take advantage of this benefit when on extended leave, using the subsidy available to them to learn a new skill or language.
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Bursary for the pursuit of excellence
The Partnership provides support and financial help of up to £5,000 per year for Partners who are currently performing, representing or competing at a national or international level. One Partner to be awarded financial help is Mark Harris who is a World Freediving Champion.
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Working for a charity
Partners can apply for a full- or part-time volunteering secondment with a UK registered charity for up to six months as part of the Golden Jubilee Trust (GJT) scheme.
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Special help in time of need
In cases of particular need, we will help Partners with a loan or grant. Our care doesn't stop when our Partners retire either. Qualifying retired Partners continue to be eligible for many of the leisure benefits above as well as specific retirement welfare and social benefits.
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Voluntary benefits and discounted deals
We have negotiated a range of benefits for Partners such as discounted private healthcare and a car purchase scheme, along with a number of one-off deals with hotels, amusement parks and so on. We also look to join corporate membership schemes that Partners are interested in such as that offered by the National Trust.
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