John Lewis and Waitrose offer free food to staff this winter

Virgin Radio

1 Sep 2022, 09:04

John Lewis and Waitrose are giving their staff free food over the winter to help with the cost-of-living crisis.

Meals are set to be offered to employees - including temporary members of staff and agency workers - during work hours.

As reported by the BBC, a spokesman for the John Lewis Partnership explained that an employee on a four-hour shift will be able to have one meal - either breakfast, lunch or dinner - depending on the time of day that they are working. Meanwhile, anyone on an eight-hour shift can choose two meals. 

Meals will reportedly include English breakfast, vegetarian dishes, pasta, and Sunday roast.

Food will be made using Waitrose ingredients where possible, and there will also be tea, coffee and fruit is available during the day.

Whilst staff at the large stores, as well as head offices and distribution centres will eat in canteens, long distance lorry drivers who aren’t able to sit down in the staff room for a meal will be able to pre-order packed lunches. Staff in some of the smaller shops will be able to eat the likes of Waitrose salads or sandwiches.

The scheme will start in October and run beyond Christmas until the start of January.

As reported by the BBC, rising food costs have pushed UK inflation into double digits for the first time since 1982.

Meanwhile, The John Lewis Partnership, which runs the department store and supermarket chains, are on a massive recruitment drive, and are seeking more than 10,000 temporary staff members to work in John Lewis and Waitrose over the Christmas period. There are also permanent jobs being advertised.

Approximately 4,000 new seasonal workers will be brought in to Waitrose shops, with 2,000 temporary workers for its John Lewis stores, The business is also looking to fill around 4,000 roles across its supply chain through recruitment agencies.