John Lewis has warned workers they could face disciplinary action following a large number of abusive comments left on its internal online forum.
The retailer said staff leaving “unacceptable comments” on the intranet would be taken to meetings with its people managers.
John Lewis said there was a “significant and understandable strength of feeling about recent announcements but that’s not an excuse for some of the abuse we’ve seen”.
The partnership added many of the comments were “abusive, hurtful and simply unacceptable,” cautioning staff that harassment, bullying or any kind of offensive conduct would be dealt with as a disciplinary matter.
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The comments come as John Lewis considers cutting 11,000 jobs under its turnaround efforts, as management claim “difficult decisions” must be made to safeguard its future.
In January, it was reported that the retail group was halving its two-week redundancy pay per year of service policy, claiming this was “higher than typical market practice and comes at a very high cost”.
Last week, GMB Union warned the business they risked staff striking if they failed to receive answers over planned job cuts.
In a letter to chairwoman Dame Sharon White, the union said it was poised to ballot the retailer’s employees over industrial action if she failed to provide more detail on the redundancies.
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I understand where the company are coming from however through no staffs fault of their own doing they are now put under pressure of job security in a cost a living crisis… And the staff frustration is probably coming from that the company is still doing the same silly things which has put the company into trouble.
A company that has COMPLETELY lost its way and purpose,souless and mean spirited springs to mind !
And why is this news? Anyone being abusive and threatening on line should be treated exactly as if the comments were made in person. It is not acceptable. Would also like confirmation from JLP that this figure of 11k redundancies is accurate before panicking everyone. Did it come from a reliable source?
If it’s something caused by actions by senior management and this is something that has come about recently then perhap the answer isn’t to punish people, but to resolve the cause.
It’s clearly recent actions have caused this, morale is very low, everyone feels that they have been treated poorly lately and there is definitely something going wrong at the top.
I think the GMB should get that ballot sent around right about now…
I worked there can’t go back but it is good too see hopes it implies all staff not just some. The matter of all are accountable for what is said or done as much as for is not said or done
I’m sure that with the number they’re making redundant, JLP will be aiming to discipline as many out the door for free, in ways such as this, as they can. Totally intentional on JLP’s part allowing this to happen in the first place. In reality this warning is just a tick-box on an HR form.
As long standing partner work for the business for 32years it been very sad that the business going to the drain. During my last year in the partnership their’s a lot of transition. Am not saying that changes are not good but did we ever think first if this changes is good for our business but through my own personal observation it’s seem that those who are in the top position they don’t care for the whole partnership anymore. They just make their own decisions without consulting the partnership. Its very sad that the partnership is end like this the way the founder start the business is completely abolished. Its only the matter of saying the word partnership but is completely gone. It doesn’t affect me anymore because am retired but I feel for the partners who are working very hard and they never been acknowledged for their commitment. Is so sad that’s it end up this way.
The founder actually would recognise the situation JL is in annd encourage ‘ruthless’ business decisions as he also advocated for. Additionally is there still not a council?
If it’s something caused by actions by senior management and this is something that has come about recently then perhap the answer isn’t to punish people, but to resolve the cause.
It’s clearly recent actions have caused this, morale is very low, everyone feels that they have been treated poorly lately and there is definitely something going wrong at the top.
As an ex partner this has been coming for a while. Glad I got out but feel sorry for everyone else that is there. It has fallen a long way in recent years for sure.