In April, Pret A Manger will implement a 19% pay raise for its retail employees. This will be the third wage increase in a year for the chain, following Tesco and Asda, which have also taken steps to increase wages in response to labour shortages and the rising cost of living.
The move is anticipated to make Pret’s baristas among “the highest paid in the industry,” with earnings ranging from £11.80 to £14.10 per hour, depending on location and experience. This represents a 15% annual wage increase for entry-level employees.
In the United Kingdom, labour shortages have been attributed to pandemic-related long-term illness and a lack of available foreign workers to fill roles. The high cost of living has also prompted many workers to seek higher-paying positions, resulting in widespread strikes in industries such as the rail industry, nursing, and education.
The interim managing director of Pret A Manger, Guy Meakin, stated, “As the cost of living continues to rise, we hope that this latest increase in pay and our expanded benefits package will provide additional support for our hardworking teams.”
Despite complaints about the chain’s decision to stop making smoothies, frappes, and milkshakes, which can be more expensive and take longer to prepare, the pay increases have been implemented.
The United Kingdom is experiencing a severe labour shortage, prompting major retailers such as Tesco, Asda, Aldi, and Lidl to raise their employees’ wages. Pret A Manger is the most recent business to join this trend, implementing a 19% increase in basic pay for shop employees beginning in April.
Guys Meakin, the managing director of Pret A Manger, stated that the increased wages are intended to support the company’s hardworking employees in light of rising living expenses. Due to the current labour shortages, other major retailers, including Tesco and Asda, have also implemented wage increases.
