5 May 2022
On 03 May, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced wage increases for all U.S. employees, except those who have joined, or are in the process of joining a trade union. During a Wall Street analyst presentation, the founder of the coffee chain, which employs 240,000 in the United States, made the announcement as part of a one billion dollar investment plan in salaries, employees, and improving customer store experience. The CEO promised to raise the minimum hourly wage to $15 an hour by this summer. Employees who...
7 March 2022
UK insurance group Aviva announced in its full-year results statement for 2021, published on 2 March, that it will give shares worth £1,000 (€1,210) to each of its employees across the globe. “Our people are central to our success, and it’s only right that they share in the value they’ve helped create. So we are giving each of our 22,000 employees £1,000 in Aviva shares, to say thank you,” chief executive Amanda Blanc said. The insurer is not the first British employer to hand a bonus to staff in...
17 February 2022
On 16 February, the UK retail chain announced its intention to enhance its employees’ health and wellbeing benefits by offering a Virtual GP service, free health check screening, and advice on financial management. With these measures, the group, which already offers employees a 20% discount on products from it Food and Clothing & Home ranges, believes it offers one of ‘the strongest all-round reward offers in retail.’ “We’re making sure that every colleague whatever they do and wherever they...
3 November 2021
In view of their ‘exceptional adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit’ shown since the beginning of the pandemic, the furniture and home furnishing retailer will pay staff a total of €110 million in bonuses, which makes an average of nearly €648 for each employee. The measure will benefit the 170,000 staff working for the Ingka Group (Ikea Retail), which manages the majority of the brand’s stores (nearly 400 worldwide) as well as shopping centres. In a statement, Ulrika Biesèrt, People & Culture...
20 October 2021
In an environment of pressure on purchasing power and manpower shortages across certain professions, the question of salaries is becoming a major concern for companies. According to a survey conducted by the ANDRH*, nearly half of the sector’s professionals are looking to change their compensation policies in the months ahead. However, the association also warns that excessive salary increases could eventually threaten employment.
10 September 2021
Bonuses are becoming more and more widespread in Europe and augmenting already existing inequalities. This is what a study carried out by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) has highlighted. Although significant disparities exist between EU countries, variable compensation elements have risen, on average, from one-fifth in 2000 to more than one-third today and “tend to be more important than the differences in basic salaries,” notes Wouter Zwysen, a researcher at the ETUI and author of the work....
31 March 2021
On 30 March car manufacturer Volvo Cars announced it is opting-in its more than 40,000 employees globally, in all plants and offices, into a new all-gender, paid parental leave policy. From 01 April, Volvo Cars employees will be able to receive 80% of their salary for 24 weeks over a period of up to 3 years after the birth of a child. This initiative is not new for the carmaker, which is extending its 2019 initiative launched for its employees in the Europe/Middle East/Africa area. The company’s statement noted...
24 March 2021
On 22 March the Italian bank announced its implementation of a group-wide minimum standard maternity leave of 16 weeks (paid) and 4 weeks for fathers (voluntary), which will apply globally from April 2021. The press release notes, ‘The new parental leave standard is part of a larger set of welfare initiatives many of which have been specifically strengthened also in the context of the Covid-19 emergency.’ The statement refers to the bank’s initiative in establishing a dedicated Family Board comprising a...
10 February 2021
US mass retailer Kroger, which employs almost 370,000, has joined a list of US companies and announced a lump sum bonus for employees who get inoculated. “As we move into a new phase of the pandemic, we’re increasing our investment to not only recognize our associates’ contributions, but also encourage them to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available to them to optimize their well-being as well as the community’s,” said Tim Massa, Kroger’s Chief Human Resources...
10 December 2020
After recently adopting a similar approach in other European countries, the mobile app-based home food delivery giant Just Eat is starting to end its practice of paying per completed job. This gig economy arena revolution means Just Eat drivers can earn at least the minimum hourly wage and enjoy social benefits rights. Between now and March, more than 1,000 employment contracts will be created in London, be they part-time, full-time, or zero hour contracts (i.e. those that guarantee neither working time nor...
