Wilko is increasing entry-level pay for store and logistics staff from £9.60 to £10 an hour.
The privately-owned homes and garden retailer is also introducing a temporary further 50p-an-hour hike for logistics staff, lasting until the end of March 2023.
The temporary hike, which takes the entry-level logistics rate to £10.50 an hour, is intended to support recruitment and retention during Wilko’s busiest trading period, according to a spokesman. He said it was in response to local recruitment challenges.
This pay increase was rubber-stamped on Friday (28 October) following a national ballot of team members by the GMB trade union. The new rate applies from 2 October and will be backdated in Wilko’s next pay cycle.
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In a further measure to support workers in the cost of living crisis, the business is also temporarily increasing its staff discount from 20% to 30% until the end of January.
“We heard loud and clear from team members and from the GMB that they are worried about the cost of living increase, particularly for anybody on entry-level hourly rates,” said Wilko CEO Jerome Saint-Marc.
“Despite the pressures on retail at the moment, we are really pleased to be able to further invest in our team members to help them through this.
“Our goal remains to grow by helping hard-working families with their everyday household and garden jobs. This approach is made possible only through the continued long-term commitment of our family ownership which enables us to make the right decisions for Wilko’s continued success.”
Read more: How much do supermarkets pay their staff?
A number of supermarkets have raised entry-level pay twice this year in response to inflation, while Aldi staff will get their third within 12 months on 1 January. It will take their hourly rate to £12.45 within the M25 and £11 elsewhere in the country, and make Aldi the highest-paying supermarket based on entry-level shopworker rates.
A number of retailers have also introduced additional measures to support staff in the cost of living crisis, including one-off payments an temporary pay hikes over winter to help with spiralling energy bills.
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