Pret a Manger to increase pay for second time in four months with £9.2m investment
Pret a Manger is increasing staff wages in what it has called its biggest ever pay increase, as labour shortages force up wages across the hospitality and retail industries.
The sandwich chain said it wanted to invest in its staff as it recovered from the coronavirus pandemic which has battered its business.
It is the second time it has raised pay since September and comes as employers face a widespread worker shortage.
The sandwich chain, which has 550 shops around the world, said its basic pay rates would increase from between £9.40 and £9.56 to between £9.80 and £10.15 per hour, with baristas being paid more.
In a £9.2 million investment, more than 85% of staff will receive at least £10 per hour while the coffee chain’s mystery shopper bonus will increase 25 per cent to £1.25 per hour.
The company said it wanted to recognise the resilience and hard work of its store staff throughout the pandemic.
Pret chief executive Pano Christou said: “We’ve said all along that as our business recovered, we wanted to invest back into our people. Today, as we move into a new phase of our transformation strategy, I’m really pleased we’re in a position to do exactly that.”
He added: “After a difficult couple of years, it gives me so much joy to be able to give our hard-working shop teams this news. Crucially, when you combine our hourly pay, our 50 per cent staff discount, and the Pret mystery shopper bonus, we’re proud to be one of the best employers in our industry.”
