Cost of living crisis: Sainsbury’s reveal Autumn pay rise for staff, free food and increased discounts

Dennis Morton
By Dennis Morton
Published 14th Sep 2022, 13:22 BST
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The lowest-paid workers are getting further support through the cost of living crisis.

Sainsbury’s has revealed a new £25 million plan to help their lowest paid store-workers deal with the rising cost of living.

Starting October, 127,000 hourly workers will get a 25p an hour pay rise, increasing their pay to £10.25 an hour with London staff earning £11.30.

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As well as a pay increase, store-workers will also be getting free food during their shifts as well as increased in-store discounts.

This is Sainsbury’s second pay rise this year, with a 5% pay rise being implemented back in the spring of 2022.

Sainsbury’s staff will be getting their second pay rise in one year this October. Sainsbury’s staff will be getting their second pay rise in one year this October.
Sainsbury’s staff will be getting their second pay rise in one year this October.

The new pay rise increases the company’s wage bills to £150 million annually., and combined with millions of pounds being used to keep food prices down, will leave a mark on Sainsbury’s profits.

Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “Every day I am hearing from colleagues who are really feeling the pressures of the rising cost of living,

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“That’s why we are doing everything we can to help our colleagues as they face rising bills and living costs this autumn. This is the first time we have given two pay rises in the same year.”

The 25p pay rise will cost Sainsbury’s £20 million, and an additional £5 million will be used to provide its employees with free food such as toast, soup and porridge.

As well as a pay rise and free food, the employee discounts, which are currently at 10% at Sainsbury’s and its partner store Argo’s, will be increased to 15% and 20% in time for Christmas shopping.

Roberts adds: “We had a debate over whether we should leave this until next year or bring forward some of this now, given the challenges of the autumn and winter ahead,

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