Following the uproar on B&Q's changes to staff wages - in which the retailer pledged to raise basic pay while cutting wages elsewhere - bosses have made the decision to extend compensations which they say will mean most staff are "better off or unaffected".
B&Q announced last month that it would be increasing its staff's basic pay to a minimum of £7.66 per hour from April 1, but other changes including removal of time and a half pay for Sunday workers and reduction of double time for bank holiday hours ignited a furore among employees. A petition demanding that B&Q management rethink this pay change currently has more than 136,000 signatures.

And, it seems, B&Q has listened to its workers. In a statement made public just yesterday, the retailer announced it was extending compensation so that staff would be better off or unaffected for the next two years. The statement reads:

"One of our core principles has always been to be a great place to work and to offer an attractive overall reward package to all colleagues. Over the last 10 years, inconsistencies and complexities have arisen in our pay structures which have meant that colleagues doing the same job in the same store were being paid different amounts.

"For our business to be successful it is very important to us that our colleagues are paid well, consistently and in a way which rewards performance, and this is reflected in the new pay and reward structure that came into effect on 1 April 2016.

"Many colleagues will be better off or unaffected by these changes, and we have decided to extend the compensation so that no one will lose out for the next two years. This decision has the support of our elected staff representatives.

"Over the next two years, we will continue to work with our colleagues to look at ways we can enhance our overall reward package to ensure we remain one of the best and most attractive employers in retail."

A B&Q spokesperson told DIYWeek.net: "B&Q has listened to what people were saying and to their elected staff representatives, and this decision has the full support of the staff representatives."