Harrods to cut 700 jobs

Luxury department store Harrods is set to cut around 700 jobs as it attempts to weather the storm caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

According to The Guardian, Harrods has told its staff that one in seven of its employees would be affected by jobs cut. 

The paper revealed that in a note to Harrods staff, the chief executive, Michael Ward, said: “The necessary social-distancing requirements to protect employees and customers is having a huge impact on our ability to trade, while the devastation in international travel has meant we have lost key customers coming to our store and frontline operations.”

It is reported that jobs in part of the business which are set to remain closed would be the most likely to be affected.

On the 23 March, Harrods announced the temporary closure of its site due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the time the department store said the welfare of its community of colleagues, customers and partners has been its “absolute priority throughout this time of uncertainty”. As a result, it had made the “very difficult decision” to close its doors.

Retail Sector has contacted Harrods for comment.