Morrisons to axe hundreds of roles as part of cost-cutting plans

Morrisons is set to cut more than 200 roles from its Retail People Team, in the same week that Sainsbury’s also announced widespread cuts across the business in order to shore up costs. As part of the cost reduction plan, Morrisons is proposing to remove the roles of regional people manager, store people manager and case specialist.

A Morrisons spokesperson told Retail Sector: “We have recently carried out a review of our People structure to ensure we are offering our stores and sites a timely and consistent service.  We are therefore proposing to remove the roles of Regional People Manager, Store People Manager and Case Specialist from our structure, meaning colleagues in these roles are being placed at risk of redundancy. 

“The new structure will consist of a number of new central roles to support our supermarkets directly along with central HR support and additional employee relations roles. Before any final decisions are taken, we will undertake a minimum 45 day consultation process.”

It comes as Sainsbury’s revealed it is set to axe 3,000 roles across the business as part of restructuring plans that aim to “simplify” its central divisions and management structures.

As part of its three-year Next Level strategy, there will be a 20% reduction in management roles, while it is also set to close its remaining patisserie, hot food and pizza counters.

The group is also closing its remaining 61 Sainsbury’s Cafés, subject to consultation, as part of the restructuring. 

Sainsbury’s said it will also reorganise its head office departments to “become dedicated to the different needs of the Sainsbury’s and Argos businesses, while creating fewer, bigger roles with clearer accountabilities”.