Wetherspoons cut staff discount days after boss receives a knighthood

26 February 2024 , 19:36

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The boss, Tim Martin, who founded the pub giant in 1979, was knighted at Windsor Castle on Thursday for services to the hospitality industry. (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga)

Wetherspoon has reduced its staff discount - in the same week as millionaire boss Tim Martin received a knighthood.

Previously, workers received a 50 per cent discount on all food and drink purchased at the pub chain giant, in addition to being allowed one free meal and drink per shift. Now, that 50 per cent allowance has been cut to 20 per cent, with unions claiming it shows the chain doesn't value its hardworking staff enough.

The Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) said the discount was vital to Wetherspoon workers as they are not allowed to heat up their own food on company premises. The chain's boss, Tim Martin, who founded the pub giant in 1979, was knighted at Windsor Castle on Thursday for services to the hospitality industry.

Reportedly worth a staggering £448m, the businessman was an out-spoken and high profile supporter of Brexit. He now faces calls to offer his staff a £15 an hour minimum wage.

BFAWU generals secretary, Sarah Woolley, said: "Wetherspoon needs to raise the bar as far as their treatment of their workforce is concerned. The company is taking the hard work and dedication of their staff for granted. Wetherspoon is only back in profit because of their staff. They are the central reason for their success and this decision to cut the staff discount sends a strong signal that this is neither understood nor appreciated by the owners.

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"They should reverse this decision immediately and while they are at it pay their staff more, preferably at least £15 an hour, so that they don't have to rely so much on this discount. Let's face it if they were paid enough and properly appreciated then this issue would not anger the staff as much as it does.

"The problem is that this is the latest signal that the company does not value its workforce in the way that it should. Wetherspoon should change tack and remind itself that its workers are their biggest asset and they should be appreciated and rewarded better than they are at the moment."

In a statement to the Daily Record, JD Wetherspoon said it offered all employees a complimentary meal and drink while on duty - even for shifts that are as short as two hours.

A spokesman for the company, Eddie Gershon, said: "Wetherspoon has awarded over 20 per cent of the shares in the company to employees since introducing the free shares scheme in 2006 and is one of a few companies that offers a complimentary meal and drink on duty, even for the shortest shift. In January this year, the company was recognised as a top employer by the Top Employers’ Institute for the 19th time."

Chris McCall