John Lewis Partnership is set to slash over 150 jobs as part of a major restructuring plan which will see it ramp up its investment for in-store operations.
The department store chain will cut 153 jobs, representing about 1% of its current workforce while increasing the number of staff working on the shop floor.
This reduction is expected to be achieved through natural attrition and voluntary redundancies.
Also, part of the new plan is a “multimillion-pound” investment into new technology, such as £5 million allocated for digital headsets aimed at improving in-store communication.
The company also plans to remove the current distinction between front and back of store roles, enabling more staff to be on the shop floor during peak times.
In a statement, a John Lewis spokesperson said: "We’re seeking to make sure partners are in the right place at the right time to help customers. We’re also removing unnecessary tasks and introducing new technology to make their roles easier."
John Lewis wasn’t the only retailer to make changes to its business today.
Aldi confirmed it would be ending its click-and-collect service after around four years.
The discount supermarket said it was cancelling the scheme so it could run stores more efficiently and maintain a price advantage against rivals.