Morrisons is cutting 3,000 management jobs but creating 7,000 new shop floor roles - here’s what it means for staff and customers

The move is designed to improve customer service in Morrisons stores (Photo: Shutterstock)The move is designed to improve customer service in Morrisons stores (Photo: Shutterstock)
The move is designed to improve customer service in Morrisons stores (Photo: Shutterstock)

Morrisons has announced it is to cut 3,000 management jobs across its stores as part of a huge restructure, which will see the supermarket chain create more shop floor roles.

The managerial cuts will make way for 7,000 new hourly-paid jobs at its 500 UK branches.

More customer-facing roles

The company said the creation of the new roles will result in a net 4,000 more employees.

The new jobs will be in customer-facing, shop floor positions on the Morrisons Market Street counters, including butchers, bakers and fishmongers. The roles will be a mix of both part-time and full-time posts, although it h

as not yet confirmed how the numbers will be split.

Workers who are currently in a management position will be able to move to the new jobs, with Morrisons stating there will be roles “for everybody who wants to continue to work at Morrisons”. Front-line staff at Morrisons currently earn £9 per hour.

The new jobs will be in customer-facing positions, including butchers, bakers and fishmongers (Photo: Shutterstock)

Better for customers?

The supermarket said the move to cut down managerial positions is designed to improve customer service in its stores, increasing staff availability on the shop floor. The shake-up is intended to allow the remaining department managers more time to “concentrate on helping frontline colleagues to do their job and run their stores”.

David Lepley, Morrisons group retail director, told the BBC, “Whilst there will be a short period of uncertainty for some managers affected by these proposals, we will be supporting them through this process and there are jobs available for everybody who wants to continue to work at Morrisons.

“There will also be more roles with greater flexibility that are very attractive to colleagues with families."

Morrisons added that a consultation period will last for 45 days before any changes take place.

The announcement comes just days after rival supermarket Sainsbury's announced plans to cut hundreds more managerial jobs following its takeover of Argos.