John Lewis Plans 25% Staff Committee Cut to Boost Turnaround Efforts

John Lewis Partnership is set to reduce the size of its senior staff committee, the Partnership Council, by a quarter, shrinking membership from 57 to 43 this autumn as part of ongoing turnaround efforts to improve productivity and accelerate decision-making. The Partnership Council, a key element of John Lewis's democratic structure, allows elected staff to influence strategy, consult on staff bonuses, and even dismiss the chairman in extreme cases. The retailer is also reinstating local forums across its department stores and Waitrose supermarkets to encourage broader employee input and foster closer engagement with local business leaders. The changes aim to reduce reliance on hierarchy and escalation, streamline governance, and ensure partners’ time is used more productively, while maintaining the council's power and role in the business. John Lewis has reported a significant profit increase and revenue growth, signaling progress in its turnaround, but leadership emphasizes the need for further investment in stores and supply chains. The updates have been developed in close consultation with partners and will be implemented from October, reinforcing John Lewis’s commitment to strengthening internal democracy alongside business agility.