Morrisons to scrap 1,500 roles in changes to in-store management structure

Morrisons has become the latest retailer to announce a restructure of its in-store management as it looks to scrap 1,500 roles.

The retailer insisted it was creating 1,700 new positions as part of the shakeup. These are likely to be customer service colleague roles, while the jobs facing the axe are more senior management positions such as warehouse managers.

Morrisons said there would be a net increase of 200 posts overall while revealing that there are currently 800 management vacancies in Morrisons stores. It said this would mean affected managers would be given the opportunity to stay within the company.

The retailer argued the changes would enable Morrisons stores to serve customers better and ensure that managers have more consistent responsibilities.

“Our aim is to serve customers better with more front-line colleagues in stores improving product availability and helping customers at the checkouts,” said Morrisons retail director Gary Mills.

“Very regrettably, there will be a period of uncertainty for some managers affected by these proposals and we’ll be supporting them through this important process. Our commitment is to redeploy as many affected colleagues as possible.”

The is the second shake-up of in-store management in Morrisons in the last four years. The previous round in 2014/15 saw the role of deputy manager disappear with the stated aim at the time of getting more colleagues on the shop floor.

“We will be entering into consultations with the company on behalf of our members affected by these changes, which the company proposes to implement in April.,” said Usdaw national officer Joanne McGuinness.

“We are providing Sata members with the support, advice and representation they require through this process. Our priorities are to avoid redundancies and help our members stay employed within the business. We have secured from Morrisons a commitment to offer redeployment opportunities for all affected managers.”

Last Monday Tesco revealed plans to scrap more than 1,700 management jobs to cut costs while Sainsbury’s announced a major management restructure that will affect thousands of shop floor roles the following day.