Petition to pay JDW staff double on bank holidays reaches 50k signatures

The online petition​ directly addresses JDW boss Tim Martin, calls on him to ensure staff are paid more for bank holiday shifts worked.

It says: “This petition is open to staff, customers and the general public. If you agree staff should be paid double on bank holidays, please add your name.

“A lot of companies get bank holidays off. Unfortunately JDW isn’t one of them. And of course, because we are hospitality and we provide a service to those who [are] fortunate enough to not work.

“Surely we should be rewarded in some way. If you agree please sign the petition now.”

Share scheme

It went on to say: “Dear Tim Martin, chairman of JDW. Please give staff double pay on bank holidays. Signed, JDW associates and customers.”

A statement from the pub group laid out what it offers staff at present including free meals and a share scheme.

It said: “We review our pay and benefits packaged for employees on a regular basis – for example, we have recently extended the offer of free food to all pub employees while working and we believe the overall package is competitive.

“In 2019, the company paid £46m in bonuses and free shares to employees – 83% was paid to employees who worked in pubs.

“The company paid £428m to its employees in bonuses and free shares since 2006. We believe this is a higher percentage of profits than any other quoted pub, restaurant or retail company."

Competitive package

The company statement added: “As of the end of May 2021, 14,503 of our 37,529 employees had been awarded free shares. Since the share scheme was introduced in 2003, JDW has awarded 20.6m shares to employees – approximately 16% of all the shares in existence today.

“Staff receive double time on Christmas Day and 28 days paid holiday per annum.”

Company spokesman Eddie Gershon added employment packages need to be considered in the round.

He said: “JDW believes its overall package is competitive in the hospitality industry.”

According to Personnel Today​, there is no statutory right to extra pay if staff work bank holidays. Any right to additional pay depends on the contract of employment of the employee.

There is also no statutory right for employees to take bank holidays off work and any right to time off also depends on the contract of employment.