Some Tesco staff have claimed they have missed out on getting a Christmas bonus for the second year in a row, but they didn't exactly walk away empty handed.
Instead, they were given tubs of Quality Street.
The supermarket retailer is said to have given staff a 10% Christmas bonus in 2020 as an extra thank you for all their hard work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and in previous years has also been known to give out shopping vouchers - but in 2022, they were said to have just had to make do with some leftover festive chocolate.
The Guardian reports that Tesco staff received a plastic tub of Quality Street chocolates that were priced at £5 in store.
One worker complained to the paper that it was the second year in a row he had received only a tub of Quality Street and not a Christmas bonus, despite his particular store taking more than £10 million in December.
Tesco staff say they were given tubs of Quality Street instead of a Christmas bonus / Credit: Tesco
Tesco has addressed the claims by revealing that its staff discount was doubled to 20% on certain days during the run-up to Christmas, instead of offering vouchers or a cash bonus this past year.
The retailer said in a statement that it "would be wrong to suggest" chocolate replaced bonuses.
"We have never given a regular cash bonus at Christmas and it is wrong to suggest that we have replaced one with chocolates," Tesco said.
"To help colleagues with their Christmas shopping this year, we doubled our colleague discount to 20% in the run-up to Christmas - one of many benefits available to our colleagues, on top of the near 8% increase in base pay we invested over last year."
The tubs of festive sweets retail at £5 / Credit: Quality Street
Tesco also said bonuses were handed to shopfloor workers in April, May, and June 2020 when stores were very busy at the height of the pandemic, as well as in December 2020 to “recognise their exceptional effort during the peak Christmas trading period”.
The retailer has also pledged to invest £200 million into increasing its rate of pay for shopfloor staff to a minimum of £10.10.
It upped the rate again in October to a minimum of £10.30, taking their total pay rise last year to 8%.
Featured Image - Quality Street
Trending
Leeds City Council granted £1.6m to tackle rough sleeping by Christmas
A £1.6m grant has been given by the government to Leeds City Council to help tackle rough sleeping.
The funding has been allocated to Leeds City Council as part of the Government’s national Rough Sleeping Programme.
The overall target is to help rough sleepovers off the streets by Christmas through providing safe accommodation.
The council have said that voluntary organisations and charities will be able to help them reach this target.
The council report said: "This funding will be used for immediate interventions to ensure all those rough sleeping have an offer of accommodation by Christmas and support longer term sustainment of accommodation.
“The initial target is to provide a suitable offer of accommodation for everyone who is rough sleeping by Christmas 2026.
“Providing a path into supported accommodation and independent living is the key objective and sustaining this independent living with, where necessary, ongoing support to prevent any return to rough sleeping and homelessness.”
The government announcement spoke of the scheme: "The programme is intended to support people experiencing rough sleeping.
"People experiencing rough sleeping may have differing entitlements to housing and support depending on their individual circumstances, including their immigration status and eligibility for public funds."
The funding is intended to help provide immediate support for people currently sleeping on the streets, while also helping them access longer-term accommodation and the support needed to maintain independent living.
By working with local charities and voluntary organisations, the council hopes to ensure people are not only offered a place to stay but are also given the help they need to avoid returning to the streets.
M&S launches massive recruitment drive in Leeds with hundreds of jobs available
Emily Sergeant
M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive across Yorkshire.
With the festive season fast approaching, and most British stores having already unveiled their Christmas ranges for 2026, one of the country’s largest brands has launched a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drives to gear up for what is always one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry.
M&S has announced it will recruit for plenty of new colleagues across the UK.
As mentioned Christmas is one of the busiest moments of the year for M&S, and seasonal colleagues play a ‘vital’ part in delivering that.
Image: Supplied
New recruits will be tasked with helping M&S deliver a ‘brilliant’ service for customers.
Stores with vacancies span the whole of Leeds - including city centre, Moortown, Crown Point, White Rose Shopping Centre and Pudsey.
M&S says the roles are ‘fast-moving and hands-on’, with colleagues required to work together to make sure customers still get the very best of M&S, even at its busiest.
The roles will pay £13.41 per hour, with successful applicants receiving the training, tools and support needed to get up to speed quickly.
“We can’t wait to welcome over 300 new colleagues to our store teams here in Greater Manchester,” commented Zeba Khan, who is the Regional Manager at M&S.
“As we get ready for our busiest time of year, it’s a great opportunity to join us and help bring a magical M&S Christmas to our customers.
“We have a range of opportunities available, whether joining our city centre flagship or our fresh market-style foodhalls. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about delivering great customer service and being part of a team.”
Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you can find out more and apply on the M&S Christmas careers page here.
Emily Sergeant -
10th January 2023 
