[UK] Marks & Spencer raises store worker pay but drops real living wage commitment

In the UK, the high street retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has dropped its pledge to pay workers in line with the real living wage in this year’s salary rise for its 55,000-strong store staff, The Industry reports.

M&S announced that it will increase pay by at least 6.4 per cent from April 1 for retail staff, lifting wages to £13.41 per hour nationwide, and £14.74 for London-based workers.

This reportedly takes the retailer’s pay rates above the national minimum wage, which will rise to £12.71 per hour for those aged 21 and over across the UK from April 1. However, M&S is no longer offering pay in line with the real living wage.

The voluntary benchmark is calculated on the real cost of living, and currently stands at £13.45 an hour in the UK and £14.80 in London.

Shareholder activists ShareAction have urged M&S to reinstate its pay in line with the real living wage, saying this was “vital for workers’ livelihoods”.

Louise Eldridge - Head of Good Work at ShareAction - said, “With more people struggling to cover basics, it’s worrying to see another major supermarket step back from the only independent benchmark on what people need to take home to meet the cost of living, save for the future, and enjoy their free time.

“This is vital for workers’ livelihoods, and it’s good for business, with all kinds of proven benefits, including reducing turnover and attracting higher quality talent.

“We’re urging M&S - and the wider sector - to consider restoring full alignment with the real living wage in London and across the UK.”

In March 2025, M&S said it had increased pay to be in line with the real living wage. Then this week, on March 3, it announced that it had invested more than £350 million in staff pay over the past four years, equating to an increase of more than 34 per cent.

The latest pay rise for store staff will cost more than £70 million and is higher than inflation, the retailer said.

Stuart Machin - Chief Executive of M&S - said, “This is a good cost and I am pleased that we have been able to make this inflation-beating pay award, alongside our leading package of benefits.

“This investment reflects the central role our people play as we reshape M&S for growth.”

Source: The Industry

(Quotes via original reporting)

In the UK, the high street retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has dropped its pledge to pay workers in line with the real living wage in this year’s salary rise for its 55,000-strong store staff, The Industry reports.

M&S announced that it will increase pay by at least 6.4 per cent from April 1 for retail staff, lifting wages to £13.41 per hour nationwide, and £14.74 for London-based workers.

This reportedly takes the retailer’s pay rates above the national minimum wage, which will rise to £12.71 per hour for those aged 21 and over across the UK from April 1. However, M&S is no longer offering pay in line with the real living wage.

The voluntary benchmark is calculated on the real cost of living, and currently stands at £13.45 an hour in the UK and £14.80 in London.

Shareholder activists ShareAction have urged M&S to reinstate its pay in line with the real living wage, saying this was “vital for workers’ livelihoods”.

Louise Eldridge - Head of Good Work at ShareAction - said, “With more people struggling to cover basics, it’s worrying to see another major supermarket step back from the only independent benchmark on what people need to take home to meet the cost of living, save for the future, and enjoy their free time.

“This is vital for workers’ livelihoods, and it’s good for business, with all kinds of proven benefits, including reducing turnover and attracting higher quality talent.

“We’re urging M&S - and the wider sector - to consider restoring full alignment with the real living wage in London and across the UK.”

In March 2025, M&S said it had increased pay to be in line with the real living wage. Then this week, on March 3, it announced that it had invested more than £350 million in staff pay over the past four years, equating to an increase of more than 34 per cent.

The latest pay rise for store staff will cost more than £70 million and is higher than inflation, the retailer said.

Stuart Machin - Chief Executive of M&S - said, “This is a good cost and I am pleased that we have been able to make this inflation-beating pay award, alongside our leading package of benefits.

“This investment reflects the central role our people play as we reshape M&S for growth.”

Source: The Industry

(Quotes via original reporting)