Wetherspoon to cut up to 130 head office jobs

(Sharecast News) - JD Wetherspoon has told head office employees that almost a third of their jobs are at risk because of the downturn in the pub and restaurant trade.
The FTSE 250 pub chain said between 110 and 130 jobs were at risk of redundancy out of 417 working at the company's base in Watford, Hertfordshire, and in regions.

Wetherspoon said the decision was caused by a general downturn in trade, slower expansion and the company having 82 fewer pubs than five years ago.

Chief Executive John Hutson said: "The company will listen to suggestions from staff to help avoid or reduce the number of compulsory redundancies which are required. Wetherspoon is proposing to collectively consult with employees through an employment representative committee."

Hutson said the company would consider voluntary redundancies, early retirement, transferring employees to pubs, reduced working hours and unpaid sabbaticals as options to minimise forced redundancies.

Wetherspoon said all head office employees would be affected by the process except those working directly in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The cuts do not affect staff in the group's 873 pubs.