Toolstation increases colleague salaries by 9.4%

April 20, 2023 Editor

Toolstation is increasing pay for its 5,500 colleagues. The retailer has introduced a pay rise of 9.4% for all colleagues at entry level and in all store and operations roles. It means that the hourly rate for entry level colleagues will increase to £10.60.

Jag Nagra, HR Director for Toolstation, says, “We’re a business that cares about our colleagues, and this investment recognises their hard work and is designed to support them with the rising costs they face.

“We have also introduced a series of policies designed to promote wellbeing and provide support for different life events. These initiatives are integral to our ambition to create a workplace that supports colleagues in moments that matter and may have an impact on their working lives.”

This series of policies cover the following:

Flexible working for colleagues that have worked at Toolstation for a minimum of 13 weeks
26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory for maternity, adoption, or surrogacy circumstances
Two weeks paid paternity leave
New parents have up to 10 days additional leave during the first two years to cover emergencies
One weeks additional paid leave for both new parents for the two years following the birth of their child
Two days paid leave for those undergoing fertility treatment or an IVF cycle
Two weeks paid leave for those affected by miscarriage and two days paid leave for affected partners
A Trans and Gender Reassignment policy that supports colleagues going through the process of transitioning, provides single sex spaces and use of non-gendered terminology when referring to a group of individuals or an individual of unspecified gender identity
Its Menopause Policy provides a wide range of adjustments to support colleagues experiencing the menopause

Toolstation has also taken steps to help promote positive emotional wellbeing at work, including introducing a network of trained mental-health first aiders and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme that is available whenever colleagues need support or advice for their mental health. It has also recently introduced the Aviva DigiCare+ Workplace App for, available to all colleagues. The benefits include an annual health check, access to a digital GP, a second medical opinion, and mental health and nutritional consultations.