It is owned by its employees-or par

It is owned by its employees-or partners 20
- who have a say in how it is run and
receive a share of the projlts. Surelv
this is the way every organis{//ion
by someone who really knows what
they ' re talking about and, most
unusually of all. is eager to help.
Unl ike other high-street names,
5 should be ntn? John Lewis is owned by its employees.
lt's just before opening time on
bonus day at John Lewis and. boy. arc
we excited. Up and down the country,
the 69 ,000 people who work for the
10 nation's favourite retailer arc gathered,
impatient. A specially chosen staff
member opens an envelope and reads
out a number. Fifteen per cent. It's the
percentage of their salary that each
IS John Lewis employee takes home as
that year's bonus.
25 each of whom has a say in its running
and a share in its profits. This is
Britain's largest example of worker
co-ownership. Its purpose is ''the
happiness of all its members. through
30 their worthwhile and satisfying
employment in a successful business''.
''11 's a good company to work for."
says Pedro. a Waitrose* chef. "I didn't o�o
realise how good until I joined."
A veteran of five years, Kirsty
Reilly. in womenswear, speaks of the
"passion and commitment" that come
from "being engaged. because you
have a shared interest in making sure it
works, for you and for the people you
H a product is on sale in a John
Lewis store, you know you can trust it.
Plus you can be sure you'll be served

35 Employer-employee relations at John
Lewis. says Nicola McRoberts, '·arc
completely different. They want you to
be happy." 45 work with.