John Lewis installs system to streamline its human resources

Retailer brings HR technology in line with business model with overhaul

John Lewis Partnership (JLP) will go live this month with a new human resources (HR) and payroll system to better manage its shared-ownership business model.

The retailer is a private company that shares ownership of 27 John Lewis department stores and 174 Waitrose supermarkets with its 63,000 employees, giving them benefits including a share in annual profits.

HR director Andy Street says the company strives to reflect its business model and philosophy in its personnel management and processes, offering performance-related pay scales, use of JLP-owned holiday venues and childcare vouchers.

‘But we had a whole load of legacy, bespoke and independent HR systems that didn’t talk to each other,’ he said.

‘This resulted in an HR system of inconsistent standards and fragmented information that was expensive to operate.’

JLP has installed an HR system from supplier Oracle that will help provide better control of individual personnel histories needed to administer special employee benefits. The system will go live in three weeks’ time.

‘Before, HR would do personnel administration for managers. This will empower managers to handle HR tasks themselves,’ said Street.

‘We will be able to get a better view of what the partnership needs to do to fill the talent pipeline and improve our labour scheduling.’

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