Waitrose has warned its employees not to steal from the supermarket, saying those caught could face losing their jobs or even time in prison. Posters displayed in staff rooms across the country tell workers: “The first time you steal could be the last time you steal. You will lose your job and may receive a fine or be imprisoned.”
The notices, which also encourage staff to speak to managers if they are struggling financially, have reportedly been appearing in stores in recent months, though Waitrose insists they have been in use for the past two years.
A spokesperson for the John Lewis Partnership, which owns Waitrose, said: “We employ brilliant partners who go the extra mile for our customers, and anyone working in retail will be very used to seeing posters like this.”
The warning comes as UK retailers grapple with a surge in thefts, both from customers and employees. A 2023 study by Retail Economics found that staff were responsible for as much as 40 per cent of retail theft incidents, with many company bosses linking the increase to cost of living pressures.
At the time, two-thirds of business leaders surveyed said that rising household bills and financial strain had driven more workers to steal.
The John Lewis Partnership has previously taken steps to support its staff during difficult economic times. In 2022, the group handed full-time workers a £500 cost of living payment and provided free meals over the Christmas periods of 2021 and 2022.
Those measures were later scrapped in 2023, but employees are still able to apply for hardship grants and interest-free loans through internal support schemes.
The latest warning to staff comes as inflation continues to bite. Official figures released last month showed UK inflation had risen to 3.8 per cent, its highest level in 19 months. The International Monetary Fund also said this week that prices in Britain are rising faster than in any other G7 nation.
A separate study commissioned by the Mayor of London found that a 10 per cent rise in the cost of living was associated with an 8 per cent increase in crime rates.
Meanwhile, retailers across the country are contending with what has been described as a “shoplifting epidemic.” Police data suggests nearly three thefts are reported every minute, with total losses from retail crime reaching an estimated £2 billion last year, the equivalent of an extra £133 added to every household’s shopping bill, the Telegraph reported.
In response, John Lewis has bolstered its security measures, including upgrading CCTV and installing locking trolleys in stores in an effort to curb theft.