2022 prices did not give consumers an opportunity. Food and energy costs have been a headache to balance domestic economies. The loss of purchasing power has been a continuum that has not gone unnoticed by companies for the last twelve months. Aware of the need to incentivize their employees, but at the same time keeping an eye on the accounts, some companies have implemented a formula to avoid jeopardizing their future assets.: punctual bonuses. That’s the case with retail groups like H&M and Zara. Although giants like Iberdrola have also used this measure and will pay all their employees an extra 1,000 euros in 2022.
The Swedish fashion brand announced that it will make a one-time payment of 500 euros to the employees of its stores on the January payroll. 250 for those who have spent a full year with the company, for those who have completed half a year. H&M’s move comes just a month after Inditex announced a similar move. The company, founded by Amancio Ortega, will pay its sellers a gross 1,000 euros and an additional 600 euros for working hours less than 24 hours a week. “It’s an incentive that has been withdrawn due to the pandemic and now an agreement has been reached with the unions to take it back,” sources from the Arteixo-based company say.
Some experts point to the exceptional situation during 2022 to explain the timely payment of incentives.. “If the company commits to wage increases in line with inflation this year, there could be a very hard-to-predict ‘snowball’ in the years ahead,” says Valentín Bote, director of research at Randstat. Research.
“This way, employees can weather inflation and the company doesn’t commit to an increase in the pay bill in the coming years. We recommend it to many of our clients for the current situation,” says the company’s managing partner, Josep Capell. consultancy CEINSA specializes in fees and remuneration. This economist also points out that there is a way to make working in the workplace more attractive. retail. “It’s the part of the labor market where you have to work on weekends and differentiate yourself to attract employees”says Capell.
Difficulty to compromise
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And working in shops has unattractive hours that are hard to reconcile. “In some provinces, it is difficult to find workers for stores”, points out Ángeles Rodríguez, head of CCOO union Industry, who also pointed out that the measure negotiated with H&M and Zara will make it possible to stabilize inflation with modest wages in a part of the wage labor market. H&M is also working with unions to make improvements in working hours and “improve the harmony between family and work life” from January.
” retail It is still perceived as a risky sector by workers. It has been one of the hardest-hit activities in the pandemic due to shutdowns and shutdowns, and in addition the workforce has dwindled,” explains economist Valentín Bote, who believes companies also try to keep their employees through pay. “Replacing a worker is not easy and companies want to keep the talent they have”the Boat concludes.