Boots cutting 4,000 jobs and closing a number of optician stores

Boots has announced it plans to make 4,000 of its employees redundant blaming the "significant impact" of Covid-19 for the move.
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The cuts will affect around seven per cent of the retailer's workforce in the UK.

It will particularly affect staff in its Nottingham support office along with some deputy manager, assistant manager, beauty adviser and customer adviser roles across all stores.

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The restructuring will also affect Boots Opticians with the closure of 48 branches.

The cuts will affect around seven per cent of the retailer's workforce in the UK.The cuts will affect around seven per cent of the retailer's workforce in the UK.
The cuts will affect around seven per cent of the retailer's workforce in the UK.

Boots has said it has started a consultation process with its staff.

The major high street retailer said sales have dropped a huge 48 per cent due to the coronavirus pandemic, even though man of its stores were kept open since the start of lockdown as an essential shop.

Boots Opticians has also seen a drop in sales of 72 per cent.

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Boots UK managing director Sebastian James said: “The proposals announced today are decisive actions to accelerate our transformation plan, allow Boots to continue its vital role as part of the UK health system, and ensure profitable long-term growth.

“I am so very grateful to all our colleagues for their dedication during the last few challenging months.

“They have stepped forward to support their communities, our customers and the NHS during this time, and I am extremely proud to be serving alongside them.

“In doing this, we are building a stronger and more modern Boots for our customers, patients and colleagues.

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“We recognise that today’s proposals will be very difficult for the remarkable people who make up the heart of our business, and we will do everything in our power to provide the fullest support during this time.”