Tesco staff were reportedly given Quality Street in recognition of their hard work over the festive period this year in lieu of a Christmas bonus amid the cost of living crisis.
The supermarket paid its workers a 10% Christmas bonus in 2020, and in previous years has given out shopping vouchers - but according to some workers, all they received this year was a tub of chocolates worth £5 instead. One staff member told The Guardian that it was the second year in a row they had received only Quality Street from their employer, accusing Tesco of "penny-pinching and trying to drive costs down".
The UK's largest supermarket chain upped the pay rate for its shop floor staff twice last year, bringing the hourly wage up to £10.10 in July before increasing it again to £10.30 in October. Tesco said that it has never issued a regular Christmas cash bonus, and added that it helped workers with the cost of Christmas by offering a 20% staff discount on top of their 8% pay rise in 2022.
