Which high street shops should get your money?

While some brands are behaving badly, others are stepping up to help their staff and others in times of need. I've made this guide to help you shop smarter once we've emerged from Coronavirus, and give money to the brands, shops, and chains who deserve it.

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Starbucks

Greggs

Rating:

Good

Updated on
June 15, 2020

Games Workshop

Rating:

Good

Updated on
June 15, 2020

Multiple people have got in touch to say: 

  • Full pay for those self-isolating
  • Full pay for staff while stores are closed, even if they are furloughed
  • Helped staff work from home where possible

Games workshop has not responded to a request for comment at this stage.

British Airways

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
June 15, 2020

IKEA

Rating:

Good

Updated on
June 15, 2020
  • IKEA have paid their staff 90% of their usual wages while they were placed on furlough. However the company did not claim any money from the government.
  • They plan to repay governments in other countries where they have participated in a state-run furlough scheme.

Tesco

Rating:

Good

Updated on
June 7, 2020

Aldi

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
June 7, 2020

I spoke to a source who said:

  • Aldi is not participating in the gov furlough scheme.
  • One of Aldi’s employees has been told they are unable to be furloughed or be paid sickness pay, despite being advised to shield themselves by their GP due to their child. Their child is undergoing treatment for an illness and is classed as extremely vulnerable by the government.

A spokesperson for Aldi said: “Any colleague who is clinically extremely vulnerable should not come to work, and will be fully paid until it is safe for them to return. The latest government advice states that those living with an extremely vulnerable person do not need to shield themselves, however we will review any such situations on a case-by-case basis.”

  • A Labour MP, Siobhain McDonagh, tweeted about a very similar issue, though this could be the same as above.

Krispy Kreme

Rating:

Good

Updated on
June 7, 2020

Timpson

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 18, 2020

Nando's

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 12, 2020
  • 50% off for NHS workers when dining in
  • After Nando's closed restaurants on 22 March, a Nando's staff will be paid their full contracted hours until 3 May.
  • After this point employees have will be paid 80% of their contracted hours, according to internal documents which I have seen
  • Nando's added: they are "committed to doing everything we can to help [our teams] through these unprecedented times"

Thank you to the dozens of people who wrote in to also confirm the above, and to say that: Multiple Nando's resturants have been giving away free food to NHS staff, key workers and food banks.

Anonymous feedback: "The communication from management has been incredible...Truly feels like a big family"

Ford

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 12, 2020

Edinburgh Woollen Mill

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
May 2, 2020

McDonald's

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 2, 2020

Thank you to the many people who wrote in to say:

  • Staff will be paid 80% as part of gov scheme, which also applies to staff on zero-hours contracts
  • Staff were also fully paid for the first two weeks of closure*

I've had conflicting reports of franchised branches paying different amounts. Please get in touch if you can verify this.

MG

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 2, 2020

Nissan

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 2, 2020

Aston Martin

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 2, 2020

Bentley

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Jaguar Land Rover

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

SEAT

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Asda

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Asda recently announced that they will:

  • Pay staff who need to self-isolate for 12 weeks
  • Suspend rents for the small businesses within their stores

Plus:

Marks & Spencer

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Fuller's

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Fullers have:

Plus, internal documents which I have seen has confirmed:

  • The main board directors have taken a voluntary 25% pay cut
  • Despite closing on 21 March, employees will be paid in full up to the 4 April
  • All employees will get 80% of their pay, or 80% average of their earnings as part of the Gov scheme.
  • If the Gov scheme doesn't cover 80% of employee wages, the company will cover the rest up to 80%

Weatherspoon

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Sports Direct

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
May 1, 2020

The Body Shop

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

The Body Shop have: 

Multiple people have written in to praise the communication and support from management.

Anonymous feedback: "they're treating us really well" & "free counselling and wellbeing services"

REISS

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Do you have info about the environment in Reiss' warehouses? Please get in touch if you can provide information from a verifiable source.

The Range

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Anonymous feedback:

"Fridges and freezers were brought in and are not yet full of food"
"No sick pay for staff after a week unless you have a sick note – which you can't get at the moment"
"vulnerable staff told 'its just the flu, you'll get over it' "

Thank you to the multiple people have written in about The Range.

Wilko

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
May 1, 2020
  • Wilko kicked off March by saying they were cutting sick pay for staff
  • Staff employed less that one year would get no sick pay while long serving staff only would get once instance of paid sickness leave once per year
  • Wilko later put the plans on hold after criticism. They said 'Wilko has paid Company Sick Pay to team members absent with COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak and continues to do so. This is over and above Statutory Sick Pay'
  • GMB Union said that workers were 'terrified' over safety concerns but Wilko rejects this

Burberry

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Arcadia Group

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Arcadia, who own Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, and Evans & Burton have:

Thanks to: Chris Burl and others

TK Maxx

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

O2

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Gousto

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

EE

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

EE have announced:

  • Paying staff fully if they need to self-isolate
  • Continuing to pay all retail staff in closed stores
  • Any visits to the NHS online website are free, even if you have no data

In more news: 

DPD

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Anonymous feedback:

"Customers have to open the door to receive their parcel even if they are self isolating. Drivers have to take a photo showing the parcel in the open doorway. If customer won't open the door, the parcel is returned to sender."

Cineworld

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
May 1, 2020

BP

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Apple

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Travelodge

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Home Bargains

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Home Bargains created a £30 million fund to pay staff:

  • when they self-isolate
  • who are higher risk and need to self-isolate for longer
  • if they haven't self-isolated by December, they'll get two weeks of pay anyway

In more news:

WHSmith

Rating:

Good

Updated on
May 1, 2020

Costa

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 30, 2020

Costa posted on Twitter on 23 March confirming:

  • Free hot drinks for NHS workers
  • Delivered canned drinks to NHS workers
  • Have plans to deliver 1 million cans of coffee
  • Promised to deliver food to NHS workers
  • Will be paying their staff in full over the next 8 weeks

In more news:

Primark

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Thanks to everyone who got in touch about Primark.

Pret

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Pret has so far: 

Co-op Food

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Co-op Food is a network of separate societies, the points below may not apply to all stores/organisations.

Synergy Dental Clinic

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020
  • On 25 March a letter from the NHS confirmed that NHS funding for dental practises will be secured, if staff "continue to be paid at previous levels".
  • Despite this, on 27 March Synergy confirmed they were laying off staff, asking others to take 'as many holidays as possible'.
  • A later letter from the NHS on 15 April reiterated that Gov furlough scheme and other gov financial support was available to practices, but decisions by Syngery around staff redundancies had not been reversed, leaving staff unemployed.
  • The company has set up an employee support fund, though all money given out must be paid back.
  • The company reportedly bought 2 litres of hand sanitiser for £240.

I received a quantity of internal documentation cover this, thank you.

Vonder

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020
  • According to a former employee of Vonder, they are firing staff (some of which only have 1 week's notice, rather than putting them on gov furlough scheme.

Vonder Europe has been approached for comment.

Barbour

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

EDF

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Louis Vuitton

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020


Lidl

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

TUI

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020

According to internal documents that I have seen: 

  • TUI has also cancelled the contracts of Summer Cabin Crew, asking staff to pay for their own postage to return any equipment and uniforms to the office.

EasyJet

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Virgin Atlantic

Rating:

None

Updated on
April 27, 2020

It is unclear what the the company can afford, and if it can stay solvent. It's not getting a 'nope' rating just yet, though I will keep this updated in the coming days

Mercedes

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Waitrose

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

On 22 March, the John Lewis Partnership announced:

  • All Waitrose shops will protect batches of ‘hard to find’ and essential stock exclusively for NHS workers to ensure they can access basic shopping items
  • NHS staff will receive priority checkout treatment in all Waitrose supermarkets
  • John Lewis is donating comfort items such as pillows, phone chargers, eye masks and hand cream, as well as 50,000 Easter treats, to hospitals
  • Staff in Waitrose and John Lewis are being offered free meals at work

Plus:

BT

Rating:

OK

Updated on
April 27, 2020

The Evening Telegraph in Dundee reported

  • Staff at call centres are 'sat less than 1m away' from others, and are asked to come if they are healthy
  • Though BT says they are implementing 'social distancing within [their] call centres'
  • BT are paying staff who are sick or are in self-isolation

Plus:

Live Better With

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Live Better With is company that recommends products, writes articles, and has an online community for people with cancer, menopause, dementia and other conditions.

According to internal documents which have been shared with me: 

  • Despite a goal pandemic, the company has decided now is a good time to implement a restructure
  • Staff are being fired, and won't be paid after their notice period
  • Non-compete clauses still apply in their contracts, adding barriers to finding new jobs
  • Some employees are being offered furlough (with 80% paid by the gov), but it doesn't apply to everyone

Merlin Entertainments

Rating:

OK

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Amey

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Warren James

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

According to internal documents which I have seen:

  • All operations, including stores closed on Tue 24 March
  • Staff are paid in full for the following two weeks,
  • Staff will then 'use up' any annual leave they have remaining, before being paid 80% of their wages as part of the Gov scheme
  • The company has also given staff up to £100 extra for a 'food fund' to help them buy food

Brewdog

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Smiggle

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020

According to an internal letter sent to staff, which I have seen:

  • Smiggle have asked staff to take unpaid leave while the company waits for money from the Government's furlough scheme
  • Employees will be receive back-dated pay (at 80% of their usual salary), but that means it could be weeks where they are going without pay
  • No date is set for when the will next be paid

Wren Kitchens

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Anonymous feedback:

"Still forcing customers to take delivery, even if they're self isolating. If customers want to change it, they're being charged £150 or more"

"I was given a higher contract because I was over-performing, then was let go because I was under-performing"

Thank you to the many people who have wrote in about Wren.

Stena Line

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Pets at Home

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

According to an email sent to customers, Pets at Home have:

  • Given all NHS staff get 10% off shopping and vet bills
  • Donated £1.1 million in charitable grants
  • Fully paid staff who need to shield for 12 weeks or self-isolate
  • Created a £1 million staff hardship fund to help staff and families

LEON

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Posting on Tuesday 24 March, Leon announced: 

  • Over 13,800 meals were served to NHS workers at a 50% discount
  • Supporting their workers if they choose to stay at home
  • Staying open to serve key workers despite losing money
  • If they do make a profit, it'll be spent directly on feeding hospital teams

According to internal documents which I have seen, staff who needed to self isolate or take care of a dependant were only being paid Statutory Sick Pay.

LEON has not responded to a request for comment at this stage.

Pretty Little Thing

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
April 27, 2020
  • People are calling for their warehouse to close, but the company deny there are any issues

Sainsbury's

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Monzo

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

ASOS

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Anonymous feedback:
"They are not allowing staff to wear masks as it's not part of the uniform"

Thanks to: @DonnaWalkerBN and others

Sykes

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Thank you to the many people who wrote in about Sykes.

Bacardi

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Bacardi owns brands Grey Goose, Bombay Saphire, Martini, Tequila Patron, and Dewar's.

Café Nero

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Internal documents, which I have seen, show: 

  • Dozens of Café Nero branches have donated food and supplies to NHS workers, hospitals, police officers, pharmacists and food banks

Carluccio’s

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Greene King

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

I've spoken with Greene King directly who have confirmed: 

Thanks to the multiple people including Thom, Ben and others, who've written in with their experiences.

Anonymous feedback: "The company have been amazing" "Couldn't ask for any more"

Hermes

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Credit

Domino's

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
April 27, 2020
  • Free medium pizza for NHS workers available in some stores. As stores are franchised, the availability of these offers is down to individual owners.

Holland and Barrett

Rating:

None

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Holland and Barrett have announced it is:

There is considerable debate on social media about the chain being classed as 'essential', and whether staff have been provided sufficient PPE equipment. If you can verify this, then please get in touch.

The Kinksters Adult Store

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Thanks to the anonymous tip off – an unexpected addition to the list.

TGI Fridays

CEX

Rating:

Mixed

Updated on
April 27, 2020
  • CeX asked staff to travel to closed stores after UK lockdown
  • But CEX says 'It is a voluntary request and we are limiting the numbers of colleagues in each location'

Argos

Rating:

Nope

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Anonymous feedback:

"we're being worked to the bone", "we are being treated appallingly, working 12/13 hours a day, every day, which is mentally, and physically exhausting"

Superdrug

Rating:

Good

Updated on
April 27, 2020

Superdrug have announced a £40m package which includes:

  • paying colleagues in full if they are not able to work through either sickness, self isolation, being a parent, being a vulnerable person, or due to store closures
  • colleagues who live with or care for someone in a vulnerable group

Paul

Rating:

OK

Updated on
April 27, 2020