S&N bonus leaves out lower ranks

Scottish & Newcastle has launched an annual bonus scheme for its head chefs and pub managers, but has left out lower-ranking staff.

The company said the decision had been made because it has no difficulty recruiting and retaining bar staff.

Pub managers currently get an annual bonus which can boost their salary by 60%, but will now be rewarded more frequently for meeting quarterly sales targets and get the chance to invest in S&N shares.

Personnel director Kim Parish said the company needed "radical measures" to retain chefs and managers but did not have the same problem in recruiting bar staff and so had no plans to offer them bonuses.

One of the first to benefit from the sales-related bonus will be Nigel Brown, head chef at the Rushcutters in Norwich.

Brown, who said he was pleased at the prospect of the bonus, added: "These sort of incentives have always been a management thing."