WHILE most workers in the country continue to weather the financial storm, the 150 people who work for John Lewis in Swindon are beaming from ear to ear.

They have just been given an 18 per cent bonus – the equivalent of nine weeks’ wages.

The company, which has announced record profits of £431m, will pay the bonus to each of its 76,500 employees.

While the Swindon workers will be given a pro rata amount because the store has only been open since October, they will still be hundreds of pounds better off.

Everyone who works for John Lewis is a partner in the business, which means they are co-owners, and part of the UK’s largest employee co-operative, the John Lewis Partnership.

Dominic Joyce, branch manager of John Lewis at Home Swindon, said: “We opened at the end of October in Swindon and enjoyed a fantastic Christmas and Clearance (sales) period.

“We employ 154 partners, most of whom are from within the Swindon area, and have enjoyed being able to bring our home and electrical assortments, coupled with outstanding customer service, to our new shop at Mannington Retail Park.

“For the majority of partners, this is their first bonus and the excitement in the lead-up to the announcement has been amazing.

“The partnership bonus is a brilliant way of rewarding the team for all their hard work and I know many of them already have their eye on what they will be spending it on.”

The company distributes a proportion of profits equally to partners as the bonus, and each partner, from the chairman to sales assistants, receive exactly the same percentage of their salary as a bonus.

The company has also put money into its pension scheme which it continues to run for its employees, while many other companies across the UK are closing theirs.

One Swindon partner who will be enjoying his bonus is Justin Sysum, who is the section manager, audio and TV.

“I’m certainly looking forward to my first John Lewis bonus this year, having only joined the company for the new shop opening in October,” he said.

“Golf is one of my greatest passions outside of work and I’m spending my first bonus on a new set of clubs,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to playing on the partnership-owned golf courses.

“It’s amazing that a company the size of John Lewis can offer its partners exclusive access to golf courses, hotels and holiday centres.

“It’s things like this and the bonus that make us feel especially valued.”