More Boots jobs under threat as firm continues restructure

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Sep 3, 2019

Health and beauty retailer Boots is looking at relocating its IT service desk overseas in a move that could put 60 jobs at risk of redundancy.

News of job cuts and store closures have surrounded the firm over the past year as it considers its options following a slump in sales and profits in 2018.

The company, which is owned by the US company Walgreens Boots Alliance, said in February it would cut up to 350 jobs at its head office in Nottingham.

In May, sources close to the beauty chain told Sky News that about 200 stores were under review for possible closure during the next two years, a decision that could impact hundreds of jobs.

The latest round of redundancies are a result of Boots’ decision to move its IT service desk overseas to streamline its operations and improve efficiency.

A spokesperson for Boots confirmed the company’s intention to restructure parts of IT service desk.

“This transformation will consolidate our service desk activities which will help reduce decision-making time and complexity, as well as improve efficiency,” he said.

Boots also announced a five-year contract with IT technology firm NCR, which will include service desk, field services, Belgrade support services and onsite desktop support.

“The transition of the service desk to NCR will have an impact on some Boots colleagues within the Boots IT function, who will transfer under TUPE to NCR,” the spokesman said.

“The roles currently performed by the affected Boots employees in the UK will not be carried out by NCR in the UK. This means the employment of the transferring employees will be at risk of redundancy, and a consultation process with affected colleagues will begin immediately.”