| back |
 Branch Councillor and constituents (1996) - click to enlarge |
“As co-owners, all Partners have a say in how the company is run through various elected councils and committees.”
“All major decisions go through Branch Councils (each store, office or warehouse is a branch). The councils are open to any Partner who wants to put themselves forward for election, and they’ve really shaped the John Lewis business over the years.”
“The Committees for Communication give non-management Partners a direct line to the Chairman. We can make suggestions, ask questions, and take up any issue which is important to us. And it’s a two-way thing – the councils give management the chance to explain their policies and thinking.”
 Committee for Communication (1997) - click to enlarge |
“The Partnership is a democratic system, which means I really have a voice, both at my level, and at a wider level. Branch Councils and committees mean you really can be heard.”
“As a managing director, I have to be accountable to my fellow Partners. No Partner should ever be embarrassed to ask me any question. I’m obliged to answer any questions properly and fully, and to explain the decision making process clearly.”
“Every branch has a Registrar - a person who acts as an independent adviser or counsellor, giving people advice about personal issues or worries. The Registrar also helps Partners to understand what being part of a co-owned business means, and encourages them to take part.”
| back |