Staff face uncertainty from retail restructure

William Hill are overhauling their retail business with the result that some in middle management are at risk of redundancy while a number of betting shop managers are facing pay cuts.

Hills, however, countered that the shake-up would actually create jobs, with a net increase in employees of nearly 300, while nine out of ten staff at their 2,371 betting shops would be unaffected or have improved terms as a result of the move.

The proposed changes have increased anxiety among William Hill staff already unsettled by the departure last week of chief executive James Henderson and the news that the company is the subject of a merger bid from Rank Group and 888 Holdings.