Hays Travel’s self-employed homeworkers will miss out on getting part of the £1 million bonus the company is giving away to staff after hitting the £1bn sales mark.
Founder and chief executive John Hays announced yesterday all employees will receive £100 for every full year they have served with the company as a thank you for helping achieve the impressive figure.
This means long-standing members of staff could get about £3,000.
Part-time staff will get a pro-rata bonus, but self-employed homeworkers won’t get a cash payout.
Customers will have the chance to win £1,000 over the next 10 days in a competition on the company’s website, while a summer garden party is being organised as a thank you to suppliers.
Returning to his original shop in Seaham to make the announcement, John Hays said: "Over the last 12 months we have just passed over £1bn in sales."
After thanking ‘loyal customers who made it all happen’, he added: "We would be nothing without our staff. All the way down from our chair, Irene, who happens to be my wife.
"I am so proud of you all and as a thank you for our staff we are going to give you £100 for each year that you have worked for us.
"Thank you to everyone who made it possible."
He later told Newcastle-based Chronical Live: "I never had the £1bn figure as a target. I just try to run the business day-to-day as best as I can."
He added: "Since acquiring Bath Travel we have done three or four relatively smaller acquisitions and we have some more openings in the pipeline."
