B&Q divvy up €50m bonus among staff

DIY group B&Q have said that more than 34,000 members of staff are to receive a share of a record £34m (€50.9m) bonus, which may be equal to 10% of their salary.

Staff are guaranteed to receive a bonus of 6% with the remainder based on the individual worker's salary and how well their store has performed. Last year, B&Q staff shared in a £28m (€41.9m) bonus.

The company's owner Kingfisher recently said that annual profits had increased 13% to £372m (€556.9m).

Sales in the three months to January increased 4.5% to £1.65bn (€247.05m).

Earlier this mont, the DIY giant announced plans to create up to 300 jobs at two new stores in Dublin and Cork by early 2005.

The company said its Dublin store would be located in the Airside Retail Park in Swords and the Cork store at O’Callaghan Properties in Mahon Point.