A meaningful new development has emerged for UK retail workers, with H&M proposing a restructuring that could affect approximately 250 employees across its UK operations.
The development was first reported on 6 August 2026, but further reporting over the weekend has provided greater clarity about the scale and locations potentially affected. An HR1 redundancy notification reportedly states that 250 employees are affected, with proposed job losses expected between 2 October and 31 December 2026.
The locations identified include Oxford Street, Regent Street and Stratford City in London, as well as Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow and Birmingham. Oxford Street could be particularly affected, with around 40 positions potentially being removed, although the final number has not yet been confirmed.
Importantly, these should currently be described as jobs at risk rather than 250 confirmed redundancies. Employees have entered a consultation process and H&M has said the final outcome has not yet been determined.
Why H&M says it is restructuring
The explanation being given to workers is noteworthy.
According to reporting based on an internal document, employees were told that the proposed changes relate to overlapping responsibilities and a desire to move decision-making closer to customers, rather than being directly driven by recent financial performance.
H&M itself has confirmed that organisational changes are taking place across its sales markets and central sales organisation as it attempts to reduce organisational complexity.
That distinction matters, because it highlights a broader issue facing UK workers. Redundancies are increasingly occurring not only when businesses are in serious financial difficulty, but also when large employers reorganise management structures, centralise functions, introduce technology or attempt to operate with fewer layers of staff.
H&M reported approximately £8.1 billion in first-half sales, although sales were down 1% in local currencies compared with the previous year. The company has also reduced its worldwide store estate by a net 128 locations over the previous year.
Another warning for UK retail workers
For The Workers Union, the significance goes beyond one employer.
Retail continues to undergo substantial structural change as businesses reconsider physical stores, support functions, management layers and the balance between central operations and local decision-making.
The proposed H&M reductions therefore reinforce the need for workers to pay close attention to restructuring announcements even where an employer remains profitable and continues trading normally.
Workers placed at risk should receive clear information about the business rationale, the roles affected, the proposed selection process, alternatives to redundancy and opportunities for suitable alternative employment.
The fact that a consultation is underway also means the eventual outcome could be different from the maximum number contained in the redundancy notification.
