Frank DSouza, star of John Lewis bonus day

By Harry Wallop, Consumer Affairs Editor 630AM GMT twelve Mar 2010

Frank D"Souza, a salesman in the seat dialect of John Lewis, Oxford Street, unveils the annual reward figure - a better-than-expected 15pc of salary. Photo Geoff Pugh

The honour of opening the over-sized pouch containing the sorcery reward series at John Lewis"s flagship at Oxford Street fell him after he completed what John Lewis believes is a jot down offered �82,000 value of products to a singular patron over the march of only dual days.

Due to the singular partnership structure, with each one of the 70,000 staff owning a interest without delay in John Lewis, employees suffer poignant benefits, together with a inexhaustible pension, discounts to the theatre, the own nation club, and an annual bonus.

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At stores opposite the country, staff accumulate on the sunrise of reward day in Mar to listen to how big it will be. It is regularly voiced as a commission of annual salary.

Staff recollect fondly 1998, the jot down year when 22pc was paid out.

Mr D"Souza, who did not know what the reward was until the pouch was non-stop to exhibit the 15pc figure, beamed as the throng roared their approval.

"I"m going to make use of the reward to revisit my family in America," he said. "I can"t wait."

Mr D"Souza, who has outlayed twenty-three years at the company, believes the patron who gave him the possibility to betray the reward was a radio producer.

"He had a big residence in Tunbridge Wells he had only paid for and it indispensable furnishing. He came in to the seat dialect last Dec and I helped him. Sofas, three-piece suites, beds, the lot. By the finish of the day, he"d outlayed �40,000."

The subsequent day he returned and insisted Mr D"Souza offer him again. So they went around the rest of the store electricals, fate and alternative departments, spending a serve �42,000.