Asda to allow head-office staff permanent hybrid working

The retailer announced today that staff at both Asda House in Leeds and George House in Leicester will be moved to a permanent hybrid-working model called ‘Work where it works’. 

Asda said it would continue to encourage staff to work from home where they can when coronavirus social-distancing measures are relaxed on July 19. It has also invested in making both its Leeds and Leicester headquarters Covid-secure.

Under the new scheme, Asda said staff “will be expected to work from their head-office location when they have jobs that are better suited to an office environment, such as team meetings, training and meeting with other colleagues”. 

However, it will encourage staff to have the flexibility to work from home “when it is more productive to do so – such as [on] tasks that involve planning or research”. 

The retailer said there will be no set number of days that staff must be in the office and the new system will “encourage colleagues to select the best location to do their job in a day – this could be from home, head office or an alternative location such as a store or depot”.

Asda vice-president of people operations Jacki Simpson said: “We have learned a great deal about working patterns during the last 16 months and have seen colleagues work productively across different locations. Having consulted extensively with them about future ways of working, we know they welcome the increased flexibility of remote working. 

“However, they also acknowledge that there is some work that is simply better done from the office so, as we move forward, a hybrid-working model is the right approach for our people and the business. We believe this approach will help us attract and retain the best talent and will continue to position Asda as an employer of choice.”

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