Asda has recently announced a significant shift in its working policy for head office staff, mandating a minimum of three days per week in the office starting January 2025.
The grocery retailer communicated to its over 5,000 head office employees across Leeds and Leicester that the new rule aims to align with industry standards and competitors. According to Lord Rose, Asda’s chairman and interim chief executive, this decision is in response to market trends and organisational needs.
In a similar move, Tesco adjusted its corporate staff’s office attendance from two to three days a week. This change aims to foster “high-performing teams with a collaborative culture,” reflecting a broader industry trend towards increasing in-office presence. Part-time staff at both companies are expected to spend an equivalent number of days working onsite.
While these changes are being implemented, they contrast with the growing acceptance of hybrid working models in other sectors. However, Asda emphasises that this strategy brings the company “in line with our competitors and the wider market”. The move has sparked interest in examining which UK supermarkets support hybrid working practices for their head office teams.
Asda and Tesco’s updated policies signal a wider trend in the supermarket sector towards increased office attendance, highlighting varying approaches to work-life balance in the industry.
