Asda demands 3 day return to office and reveals job cuts - Retail Gazette

Asda has requested that employees come back to the office at least three days a week, and they have also implemented layoffs in their headquarters.

The supermarket announced in an internal email yesterday (November 5) that changes will affect more than 5,000 office workers in three locations in Leeds and Leicester, starting in January.

In a note to employees, Lord Rose indicated that the supermarket chain is requiring workers to be present at the George House location in Leicester and the Asda House and Britannia House offices in Leeds. This move aims to bolster Asda's standing as it looks ahead to 2025.

Furthermore, Rose mentioned that the grocery store was eliminating a significant number of positions at its corporate headquarters in order to "eliminate redundancy and streamline operations."

According to The Telegraph, the company did not disclose the number of employees who would be laid off.

Rose mentioned, "Adjustments can be challenging and often uncomfortable, but the leadership team feels that these changes are essential for positioning ourselves better as we approach 2025. Our main goal is to prioritize our customers, achieve our objectives, and foster sustained growth."

A spokesperson for the retailer discussed the company's work-from-home strategy, stating: "This method aligns us with our rivals and the broader industry. It helps us create strong teams that work well together and allows us to meet the needs of our business effectively."

"The new policy will take effect in January 2025, providing all employees ample time to prepare and adjust as needed."

This follows a statement from the previous head of the chain, who expressed concerns in September that Asda was "not meeting expectations" after its acquisition by the private equity firm TDR Capital and the Issa brothers.

Judith McKenna, the former international head of Walmart who was in charge of the supermarket's £6.8 billion sale in 2021, expressed that the recent challenges faced by the chain were deeply upsetting to her.

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