More than 4,000 Asda staff face pay cuts
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More than 4,000 Asda workers face pay cuts as the grocer cuts jobs in its retail post offices
More than 4,000 Asda workers face pay cuts, while hundreds more see their jobs jeopardized amid a major shake-up.
The grocer is cutting staff at its 23 in-store Post Office branches by a fifth and cutting hours at four locations.
It is also closing seven of its 254 pharmacies, which will cut 14 pharmacist jobs.
Cutbacks: Asda is cutting staff at its 23 in-store Post Office branches by a fifth and reducing opening hours at four locations. It is also closing seven of its 254 pharmacies
And it shifts 4,137 workers per hour from its night shifts — for which they receive a premium — to less lucrative day shifts. As part of the change, 211 night shift manager positions will also be cut.
The four affected post offices are in Livingston, Edinburgh, Plymouth and Tweedmouth. The pharmacies that will be closed are in Southampton, Seaham, Feltham, Blackburn, Adel, West Bradford and Weston-super-Mare. The grocer said the overhaul is aimed at “improving the customer experience.”
Retail Director Ken Towle said: “The retail industry is evolving rapidly and it is vital that we look at changing customer preferences, along with our own way of working, to ensure we operate as efficiently as possible so that we can continue to invest and to continue our growth. company.
“We are entering a period of consultation with our colleagues on these proposals.”
The changes mean that the aisles for frozen, canned goods and dried pasta will not be restocked at night in 184 smaller stores, but workers will do so during the day. Rivals Lidl and Aldi already have staff during the day to restock the shelves.
And last year, Tesco revealed plans to remove overnight stocks from more than 100 stores, with up to 1,600 jobs at stake.
Asda said the changes would help it “stimulate sustainable growth” at a time when supermarkets are under pressure from rising costs and falling household incomes.