Asda has announced an £80m investment in frontline staff pay and unveiled a suite of enhanced family leave policies.
The retailer said that it would be increasing the hourly rate of store-based staff to £12.60 from October with 115,000 staff set to receive an above-inflation pay increase of 4.7%.
The rise will take place in three phases, taking rates from the current £12.04 to £12.60, with hourly rates for staff at stores inside the M25 set to rise to £13.82.
The supermarket said this brings its total investment in staff pay to half a billion pounds since 2021.
Asda said since it was acquired by TDR Capital in 2021, it has increased base hourly pay rates of staff by 35% from £9.36 to £12.60.
In addition to the staggered pay increases, the grocer also announced new and enhanced “family-friendly policies” to come into effect from July.
These include: enhanced maternity and adoption leave pay from 12 weeks to 26; doubling the duration of paid paternity leave from two weeks to four weeks; introducing 26 weeks paid leave for kinship carers and those caring for other children; and two weeks paid leave for those who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
Asda also recently announced an increase in its staff discount to 15% to “help colleagues make extra savings when they shop at Asda”.
Asda chief people officer Hayley Tatum said: “We’re proud to have invested more than £500m in retail pay over the last four years. Our colleagues are what makes Asda special and this latest pay investment, plus an increased colleague discount and enhanced family-friendly policies, recognises the key role they play in serving customers each day.”
Usdaw national officer Jayne Allport said: “We are pleased to have secured an above-inflation increase and be able to match the real living wage for our members in Asda Express, food services and Leon. The cost of living continues to be a key concern, so the business’ decision to respond in such a positive manner is welcome. Our members are key workers delivering essential services; it is only right they are fairly rewarded with a living wage.”
No comments yet