Asda launches flexible working scheme

Supermarket giant Asda has launched a new flexible working scheme for its employees to improve their work-life balance.

'Asda Flex' contains six flexible working programmes to encourage all 165,000 staff - whether hourly paid or salaried, or working in stores or depots - to work flexible hours according to what suits them.

The scheme, which enables people to take up to three years' unpaid career break, also includes an option to help them take up to five days' paid leave for female staff going through IVF treatment, time off to donate blood, and up to 12 weeks' paid leave for organ donation.

The new scheme comes just a week after Imelda Walsh recommended the government should extend the right to request flexible working to parents of children aged 16 and under.

The Sainsbury's HR director last week said the extension would help employers prioritise requests, but advocated it was good practice to enable all colleagues, regardless of caring responsibilities, the right to request flexible hours.

Chris Stone, Asda colleague relations manager, said: "Creating a flexible approach to supporting colleagues with their individual needs underpins our core values. Working with our colleagues to ensure they can balance their work and home commitments makes for a very happy workforce."