Asda will allow office staff to work from home on a permanent basis if they wish. Business News

Asda will make ‘hybrid’ work permanent for employees at its headquarters once Covid rules are relaxed.

The supermarket has announced that around 4,000 employees in total, at Asda House in Leeds and George House in Leicester, can choose where they work best – whether at home, in the office, in the store or in the depot.

England is expected to lift its remaining coronavirus restrictions on July 19, and many companies have said they will continue to allow flexible working after that date.

However, Jacki Simpson, vice president of human operations at Asda, said the hybrid model will not work for all employees, such as those who work in training and need to have in-person contact with their colleagues.

Earlier this week, Labor MP and shadow minister for children Tulip Siddiq read the flexible work bill in parliament and said flexible work should be a ‘right for all rather than a benefit for a few “.

The legislation she introduced through the ten-minute rule is supported by MPs from the Labor, Conservative, Lib Dem, SNP, SDLP and Green parties. Its second reading is scheduled for November 19.

This came after Downing Street confirmed that the government was considering legislating to make working from home the ‘default’ option by giving employees the right to request it.

However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said there would be no legal right to work from home.

They added that Mr Johnson believed there were benefits to being in the office, including working with colleagues.

The Prime Minister’s stance echoes concerns from the largest business lobby group, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has warned that giving workers the legal right to demand remote work would hurt young employees and harm the economies of city centers.

Big banks, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, have taken the toughest stance on work after the lockdown, demanding that all staff return to the office once Covid restrictions are lifted.