// Primark implements a new hybrid working model that will come into effect for its office-based employees next month
// The model will see more flexible options for staff
Primark has announced internally that from September, it will see its office-based employees return back to workspaces, Drapers reported.
This includes staff at its global headquarters at Arthur Ryan House in Dublin, Primark House in Reading, Central Supply Chain office in Islip, and other workspaces in the UK.
According to Drapers, the retailer is set to implement a new hybrid working model which will see Primark’s office-based employees working in an office setting for an average of three days a week from next month.
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This will be determined by individual role requirement and with agreement at team level.
Employees returning to Primark workspaces will join members of the product, and central functions teams who have been office-based in recent months to work on business-critical tasks.
Primark has been conducting internal listening sessions and work-type assessments for the past year in order to better understand and anticipate the needs of its employees, business, and consumers today and in the future.
Drapers stated that the new hybrid model was developed in response to this, and is an evolution of Primark’s existing flexible working approach, which includes the choice to work from home, on the go or from different locations, plus flexible start and finish times and early finish Fridays.
Lorraine Culligan, Group Director of People and Culture at Primark said: “People are at the heart of everything we do at Primark, where creativity and collaborative working are key to our success,”
“We want to protect our great culture, support our people into the future and continue to innovate for our customers. Together, we have taken the learnings and insights from the last 18 months to develop a hybrid working model that gives us the best of both remote and in-person work, balancing flexibility with human connection and collaboration.
“We plan to implement this change for everyone from September, yet we are living in uncertain times, and we will continue to trial and learn for the foreseeable. We do not have a crystal ball, and the situation is continually changing however this new hybrid model is based on trust and will enable greater personal flexibility, allowing each colleague to blend working from home with working from their Primark workspace.
“This is a new way of working for us all. While cross-functional collaboration and informal conversations have always been important at Primark, how we utilise our office spaces will feel different from September onwards.
“We are fully committed to supporting our colleagues on their return to office-based work, while also continuing to support our fantastic store teams in over 395 stores across 14 markets, always keeping our customers at the centre of everything we do.”
Primark has also confirmed it will continue to adhere to all government guidelines, with safety remaining a top priority for everyone in its stores and office spaces.
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