Tesco has become the first UK supermarket to give all staff the right to request flexible working, regardless of how long they’ve been at the business.
Currently staff have to wait until they have worked six months before making such a request, the current legal stipulation, however, the government is expected to make change the rules in Spring 2024.
Tesco said making the move now would give staff “greater choice and flexibility in their working patterns and help to attract and retain talent”.
The grocer has introduced a new requirement that all full-time positions will be advertised as flexible, and across all roles a range of different part-time or flexible working options can be discussed.
Tesco has been boosting its employment offer of late, and earlier this month revealed that all colleagues and their immediate family would be given access to unlimited appointments with a virtual GP.
Staff can also take advantage of an expanded range of emotional well-being support through its Employee Assistance Programme, including access to sleep therapists, nutritionists, counsellors, exercise coaches and physiotherapists.
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Tesco UK people director James Goodman said: “We think giving people the right to start a conversation about flexible working from their first day, or even before they start work for Tesco, is the right thing to do to give colleagues the opportunity for a healthy work-life balance.
“We aim to create a positive culture at Tesco where managers will do as much as they can to facilitate these requests for flexibility.”
Tesco made its biggest-ever investment in pay over the past year, with an increase of more than 15% to bring the hourly rate to £11.02.
The grocery giant also launched PayAdvance last November, which allows staff to get up to 25% of their contracted pay early to help support them during the cost-of-living crisis.
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