Asda is reportedly considering a crackdown on sick days as part of its turnaround efforts.
The grocery giant has drawn up stricter disciplinary rules under an ongoing consultation, raising the chance of workers being let go for taking consecutive periods off sick, the Telegraph reported.
As it stands, staff members who hit an absence rate of 3% or more are flagged for review. This is followed by two informal stages, before management conducts a formal disciplinary process.
Under the current rules, workers’ absence records are then reset after six months. However, the supermarket is now seeking to extend this to 12 months.
No changes have currently been carried out as part of the consultation.
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One source told the publication: “In reality, it means you will think twice about taking sick leave as you will be faced with disciplinary action far quicker than you would have done before.”
Another source added that it was an attempt by the supermarket to “put the scarers on people” when worker morale was already low.
One staff member said: “Loads of people are worried about losing their jobs. In my eyes, it is a bad decision.”
An Asda spokesman said: “We are consulting with elected colleague representative groups on a proposal to adjust our short-term absence policy.
“This proposal is at an early stage and was shared in confidence with these groups as part of the consultation process. No decisions have been made, and no changes have been implemented.”
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