Asda plans crackdown on sick days in turnaround scramble

Asda is plotting a crackdown on sick days in a fresh attempt to kickstart turnaround efforts.The struggling supermarket chain has drawn up tougher disciplinary rules as part of an ongoing consultation, increasing the chance of staff being dismissed for taking consecutive periods off sick.Currently, workers who hit an absence rate of 3pc or more are flagged for review, followed by two informal stages before management launches a formal disciplinary process.Employees’ absence records are then reset after six months under existing rules.However, Asda is now looking to extend this to 12 months, increasing the chance of employees being punished under an escalating disciplinary process, which can ultimately lead to someone being sacked.The consultation has sparked fears across Asda’s workforce – including those with mental health conditions and disabilities.No changes have yet been made as part of the consultation, which could affect more than 150,000 employees across 1,200 stores.One source said: “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 said it was an attempt by Asda to “put the scarers on people” at a time when staff morale is already low.“Loads of people are worried about losing their jobs,” said one employee. “In my eyes, it is a bad decision.”It comes as Asda scrambles to overhaul the business.Allan Leighton, the retailer’s executive chairman, was appointed last year to oversee an attempted revival, although Asda’s share of the grocery market has recently fallen to a record low of 11.6pc.This is down from 14.6pc in 2021, when Asda was acquired by private equity firm TDR Capital and Mohsin and Zuber Issa in a debt-fuelled £6.8bn deal.Years of cost-cutting have since fuelled a sharp drop in the company’s performance, including a radical reduction in staff hours and hundreds of jobs being axed.Mr Leighton has since vowed to restore hours, although some will view this latest crackdown as an attempt to reduce costs – as staff will be less likely to take sick leave out of fear of being punished.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.”