Flexible friends at ASDA

Legislation allowing employees to request, and compelling employers to consider, flexible working arrangements will be a year-old on April 6th 2004. A recent DTI survey [Friday 9th January 2004] showed that 87% of workers said they’d like to spend more time with family and friends - a trend echoed by ASDA’s management team who recently scooped a Sunday Times award for its flexible working policies.
Details of ASDA’s flexible working packages are outlined below.



* Seasonal Squad - ASDA is aiming to increase its number of older workers by offering seasonal jobs where colleagues need only work for 10 weeks of the year;

* School starter scheme - for parents wanting to take children to, or collect them from, school on their first day;

* Child care leave - for parents wanting to stop work during the summer holidays and return to work later in the year;

* Shift swaps - for colleagues needing to be absent from work for family reasons;

* Emergency family leave - time off to deal with family emergencies;

* Grandparents’ leave - up to a week off to help with the birth of a new grandchild;

* Job share - to help managers balance home and work life;

* Career break - colleagues can take a career break of up to 2 years;

* Study leave - for students going away to college who want time off to prepare for exams;

* Store swapping schemes - for students wishing to work in their university and home towns during the year;
* Carers’ Leave - for colleagues to give long term care and care at home;

* IVF Leave - paid time off for male and female colleagues going through fertility treatment;

* Benidorm leave - up to three months leave for over 50’s wanting to take a winter trip to the sun.