Asda has become the latest supermarket to trial a four-day working week for its staff at some of its UK stores.
It's part of the supermarket giant's wider "case for change" to improve employee working conditions.
Following in the recent footsteps of a number of other fellow supermarket retailers – including M&S, Sainsbury's, and more – Asda has confirmed that it’s now offering some of its staff the chance to work just four days a week.
The new flexible work perk is said to have been introduced back in September last year as an option for Store Managers, and forms part of the supermarket giant’s wider “case for change” and its attempts to improve working conditions after significant walkouts among senior staff were threatened, according to reports in The Telegraph.
Image: Asda
Reports have suggested that the company’s owners, the Blackburn-born billionaire Issa brothers, are in the process of trying to rebuild relations with senior employees, and the four-day work week trial – which is set to be concluded later this month – is a major part of this.
It comes after a barrage of cost cuts and concerns over culture have led to Store Managers “leaving in their droves”.
The retailer was also braced for its first-ever strike later this month, with employees at a superstore in Gosport set to walk out from this Friday (19 January), but it’s believed that this industrial action has now been called off.
On top of the introduction of four-day working, Asda’s apparently also experimenting with other flexible working arrangements too – such as shorter shifts.
Asda says initial staff feedback from the trial has been “positive” so far.
Image: Asda
An Asda spokesperson told The Telegraph: “Since September 2023, we have been trialling a variety of flexible working patterns for managers in 20 stores, including a four-day working week for the same pay and benefits. There has been no reduction in the number of hours that hourly-paid colleagues are contracted to work as a result of this trial.
“While we are still evaluating the results, the feedback from participating colleagues has been very positive.”
Asda’s trialling of the shorter working week also comes after the world’s largest four-day work pilot began in June 2022, and ran for a total of six-months before it was brought to a close earlier last year – with 91% of participating companies calling it a “success”.
Seven in 10 NHS workers believe the health service is 'poorly prepared' for another pandemic if one should arise, a new survey has revealed.
After the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month raised the conversation of mass contagion once again, of course following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouGov survey of more than 1,000 NHS workers has now uncovered how well prepared staff in the health service think it is for another global pandemic.
The results show that 69% of staff surveyed think the health service is 'poorly prepared' for another pandemic, and to make matters worse, 26% of those even say it's 'very poorly' prepared.
Only one in five (22%) think the NHS is could properly handle another pandemic, but statistically, YouGov claims none of those surveyed said it's 'very well' prepared.
When workers were asked how the NHS's level of preparedness now compares to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% did concede that they think it is better prepared now than 2020, however 37% admitted they think it's no better prepared.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is 'poorly prepared' for another pandemic / Credit: Pxhere | Rawpixel
16% actively think it's less well-prepared now than it was prior to 2020.
This marked a new era of 'transparency' and 'accountability' in the NHS, with the league tables delivering on the Government’s promise to drive up standards, tackle variation in care, and ensure people get the high-quality service they rightly expect.
Every trust in England - from urgent and emergency care, through to elective operations and mental health services - will now be ranked quarterly against 'clear and consistent' standards.
Featured Image - Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
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Kesha pulls out of Roundhay Festival as all-new Pitbull line-up revealed
Thomas Melia
American pop singer Kesha has dropped out of the Pitbull-fronted Roundhay Festival line-up, with a major shake-up announced today.
The second instalment of artists for Pitbull's headline Roundhay Festival show has been announced and it's missing highly-anticipated and originally-announced artist Kesha.
Festival organisers have said that the star will no longer be able to perform due to 'unforeseen scheduling conflicts'.
The American singer's musical adventure has taken a 'Joyride' since becoming independent in September 2024 and releasing her sixth studio album "." or Period almost a year ago.
Now, Kesha's title as 'Special Guest' has now been handed over to three very impressive artists who also shared a role in soundtracking some of the 2010s biggest hits.
Kesha was originally listed as a 'Special Guest' for Pitbull's Roundhay Festival gig in Leeds this July / Credit: Brendan Walters / Press Shots
One of these new artists is Jason Derulo, who is ready to treat the crowd to his array of chart-topping melodies like: 'Whatcha Say', 'Talk Dirty to Me', 'Trumpets'.
Another act who knows a thing or two about travelling the globe like Mr. Worldwide is 'Miami 2 Ibiza' hitmaker Tinie Tempah - things are definitely about to get 'Frisky'.
The final artist joining this already impressive list of names is Lil Jon who's bringing his high energy tracks to Roundhay Park such as 'Turn Down For What', 'Shots' and 'Get Low'.
Jason Derulo is just one of the artists making up the all-new Pitbull Roundhay Festival line-up / Credit: Wikimedia Commons (via Supplied)
Kesha's departure from this Leeds gig comes as a complete shock as the star is still set to play a whole host of UK festival dates including a BST Hyde Park show in London on 10 July.
In a statement shared via social media, Roundhay Festival has stated the reason for this very big change to the line-up:
"Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts, Kesha will no longer be joining us this July. We hope to welcome her to Roundhay Park in the future."
Although fans who have already bought tickets to the show might still be 'Praying' for Kesha's return to the Roundhay Festival bill, it's safe to say these artists are a great addition.
Pitbull is coming to Roundhay Park in Leeds on Friday 3 July 2026 and so far he's bringing along Jason Derulo, Tinie Tempah and Lil Jon with more acts to follow - Tickets HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
18th January 2024 
