Discount supermarket giant Lidl has joined a growing list of retailers in ordering its staff back to office more days a week, Retail Week can reveal.
The discount supermarket giant has joined the likes of Primark, John Lewis, Ikea and pureplay grocer Ocado in requesting head office staff cut back on the number of days a week they spend working from home this year.
Earlier this year, Lidl updated its hybrid working policy so that all head office staff were required to come into the office at least three days a week. Prior to that, since the beginning of Covid-19, Lidl head office staff had only been required to work from the office two days a week.
A Lidl spokeswoman said the change to its hybrid working policy was part of “aligning [Lidl] with the majority of the sector” and had been implemented following a period of consultation with staff.
“After listening to feedback and looking at working preferences across our workforce, it became clear that our colleagues value a true mix of home and office working,” the spokeswoman said.
“Therefore, earlier in the year, we updated our policy so that colleagues have consistency and clarity, while continuing to benefit from flexibility to support collaboration and development in the workplace as well as balance at home.”
The move brings Lidl into line with discount rival Aldi, which requires full time head office staff to work from the office three days a week.
Working from home on the wane
Lidl is just the latest in a string of retailers across categories who have been ordering head office staff back to in-person work.
Supermarket giant Morrisons said last week that it had abandoned its policy of allowing staff to work compressed hours over four and a half days and instead was sending them back to five days in the office.
Health and beauty giant Boots has also shelved its flexible working policy, requiring head office staff back in the office five days a week.
Fashion giant Primark also this month ordered staff in its production teams to return to the office at least four days a week in its Arthur Ryan House offices in Dublin, while commercial team staff at department store giant John Lewis have been asked to spend three days a week outside of the home - working either at the office, in branches or with suppliers.
As Retail Week revealed last week, Ikea and Ocado have also tightened restrictions around working from home – Ikea now requiring staff to spend a minimum of twelve days a month either in the office, with agency partners or in stores; while Ocado staff are now required in the office three days a week, up from just one previously.
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