Asda’s 177,000 UK employees wear badges that display their length of service. At each service milestone, be it one year or 10 years, staff receive a new badge displaying their length of service and a certificate.
Employees receive a one-off cash payment of £15 or £20 at 15 and 20 years’ service, respectively, on which Asda pays the tax and national insurance.
Alan Robertson, recognition team leader at Asda, says: “We are reviewing that because £15 and £20 payments are not particularly relevant in today’s economy. It is still seen as a celebratory gesture.”
The value of long-service awards increases significantly after 25 years’ service, when staff receive £300 in cash; an extra week’s holiday to be taken in that year; an invitation to the Big Asda Anniversary, an annual event arranged for long-serving staff; and a special gift.
These three awards are repeated at every five-year milestone from 25 years, plus a bouquet of flowers.
The 2012 Big Asda Anniversary was held at Doncaster Racecourse in July. Almost 1,300 staff were invited to a three-course meal, with Asda’s executive board and senior directors hosting tables.
The number of Asda employees celebrating long-service milestones has increased dramatically. Robertson says: “We will invest around £10 million a year in our long-service package over the next five years. We invited 1,300 people to the Big Asda Anniversary this year. We expect that to be up to 1,600 next year and then to peak at 2,000 the year after.”
Asda’s longest-serving employee works in Northern Ireland and has been with the company for 51 years.
It’s pathetic! £15 for 15 years service….by staying there that long you’ve saved them thousands in having to train new colleagues and they repay you with such an insulting gesture!
I’ve been with the company nearly 10 years and they’ve cut back on so many colleague benefits that morale is at an all time low. Everyone feels thoroughly insulted and undervalued.
10 years is a long time to work for a company and if they think I’m gagging to stay an additional 5 years to obtain a £15 reward then they’re very much mistaken.
I am actively searching for a new job and have aways considered Asda an embarrassment to work for. Anyone considering a position in this company should think twice, you CAN do better!!!