Asda has announced changes which would see the loss of around 300 jobs and reduce pay for around 4,300 staff working the night shift.

The supermarket said 211 night shift manager roles would be cut and an additional 4,137 employees would lose a premium of around £2.52 for working nights as Asda moves the restocking of packaged groceries and frozen food to daytime.

The move will come as a blow to many employees, as the UK continues to face surging energy prices this winter amidst an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Asda also plans to close seven of its 254 pharmacies citing ‘low customer usage.’ This would see the loss of jobs for 14 pharmacists and put around 62 jobs at risk.

The supermarket is also proposing changes to in-store post offices following a “lack of customer demand”. Hours will be reduced by around 22 per cent for employees working in all 23 in-store post offices and four branches will reduce their operating hours. This would affect 23 managers and 200 employees on hourly contracts.

Commenting on the news Ken Towle, Asda’s retail director, said: “The retail sector is evolving at pace and it is vital we review changing customer preferences, along with our own ways of working, to ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible, so that we can continue to invest and grow our business.”

He added: “We are now entering a period of consultation with our colleagues on these proposals. We recognise this will be a difficult time for them and will do all we can to support them through this process.”

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