While Asda said it is unable to confirm how many people will lose their jobs as a result of the move, it confirmed that conversations with those impacted have begun.
This comes less than a year after Asda announced that it was laying off 475 people employed at its head office.
Under the changes, the roles of section manager and trading manager are being combined into a new manager role that reports into the operations manager.
More operations manager to be put into larger Asda stores, while around 20% of store managers will be promoted as a result of the structure changes.
Meanwhile, section leaders will become team leaders, taking on a broader range of responsibilities in store. Asda Express convenience stores are not part of this change.
Commenting on the moves, an Asda spokesperson said: “We’re focused on making Asda the UK’s best value full-service supermarket by providing customers with an outstanding experience every time they shop and having the right store leadership structure in place is key to delivering this.
“The investment in this new structure brings decision making closer to the shop floor and our customers by clarifying roles and providing clearer accountabilities. It also creates more opportunities for colleagues to develop their careers and progress into store management roles, with a significant number of immediate promotions confirmed today. We will be offering our full support to other colleagues impacted by the changes.”
Meanwhile, managers working within Asda’s distribution operation are set to vote on whether to recognise GMB as their trade union.
This is after the Central Arbitration Committee granted the ballot in response to a petition showing more than 60% of workers backed the move.
“A clear majority of the workforce want GMB to be their collective union voice at work – now they will have a chance to vote in a full ballot,” said GMB national officer Nadine Houghton.
“If the vote is for recognition, GMB will negotiate directly with company bosses over pay, terms and conditions – things which have been significantly eroded since Asda was brought out and asset stripped by private equity owners TDR Capital.
“Since being granted the vote, Asda has attempted to stymie support for the union by offering a pay rise and other concessions.
“But workers know this was only achieved because they started to organise into the GMB.
“Union recognition is about winning improvements now and for years to come while protecting what is achieved.”
