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”.
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
Leeds Tattoo Expo to return to the First Direct Arena for 10th anniversary
Clementine Hall
The tenth annual Leeds Tattoo Expo will showcase some of the best in tattooing both local and internationally.
If you fancy getting yourself a fancy new bit of ink, then look no further than the iconic Leeds Tattoo Expo that will be returning to the First Direct Arena this June.
Taking place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June 2025, over 200 tattooists and 70 traders will be flocking to the city to show off their skills.
And not only that, but there’ll also be a whole host of market traders for you to browse as well as live music to have a boogie to.
The artists will be tattooing with options for both pre-booked appointments and walk ups available throughout the weekend.
Image: Leeds Tattoo Expo
There will also be a piercer, tooth gems and a henna artist ready to adorn your body.
Alongside getting tattooed, there’s plenty to do and to see over the whole weekend; there'll be an alternative drawing class, an illustrators market with kids’ workshops provided by Art Gecko, an art fusion event on the main stage, burlesque performances and competitions, a small vintage clothing pop-up, fire breathing and break dancing demonstrations in the square outside the arena.
The annual tattoo competitions will also be taking place each evening, where tattooists showcase their work to a panel of judges, sponsored by Killer Ink!
To celebrate Leeds Tattoo Expo's tenth anniversary, they'll be hosting a Pre-Party at Belgrave Music Hall on Thursday 5 June which is a completely free entry event complete with live music and free pizza.
You can find out more about the event and book your tickets here via the First Direct Arena's website.
Emily Sergeant -
18th January 2024 
