Morrisons has told convenience store workers they will need to be more “flexible” and become more “multiskilled”, ahead of a shake-up of working hours in Morrisons Daily stores.
Last week, Morrisons Daily managers were told to hold informal “flexibility meetings” with all store employees, as CEO Rami Baitiéh looks to cut costs to fuel his turnaround plan.
It could see colleagues asked to switch their regular shift patterns, or relocate to a nearby Morrisons store, if it is deemed reasonable by the business to make store operations more efficient.
They will also be expected to be “multiskilled across all areas of store operations” including working on the tills, working grocery and manning in-store Post Offices, in the “majority of cases”.
The internal memo, which was shared across Morrisons staff forums last week and subsequently reported by The Times, said the changes would ensure Morrisons Daily stores better matched hours and shift patterns to customer demand.
“Our business and customer habits are constantly changing, and to remain competitive and sustainable, we must continually seek ways to improve our operational efficiency,” the memo said.
“Adjusting staffing store hours based on labour models isn’t about cutting back, it’s about matching the staffing levels to actual demand, ensuring we have the right people in place at the right time.”
The Grocer understands Morrisons is in the early stages of the consultation, with the outcome used to determine new core hours for stores, which will be issued by Morrisons’ “productivity team” at Hilmore House.
Changes would only apply to Morrisons’ company-owned c-stores. Franchisees would continue to set their own working patterns.
“We regularly review our shift patterns to make sure they are in line with customer demand and recently began exploring options for more flexible working with Morrisons Daily colleagues, to further enhance the in-store experience for customers,” a Morrisons spokesman said.
“Individual colleague circumstances are fully taken into account when any changes are being considered.
“The exercise is about having the right hours at the right time of day and being flexible on tasks in-store, so that we can better deliver for customers. It is all exploratory at the moment – no action has been taken.”
It’s the latest change to in-store working patterns over recent months as Baitiéh accelerates his efforts to shave £1bn in costs from the business, as part of his turnaround plan.
Like other supermarkets, Morrisons was hit by an “avalanche” of National Insurance increases in the wake of Rachel Reeves’ autumn 2024 budget, which increased its costs by more than £80m.
The supermarket also remains weighed down by its more than £3bn debt following the takeover by private equity owner CD&R in 2021.
Convenience growth is a major strand of Baitiéh’s turnaround plan, with plans to open 250 new Morrisons Daily stores by the end of 2026.
No comments yet