Underpaid workers deserve apology from Asda boss – GMB

Errors in new payroll system left low-paid workers out of pocket

Mohsin Issa needs to publicly apologise and fix the payroll errors at Asda, the GMB has demanded.

The shop-workers’ union said Asda boss Issa has been leading the change to new payroll and IT systems – abandoning the previous Walmart service.

However, the new system has left thousands of retail and distribution workers underpaid and thousands of staff are still waiting to have the errors rectified, and have yet to receive an apology.

These wage errors come as Asda workers are advised by bosses on how to economise, which included “helpful” suggestions on a store noticeboard: 

• shower in the gym,
• bulk out dishes with breadcrumbs or veg stuffing rather than more meat,
• boil kettle once in a morning and fill a flask for a day’s worth of cuppas
• shop the ASDA Just Essentials range.

“Paying staff properly is a basic for any employer,” said Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, “and when many of your staff are struggling to make ends meet, it is vital you get this right.

“Cost-cutting by slashing staff who processed wage errors means this huge backlog still isn’t resolved and the company are unlikely to have resolved this by next pay day.

“The company used to have pay clerks based locally who could quickly identify and resolve issues. Slashing these to cut costs means that hard working Asda staff suffer.”