Ocado to allow staff to work from anywhere for one month a year

Ocado has reportedly told its staff members that they can now work wherever they want, including abroad, for one month a year.

According to The Times, the opportunity has arisen following numerous requests from employees at the online grocer who worked from home during the pandemic.

The decision has supposedly been made in a drive for flexibility, with 13 global Ocado offices reimagined to include break-out areas for colleague collaboration.

Claire Ainscough, chief people officer at Ocado Group, told the publication that a desire to work abroad has been a “top question” from staff at virtual town hall meetings, with those with families wishing not to use annual leave for family holidays pushing the hardest.

Ainscough reportedly added that the incentive has been provided “because we feel we could give our employees a balance and a choice” between encouraging a return to the office and adding freedoms that would benefit employees.

The Times claimed that Tim Steiner, chief executive at the company, has acted outside of the UK for much of the pandemic, allowing him to easier access the United States, where Ocado is reportedly building robotic warehouses for supermarket chain Kroger.

The paper added that the majority of Ocado’s stock market valuation is based on its overseas technology deals, rather than its retail business that supplies Marks and Spencer.

Ocado was contacted, but did not add any further comment.