Morrisons orders head office staff to return to full-time work

Morrisons has ordered staff at its head office in Bradford to return to a full five days a week in the office, reversing its flexible working policy, according to the Telegraph.

Previously, the supermarket allowed its head office staff to work a 37.5 hour four-and-a-half day week flexibly, but this has now been reversed.

The new working pattern reportedly comes as Morrisons is looking to respond to increased pressure from rivals such as Aldi and Asda which are embarking on aggressive price cutting regimes.

This news comes after the supermarket revealed that its total sales rose 4.2% up to £3.9bn for the 13 weeks ended 27 April 2025, while its like-for-like group sales were up 3.9%.

In the period the supermarket also achieved a further £58m of cost savings, with the initial £700m target now exceeded. This target was increased in Q1 to £1bn worth of savings by the end of FY26.

Morrisons is not the only UK retailer ending flexible working, Primark confirmed it will require product teams to be in the office four days a week from September.

Alongside this, John Lewis last week mandated that its commercial teams must spend at least three days in the office, stores, or meeting suppliers, to “boost collaboration and team development”.

Retail Sector has contacted Morrisons for comment.