Fashion retailer Primark has asked employees in its product teams to return to the office for four days a week.
Following the change, which will take effect from 15 September, these employees will still be able to work from home on Fridays and finish at 2pm.
The upcoming changes will apply to Primark’s product team employees based at its Arthur Ryan House office in Dublin, Ireland.
A Primark spokesperson said: “After experiencing remote, hybrid, and full-time models in recent years, we will be reintroducing a four-day in-office work week for our product teams. We know that when our product teams are together in-person, it strengthens productivity, creativity and development, ultimately delivering the best offering for our customers. We understand how important balance is and we will continue to offer flexible-working hours, and remote working on Fridays with a 2pm finish.”
Primark is not the only retailer to have amended its flexible-working arrangements. Earlier this month, John Lewis requested its commercial teams spend at least three days a week working in its offices, stores or with suppliers from July.
Earlier this year, Primark increased hourly pay for its British retail employees from 1 April. Its average rates of hourly pay for around 28,000 retail assistants across England, Scotland and Wales rose to a minimum of £12.48 from £12 previously, and £13.06 per hour from £12.56 in London.
Staff also receive a 15% year-round discount alongside wellbeing initiatives, an employee assistance programme, flexible shifts, a pension scheme, development opportunities, and enhanced family benefits, which include improved maternity, paternity, adoption, and surrogacy payments.
