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Taking away free Tea and Toast from workers – Causing a stir?

By Thomas Sutherland

News has broken recently about ASDA consulting about the possibility of removing their workers’ current perk of receiving free tea and toast during shifts.

This is part of the major supermarket’s current consultation to cut costs.Whilst this measure also includes ideas like removing vending machines, it is the removal of the opportunity to grab a brew and slice of toast which appears to be offending the public consciousness more than anything else.

ASDA itself acknowledges the controversy the move would create, admitting that it is an “emotive subject”.  The supermarket is being forced to consider cost cutting measures due to a tough 2015 in which its competitors gained ground on its market share.  This follows ASDA announcing the possibility of 200 redundancies in its Leeds head office.

The Trade Union representing employees has stated that the move would be a huge blow to “dedicated employees”.

So, what’s so controversial about the move?

Well, it’s easy to see both sides.

On the one hand, we have a company that is trying to save costs in light of being forced to potentially make hundreds of redundancies.  A few pounds saved here and there on tea and bread could result in multiple jobs being saved in the future.  These are actual people, many with housing costs and families, who may remain in work due to the company having the money to pay them their wage.

On the other hand, there is the emotional side of the equation.  Let’s be honest, when asked what they like about their job, many people are likely to mention the perks that set the job apart from other similar employers.

When a perk is taken away, however small and insignificant it may seem, this normally lives long in the memory of an employee.  How many times do we hear people mention that their office used to have a Christmas buffet until they stopped it to save money?  The odd sausage roll and pringle can easily morph into memories of a much-missed feast in the mind of an employee who is now denied it.

The reason for this?

We’re human!  Losing small things triggers a natural loss aversion instinct in us.  Basically, humans much prefer avoiding losing things than acquiring new things – this is why most people have the instinct to play it safe rather than risk it all.  The thought of losing what we have come to expect as routine and normal is a scary thing.  And this includes tea and toast…

So, what’s more important?

Maintaining staff morale by avoiding cost cutting on employee perks like tea and toast or trying to safeguard future jobs by reducing costs of the business?  There isn’t a right or wrong answer to this, so I’ll leave it to you.  Is removing this perk taking the biscuit or would keeping it result in ‘blood, sweat and teas’?