Although we are one team at Asda, we're made up of thousands of very different colleagues – and we believe our strength comes from the different skills, backgrounds, experiences and ideas that we all have.
We want everyone who works here to be Proud to be Asda, but also, just as importantly, Proud to be You and celebrate the difference each colleague brings.
We all want to feel confident and comfortable to be ourselves at work, because that’s when we can be at our best. We know there’s still more to do and we’re working hard to make every store, depot and office a place that welcomes all colleagues; a place where everyone feels they belong. This does not mean we simply tolerate difference, it means we welcome and celebrate difference in whatever form it comes.
So as part of National Inclusion week, we're taking the time to celebrate what makes us all different. Here, three colleagues share their experiences:
Sam, the community champion at our Rotherham store, writes:
"I'm Sam, I work for Asda and I'm a full time carer for my mum. She's blind and she's got no immune system, so that means I have to be there 24/7 on call for her. My experience with my line manager has been fantastic, adapting my hours around my work. I do appreciate what my colleagues have done for me. They've been really good and they've really looked after us, not being judgmental at all of me being at home, caring for my mum.
"One in eight people in the UK are carers, so that means 18,000 people who work for Asda must be carers. You never know when your circumstances are going to change so always be kind to each other."
Kelsey, who works alongside her assistance dog Hamble at our Bury Marketside store, writes:
"I'm Kelsey, I work for Asda, and I have chronic fatigue syndrome. I was matched with Hamble one year ago in July. She helps me with my disability, helping me take my shoes, socks and clothes off. She can open and close doors, fetch things for me. She can pay when I go through the till. She'll come up and tap the card to the contactless reader.
"Guide dogs are currently in the UK the most common form of assistance dog so when people see an assistance dog they'll assume it's a guide dog. When I first started, I was asked what might be needed to help me and Hamble settle in and get started with work, so one of the things they provided was a bell for under the till which they got for her almost instantly, a water bottle so that she can have a drink, and a water bottle and then a specific break time so that I can take my medication and Hamble can be allowed a break.
"It's really important that when you see a dog out and about that is working and is with their partner you should never approach it because you are likely to distract it. Hamble does get to play, she does get to run around, she does get a fuss, and she definitely still plays at at home."
David, who works at our Huddersfield store, writes:
"I'm David, I work at Asda, and I'm hard of hearing. One in six people in the UK have hearing loss. Sometime people don't understand that I'm hard of hearing and find it difficult for me.
"The badge helps people to see I have difficulty hearing. I lip read so if you are wearing a mask it makes it difficult for me. If someone could write it down on their phone or just write it on a piece of paper it makes it a lot easier for me. I like to help, but it takes a bit longer for me to understand what they are saying."
