[UK] Asda bosses promise to repay 53,000 employees impacted by payroll errors

In the UK, a payroll issue at the supermarket chain Asda has left 53,000 past and present employees underpaid, BirminghamLive reports.

A spokesperson for Asda said that more than 80 per cent of staff members are owed less than £19 in total.

The payroll issue was caused by a new payroll system, introduced in February 2024. It reportedly affected sickness and holiday-related payments between then and May 2025.

Asda stated that the system has worked "as expected" since May, adding that underpaid colleagues will receive a "full payment" together with 12 per cent interest in their February pay packet.

Chairman Allan Leighton wrote to employees in January to notify them that Asda had finished a review into the blunder after appointing external auditors.

"No colleague will be left out of pocket – we will repay every penny of what is owed in the February pay, as well as an additional interest payment of 12%," Mr Leighton said.

He reportedly added that colleagues who were overpaid during a separate payroll issue dating back to March 2024 will be permitted to keep that money.

"While we are not contacting any colleagues who have been overpaid, we will not be claiming any money back," he continued.

"You may remember that some colleagues were overpaid in a separate issue in March 2024 and subsequently asked to pay money back.

"That money will be returned to them so that we are treating all colleagues equally."

James Goodman - Asda’s Chief People Officer - said, "No Asda colleague will be worse off financially.

"Whether you currently work with us or have worked with us, we are paying back every penny owed with 12% interest.

"Any colleague who has been overpaid will be allowed to keep the money, and we are repaying the money that was recovered in March 2024 because of issues caused by the switchover to Project Future.

"We’ve also taken the steps to ensure nothing like this can happen again, validated by external experts."

Source: BirminghamLive

(Quotes via original reporting)

In the UK, a payroll issue at the supermarket chain Asda has left 53,000 past and present employees underpaid, BirminghamLive reports.

A spokesperson for Asda said that more than 80 per cent of staff members are owed less than £19 in total.

The payroll issue was caused by a new payroll system, introduced in February 2024. It reportedly affected sickness and holiday-related payments between then and May 2025.

Asda stated that the system has worked "as expected" since May, adding that underpaid colleagues will receive a "full payment" together with 12 per cent interest in their February pay packet.

Chairman Allan Leighton wrote to employees in January to notify them that Asda had finished a review into the blunder after appointing external auditors.

"No colleague will be left out of pocket – we will repay every penny of what is owed in the February pay, as well as an additional interest payment of 12%," Mr Leighton said.

He reportedly added that colleagues who were overpaid during a separate payroll issue dating back to March 2024 will be permitted to keep that money.

"While we are not contacting any colleagues who have been overpaid, we will not be claiming any money back," he continued.

"You may remember that some colleagues were overpaid in a separate issue in March 2024 and subsequently asked to pay money back.

"That money will be returned to them so that we are treating all colleagues equally."

James Goodman - Asda’s Chief People Officer - said, "No Asda colleague will be worse off financially.

"Whether you currently work with us or have worked with us, we are paying back every penny owed with 12% interest.

"Any colleague who has been overpaid will be allowed to keep the money, and we are repaying the money that was recovered in March 2024 because of issues caused by the switchover to Project Future.

"We’ve also taken the steps to ensure nothing like this can happen again, validated by external experts."

Source: BirminghamLive

(Quotes via original reporting)