Tesco staff ‘BANNED’ from wearing item on shop floor following customer complaints – as furious employees slam new policy

Tesco has banned staff from wearing headphones on the shop floor – and furious employees have taken to social media to hit out against the new change. 

A new update in the supermarket giant’s uniform policy prohibits staff from wearing personal audio devices while in customer-facing areas on the shop floor. 

Although the rule was initially part of the chain’s health and safety policy, it is also now included in the uniform regulations.  

Staff claim they were notified of the new rule in September, under the Dress Code and Appearance section on their Colleague Help app – adding how stores have since ‘cracked down’ on the use of headphones on the shop floor. 

The change is understood to ensure staff can efficiently respond to customer queries, while keeping ‘clear ears’ in the case of a fire alarm being activated.

Some are exempt from the policy, including those who require hearing hearing assistance or sensory devices, as well as company headsets. 

It comes amid declining customer satisfaction scores at Tesco, according to the Institute of Customer Service.

Tesco’s scores have plummeted from 81.7 in 2022 to 79.8 in July last year, and again to 79.4 this year out of a possible 100.  

A new update in the supermarket giant’s uniform policy prohibits staff from wearing personal audio devices while in customer-facing areas on the shop floor (stock image)

Amid its most recent results, the supermarket chain said that its customer satisfaction scores were ‘continuing to improve,’ as reported by The Standard.  

Meanwhile, Tesco employees have taken to Reddit to express their fury over the new policy, with many claiming their shifts are set to become ‘unbearable’ without headphones, while others have cited ‘low morale’ at work following the change. 

One employee wrote: ‘The day they implement this is the day I stop doing overtime. Night without earphones would be f*****g unbearable.’

Another said: ‘We have been allowed them for years on nights, now they are suddenly banned and we are forced to listen to what ever c**p they play on the radio for our whole shift. Work rate is dropping, moral is plummeting.’

A third wrote: ‘I work nights in a superstore in the Northwest – after coming in for my shift yesterday in my team five we were all told that the company had recently banned the use of headphones completely whether the shop is open or closed.

‘I get the reason behind it while the shop is open but while we are closed to have one headphone in and listen to podcasts and my music was a way to get me through my shift and I feel has made the job less enjoyable.’

They added: ‘A lot of people have threatened to leave on my shift due to this change.’

However, one member of staff expressed an opposing point of view, writing: ‘Hardly a surprise. Day staff, predominantly the fill teams, started taking the p**s by always wearing them when customers were in. 

Staff exempt from the policy includes those who require hearing hearing assistance or sensory devices, as well as company headsets (stock image)

Tesco employees have taken to Reddit to express their fury over the new policy, with many claiming their shifts are set to become ‘unbearable’ without headphones

‘Not only is that an even bigger H&S risk, especially when moving cages around a packed shopfloor, but it’s actively avoiding doing your normal job of serving a customer. Of course they’re going to complain about being ignored.’ 

One Tesco customer added: ‘Basic common courtesy to the customer, before we even talk about the health and safety aspect.

‘How staff have got away with it in front of customers for this time is a mystery in itself.’

FEMAIL understands that the guidelines on staff wearing headphones at Tesco stores are not new, but their recent inclusion in the dress code policy (as well as Health & Safety policy) is designed to ensure easy reference for colleagues.  

Tesco’s dress code policy is there to ensure that staff are dressed appropriately for their roles, which includes wearing the correct uniform or any safety wear that is necessary in their role.

Additionally, there are a number of reasons why Tesco employees are prohibited from wearing personal headphones whilst working. 

The primary reason being colleague safety, ensuring they are aware of their surroundings and can hear important alerts such as the fire alarm, as well as the potential for headphone wires getting snagged on equipment. 

In addition, the use of headphones can also impact colleagues’ ability to interact and respond to customers.

It comes after employees at rival chain Asda have been left furious over their bosses’ decision to play repetitive unlicensed music in store in an alleged cost-cutting move.

The supermarket bosses’ have swapped their in-store radio for music from unsigned artists which are not licensed- meaning no royalties have to be paid.

Staff have launched a petition calling for the ‘mentally draining’ music to be changed.

Staff across the UK flocked to an Asda Reddit forum to express their anger with the new music choice by supermarket, which employees said plays on both day and night shifts.