Asda job joy and bonuses for staff

Supermarket giant Asda is to create 6,000 jobs in the UK this year and some workers are due to collect record bonuses of more than £400.

Asda said today that a successful 2009 meant employees would share a £26 million bonus pot, 18 per cent higher than the year before. The average bonus equates to £278 for a full-timer.

The retailer also confirmed it would be creating thousands of jobs as part of a programme which will see the opening of 10 new stores and 10 store extensions.

For the fourth year running Asda store and depot employees will be rewarded for their hard work with a bonus payout of up to £437.50. The windfall, being paid on February 26, will go to workers with more than six months service in the group's 371 stores and 21 depots across the UK.

Chet Kuchinad, people director at Asda, said: "To announce a record bonus payment and the creation of thousands of new jobs in a challenging economic environment is testament to the successful year that we have had here at Asda.

"This success is absolutely down to the continued hard work and commitment of all of our store and depot colleagues who have once again gone above and beyond to deliver fantastic service and every day low prices to our customers week in, week out."