Yahoo Finance Asda closing Boxing Day as 'thank you gift' to staff
Asda (WMT) will close on Boxing Day as a “thank you gift” to it's essential workers who have continued to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
All 631 UK Asda stores will close at 7pm on Christmas Eve and reopen on 27 December.
This follows pressure from unions, which have been calling on Britain's major supermarkets to give all staff the day off on 26 December.
“This is a big decision, but it is absolutely the right one given the incredible effort everyone has made in the most challenging of circumstances,” the supermarket said.
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Chief executive Roger Burnley said in a message to colleagues: “This has been a challenging year and you have all done an incredible job, continuing to serve our customers and communities while juggling so many other commitments
“But it's also been challenging from a personal perspective, as we have not been able to spend time with our families and friends, which has been hard for us all.
“This is of course our busiest time of year, but it is important for us to give as many of you as possible the opportunity to spend this time with those loved ones who you may not have not seen for many months – so, uniquely for this year, we will not reopen our stores until 27 December.”
Asda employees who were scheduled to work on Boxing Day will still be paid.
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Additionally, all staff will receive 100% of their bonus entitlement for this year. Previously, bonus amounts were decided and awarded based on individual sales performances.
The supermarket giant joins Marks & Spencer (MKS.L), Pets at Home (PETS.L), and toy store The Entertainer, all of which previously announced they would be shutting to give staff a well-deserved day off.
CEO of M&S Steve Rowe said in a statement: "We have taken the decision to close our operations on Boxing Day, so that our colleagues can enjoy more special time with their loved ones.”
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