ASDA - closing on Boxing Day

[BowlerHatPowerHat]

ASDA (and some other retailers) are going to be closed on Boxing Day to give their staff a break and a thank you for work over the pandemic. Great idea.

But this was mentioned in the BBC article:

'Frontline staff will also get 100% of their bonus entitlement regardless of whether they have reached sales quotas.'

Supermarket staff have sales quotas? How does that work? They aren't on the shop floor trying to upsell items. Is it number of customers processed?

Boxing Day: Pressure mounts on supermarkets to close www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55251713

The whole shop has a sales quota rather than individuals on the shop floor. Managers in different departments and the store manager are responsible for meeting them.

Thanks Plus
Still find it a bit odd - surely people just buy similar amounts of food.
Though I suppose shop layout and promotions may tempt people - but I thought that was arranged by head office.

Yes, it's not individual's it's Asda's sale quotas. I am all for shops that have been open throughout the pandemic closing on Boxing Day.

Quotas are for sales above the expected, think about the extra bits you pick up when you go in for a pint of milk? If the shelves weren't kept neatly stocked with clear aisles you wouldn't pick up those chocolate fingers you don't need (or even really want) to eat on the way home. If you had to queue for ages or if the staff were really rude you might just go home and abandon your trolley.
But if people are shopping less than usual, not taking their husbands kids who might pick up things that aren't on the list or just shopping online there is less chance for staff to upsell and hit their targets so they're just giving them anyway

(Also it is good PR to announce it)

Brilliant! I hope they all do this.

Yeah it's things like promotions, store layout and general experience. I used to work in Waitrose while doing my MA and for a bit. I get what you mean in that you'd think people are just buying what they need and going as often as they always would. But over thousands of people things add up. Such as placement of the fresh cookies!

Also if the store is dirty or shabby and customer service is poor people will go elsewhere. For example I go to one sainsburys and not another as I feel that the stock in one is often really bad.

So it's not as direct as say selling in a department store or car show room but there are things they do to increase sale.

Stores were giving Boxing Day off regardless of covid though.... it was new off the back of last Christmas

Shops don’t need to be open on Boxing Day

Large non food store I work in has store manager then individual department managers. All responsible for their own departments sales

Mines hardware/building supplies/tools. So I make sure everything is in right place and adjust accordingly if sales dip

Not sure about sales quotas but a great move by Asda. Hope every other large retailer follows.

Is it branch manager who decides what is stocked in store?
I'm finding I'm buying less at my local ASDA has it has reduced its range. More and more products are ASDA own brands.
Yesterday, butter - Asda brand and one branded. That was it.

No, I think it's all done centrally. With it being Christmas and with the panic buying surrounding COVID/Brexit I would imagine decisions are having to be made regarding stock at the moment.

I suppose we'll have to get used to less choice after Brexit kicks in!

@BowlerHatPowerHat

I suppose we'll have to get used to less choice after Brexit kicks in!

I think you might be right. Interesting times.

Great move from Asda! Im sure the others will follow suit.

My SIL works for Asda and there is genuine happiness from the staff over this. He's worked tirelessly with little leave since March, and all supermarkets will have record profits this year.

I think it's great and hope it marks a change towards letting all retail staff have a break over Christmas. It's just not necessary.

I doubt all staff will be getting a break. Someone has to be there to stock the shelves. Will be the same in all stores not just Asda.

Great news!

Good nobody needs to shop on Boxing Day nobody .
My dh has had to work Boxing Day and you don't enjoy Christmas Day as much because you know you need to go to bed early for work the next day .
Let's just stay home eating the kids selection boxes watching rubbish tv bliss .
Go shopping on the 27th

@BowlerHatPowerHat

Is it branch manager who decides what is stocked in store? I'm finding I'm buying less at my local ASDA has it has reduced its range. More and more products are ASDA own brands. Yesterday, butter - Asda brand and one branded. That was it.

No, range is decided centrally by HO.

After years of expanding range, many grocers are cutting back in the face of competition from Lidl/Aldi who are doing well with very lean ranges. Cost savings are big from having fewer items.

Stores can hugely affect their sales results as pp said by having fully stocked shelves, price labels in place, clean and tidy stores and so on.

That's good. I wonder is Next is still doing their shitty 6am Boxing Day sale.

I do feel their announcement is a little misleading though implying they're giving staff an extra day off, when actually they have to take it as annual leave. And of course some staff groups will still have to work.

I dont want to put a downer on this ,but please dont be fooled Into thinking the supermarkets are amazing giving shop staff the day off for boxing day,, although it's great for the staff,Chances are the warehouse staff will still be working due to short life produce having to be picked and despatched for the 27th. Not all supermarket chain staff have the luxury of 2 days with family over christmas. Its shit but people have to do it especially if it falls on your rota

Staff will have to take it as annual leave. Virtue signalling from greedy store owners, that's all.

Time off has to be taken as annual leave!!!

Thats quite normal. The point here is they'll not be a cap or an embargo. For retail workers this is huge.

My DH's employer give them extra days off over Christmas and they make a lot less than Walmart 🤷‍♀️ might be normal to have to take days when your employer instructs you not to work from annual leave allowance but that doesn't mean there's no other way of giving a day off.