To say ‘well done’ to the bosses of M&S, Waitrose, Lidl & Aldi

[MargaritaThyme]

For deciding not to open their stores on Boxing Day, thereby giving their staff, who have been working very hard through December, a proper break with their loved ones?

I’ve worked today (Christmas Eve) then back in Boxing Day I feel like I just won’t have a break at all, we are even open New Year’s Day even though we will be the only shop open in town! Feel annoyed we’ve had nothing from work not even a thank you or a voucher for all our hard work!

Love this- should definitely become the norm again

I’ve only just seen this thread op but yes I agree. My dd has be working all week in M&S and it’s been hellishly busy. She just finished tonight at 5. Really tired out.

They were allowed to take home some of the fresh stuff that didn’t sell so she came home with a bag of goodies. Well done M&S.

Ocado are closed on Christmas day and Boxing day too. I get to spend Christmas with my sons ❤️

And over on Style and Beauty someone has started a thread on whether TK Maxx is open on Boxing Day.

(It is)

Do you ever get 2 days off in row?

There really is no need for shops to be open on Boxing Day.

There really is no need for shops to be open on Boxing Day.

You could say that about any day in the year.

Well you could but it wouldn't make much sense. Any other day of the year isn't the day after Christmas.

I've never gone shopping on Boxing Day or New Year's Day. Is it really so impossible for some people to have 2 days with no shopping?

Someone in the thread has said they will be working on Christmas Eve and back on Boxing Day. 1 day off really isn't a break.

It is a great move shutting on boxing day.

I often think that Sunday opening was the start of this super busy pace of life - nothing ever stops.

I felt bad for someone in our local supermarket who said they were off Christmas Day and Boxing Day and that it's 'a nice break', 2 days!

I didn't mention I'm off for 11 days (I know some people are off longer, but I will be ready to go back then!), as I wouldn't want to rub anyone's nose in it.

all shops should shut 24th - 27th and give people a proper Christmas break.

So just because you’ve never gone shopping on Boxing Day @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle have you ever thought there’s people who do because they prefer or need to?

There plenty of people like me who’ve posted on this thread who need to go shopping on Boxing Day for practical or wellbeing reasons, or enjoy shopping on Boxing Day.

I work in an office/contact centre and that's what we get off
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, NYD

Even had people asking why we were closed Boxing Day

DS is an office/wfh worker and only gets CD, BD and NYD off, he works for a fairly small company.

I work for Waitrose & in all the years I’ve been there we haven’t opened on Boxing Day.. thankfully!

A university student I knew a few years ago couldn't go home for Christmas because Accesorize opened Boxing Day and she had to work. No way could she get home to her parents and back in time. I agree with you about giving praise to the shops which don't open Boxing Day.

When I was young no shops opened on Sunday. Everyone learned to drive on Asda carpark on Sundays 🤣

An M&S employee told be that they would be docked two days leave for having Xmas and boxing day off, even though the shop will be closed.

They prefer to. I don't believe there is anyone who actually has to go shopping on the 26th of December. It's one day and everyone would know shops wouldn't be open. Fgs shops used to be closed every Sundays- how on earth did we cope?

Do you really think a retail worker working until say 5.p.m on the 24th and then starting work again at 9 a.m or even earlier on the 26th is getting a proper break?

Many employers allow employees to take 25th and 26th December as paid leave which isn't taken from allowance. I'm one of them. My employees are off 25th, 26th and 27th December and 1st and 2nd January - fully paid and separate from their annual leave. The vast majority of them are using 2 days annual leave on the 28th and 29th to get a clear run of no work from 22nd December to 3rd January.

My annual turnover is a drop in the ocean compared to a supermarket's. It wouldn't kill the supermarkets to give 26th as a paid extra day.

Why open the day after Easter Friday? The most important date in the Christian calendar. Why open on Eid or Diwali? Those are celebrated by millions in this country. Why open the day after New Year’s Day?

Why do you ‘believe’ that no one needs to shop on Boxing Day? What research have you done? Where is the evidence? How you know what 70 million people in the country ‘need’ on any given day of the year?

I see you can't answer the question about retail workers getting a proper break. I wasn't even thinking of the religious aspect. Retail workers have been working all hours up to the 24th. Do you really think getting stuck back in after 1 day's break gives them a proper break.

If their employers actually cared they would pay the 26th as an extra day. Plenty of employers do.

If shops weren't open you can plan to buy everything you need before then. It's one day.

How do you think we all managed when no shops opened 52 Sundays in every year?

Interesting that you fixate on the "oh my goodness, there must be shops open on Boxing Day" but apparently have nothing to say about the idea that employers should give this day as a paid extra day.

Many employers do.

I agree 100%.

I've never heard of any employer in my sector not giving these bank holidays as additional paid days.