Morrisons has surprised shoppers across the UK by announcing that all its supermarkets will close on Boxing Day 2023. This decision means that more than 110,000 Morrisons employees will receive an additional day off to rest and recharge after a challenging year.
The closure marks a shift towards the old-school tradition when many shops shut for extended holiday breaks during Christmas and New Year. While some supermarkets like Asda and Tesco closed on Boxing Day in 2020, Morrisons’ main competitors, including Sainsbury’s, have typically remained open on this day.
A Morrisons spokesperson explained the reasoning behind the decision: “We know everyone at Morrisons has worked incredibly hard over the last 18 months and continues to do so, as together we’ve responded to the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, serving our customers and local communities, and caring so much for each other.”
They added, “We’ve been listening hard to colleagues about how best to say thank you, and are pleased to confirm that this year we’ll take the exceptional step of closing all our supermarkets on Boxing Day, so as many of our key workers as possible can enjoy a two day weekend break with family, friends and other loved ones.”
The announcement raises the question of whether other supermarket chains will follow Morrisons’ example and provide their staff with a proper festive break this year.
Originally published by UKNIP.
