Asda to close all stores on Boxing Day and give staff Christmas bonus for ‘unstinting hard work’

Supermarket CEO says he wants to give employees ‘the opportunity to spend this time with loved ones’

Asda has confirmed it will not open on Boxing Day so that staff can see their families over the Christmas period.

The supermarket’s chief executive, Roger Burnley, announced that all of Asda’s 631 stores will close on the 25 and 26 of December as he thanked employees for doing an “incredible job” under challenging circumstances.

He added that he wanted as many employees as possible to enjoy the five-day relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, which permits three households to mix indoors between 23 and 27 December.

“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,” Burnley said in a message to employees.

“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.”

He continued: “As you know, the strict guidelines set out by the government will change between 23 and 27 December and more households will be able to gather together.

“This is of course our busiest time of year but it was important for us to give as many of you as possible the opportunity to spend this time with those loved ones that you may not have not seen for many months so, uniquely for this year, we will not reopen our stores until 27 December.”

Asda has also confirmed that staff who were contracted to work on Boxing Day will still be paid and that all eligible hourly-paid workers will receive a guaranteed 100 per cent bonus for their “unstinting hard work and commitment” during 2020.

The move has been welcomed by union bosses, who have called on other retailers to follow suit.

Paddy Lillis, general secretary of the shopworkers’ union, Usdaw, said: “When the country faced a crisis unlike any in our lifetime, shopworkers stepped up and kept essential services running.

“They continued to work and faced increased levels of violence and abuse, as well as being worried about catching Covid-19. So we welcome Asda doing the right thing by their staff with the closure of stores on Boxing Day.

“Key workers have done so much this year and we are asking retailers to give their staff the longest possible break over the festive season. We don’t think that is too much to ask for.”

The announcement comes after other supermarkets, including Aldi and Marks & Spencer confirmed their stores will remain closed on Boxing Day.

Marks & Spencer had been planning to open more than 200 of its stores on 26 December, but reversed its decision in light of the government guidelines.

At the time, M&S chief executive Steve Rowe said: “This Christmas, the celebrations we have will be more precious than ever.”

He added that closing on Boxing Day was “a big decision, but it is absolutely the right one given the incredible effort everyone has made in the most challenging of circumstances”.

Other retailers that have confirmed they will be closing on Boxing Day include Waitrose, John Lewis, Wickes and Home Bargains.