Asda to close all stores on Boxing Day for frontline staff to see their families

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Supermarket chain Asda will not be opening up its doors to the public on Boxing Day – offering staff the chance to spend more time with their families.

Stores across the country will remain closed as employees will be offered the opportunity to have the day off, reports The Mirror..

The chain will follow in the likes of Marks & Spencer in shutting its doors on December 26, which is usually one of the busiest days for shopping.

Speaking to staff members, CEO Roger Burnley said: "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 December 27th."

All 631 of the business's stores will be shut on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Employees who were contracted to work, or volunteer to go in, on Boxing Day will be paid for the shift under premium bank holiday rates.

All eligible hourly-paid workers will receive a guaranteed 100% bonus, Yorkshire Post reported.

The bonus will be paid in February.

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Those looking to pick up some groceries on Christmas Eve should be aware that Asda stores shut at 7pm on the 24th.

Asda is not the first supermarket to decide to give its employees a well deserved break this Christmas.

Marks and Spencer has announced it will not be opening its stores on Boxing Day.

The company's bosses made the decision following the announcement of the relaxed coronavirus restrictions over Christmas.

Aldi will also be closed on Christmas and Boxing Day as well as January 1.

Waitrose stores will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, except for those in Welcome Break motorway service stations and Shell forecourts, some of which will continue to be open 24 hours.

Like usual, John Lewis will not be open on the 25th or 26th.

• Asda

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