M&S to close all stores on Boxing Day so staff can spend time with loved ones

Marks & Spencer has announced that they will be closing all their stores on Boxing Day so their staff can enjoy some much-needed time off over the festive period.

CEO Steve Rowe made the early announcement this week, where he wrote to his 70,000 strong workforce to inform them of the good news and thank them for all their hard work over the last few months.

Mr Rowe said: “Up and down the country, our colleagues have been there for our customers in the most challenging of circumstances.

M&S – Manchester / Facebook

“As a small thank you for their incredible hard work, we’ve taken the decision to close our operations on Boxing Day once again this year, to enable our colleagues to spend more time with their family and loved ones.”

In a separate move, however, M&S has also revealed that it will have extended opening hours at more stores before Christmas this year, with the majority of branches being open from 6am to midnight from Monday December 20th to Thursday December 23th.

A ‘selected number’ of stores will be open until 8pm on Christmas Eve.

M&S – Manchester / Facebook

This comes just weeks after Morrisons made a similar announcement regarding their Boxing Day opening hours – the supermarket chain, who came under fire last year for remaining open on Boxing Day, announced that all staff members across the country will this year get the day off.

A Morrisons spokesperson told the BBC: “Everyone at Morrisons has worked incredibly hard over the last eighteen months as we’ve responded to the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, serving our customers and local communities.

“So this year, we’re taking the exceptional step of closing all our supermarkets on Boxing Day, so as many colleagues as possible can enjoy a two day weekend break with family and friends.”