HOME BARGAINS WILL CLOSE ON BOXING DAY SETTING EXAMPLE OF LOOKING AFTER STAFF AND RESPECTING FAMILY TIME

HOME BARGAINS WILL CLOSE ON BOXING DAY SETTING EXAMPLE OF LOOKING AFTER STAFF AND RESPECTING FAMILY TIME Credit: Shutterstock

HOME BARGAINS has announced the closure of stores on December 26 to give their “hard-working staff” an extra day off, despite it being one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

The move has triggered thousands to call for all shops to close on Boxing day so staff can have time off to spend the festive period with family.

The discount chain also shut on Boxing Day last year so workers could enjoy a longer break over Christmas. Furthermore the day off is not taken out of the staff’s 28-day holiday allowance.

A petition launched last year is now gaining traction again as social media users call for more stores to close.

Almost 50,000 people have signed their name to the campaign on Change.org, which says that “staff should not be forced to spend Boxing Day away from loved ones so shoppers can get a new pair of half-price trainers that they will not even wear before starting their New Year’s resolutions at the gym.”

In an exclusive interview with Euro Weekly News one member of staff, who wishes to remain anonymous, but who works in a Manchester retail park (Not Home Bargains) stated: “The regional manager just rang my store manager again going mental over me starting late on Boxing day. Knowing my family live in Cardiff and I have to set off at 3am to get there on time for 8.30 am. I’ve had enough! We are not robots. We need family time. I’ll just hand my notice saying that I’ll be there for 8.30 am because I’m dedicated to peak! Ridiculous… We, and I’m talking of all retail workers, deserve to spend more time with family especially as we all work really hard during the run up to Christmas anyway.”

Home Bargains has received praise by many on social media sites for taking the step to look after their staff

On Twitter, hundreds of people have also been rallying for more stores to close, with one user saying: “Every shop should do this, well done home bargains!”

With another stating: “Bravo HB for looking after your staff and respecting precious family time”

Home Bargains themselves posted the following message on Twitter which reads:

A message to our Staff and customers:

To all our staff: Thank you for all your hard work once again this year. All of our stores will be closed on Boxing Day to ensure you are able to spend time with your friends and family. We hope you enjoy the Christmas holiday.

To our customers: All of our stores will be closed on Boxing Day this year to ensure all our hard working staff are able to enjoy the Christmas break. Our store will reopen on the 27th December. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Thanks again,

From all at HB x

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Cristina Hodgson

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