John Lewis and Waitrose have confirmed their plans to close standalone stores on Boxing Day, aligning with other retailers to prioritize staff welfare.
- The closures will affect over 300 Waitrose sites and 37 John Lewis locations, with only select stores at shopping centres remaining open.
- Waitrose stores attached to petrol stations are an exception, as they will remain operational on Boxing Day.
- Additionally, the majority of stores from both brands will not open on New Year’s Day, continuing the focus on employee rest.
- These decisions follow similar moves by other retailers last year, who cited Christmas period closures to allow staff time off as their primary reason.
John Lewis and Waitrose, two prominent names in the retail sector, have officially declared that their standalone stores will not operate on Boxing Day. Such a decision highlights a shift towards prioritising employee welfare during traditionally busy retail periods.
This decision impacts over 300 locations under the Waitrose brand and 37 John Lewis sites. Despite this, the Trafford and Stratford shopping centre stores will remain open, catering to the shopping needs of consumers during the festive period.
In contrast, Waitrose outlets that are part of petrol station set-ups will continue their operations on Boxing Day. This selective approach ensures that essential services are available even during the holiday closures.
Furthermore, the companies plan to keep most of their stores closed on New Year’s Day, reinforcing their commitment to employee rest and recuperation. These steps demonstrate a broader industry trend towards valuing staff well-being and work-life balance.
The decision by John Lewis and Waitrose mirrors actions taken by other retailers, such as Wilko and The Range, which also chose to remain closed on Boxing Day previously. These moves indicate a growing consideration for employees’ needs over the prioritisation of holiday profits.
The decision by John Lewis and Waitrose to close on Boxing Day aligns with a broader industry trend towards prioritising staff welfare over traditional holiday sales.
