M&S staff have been informed they are expected to work on Boxing Day for the first time in five years as the retail giant looks to trim costs and boost product availability.
Employees are required to work all three days in the run up to Christmas Day (December 25) as well as one of the three peak days after, The Guardian reported.
In a document to staff, Marks & Spencer said that more than 40% of permanent and 30% of seasonal workers did not work one of the 26, 27 or 28 December last year.
As this was not enough to restock shops sufficiently, “all colleagues must play their part to deliver a successful Christmas” this year.
Only a limited number of retail employees will be able to book the day off to help “save costs and reduce complexity”. It is understood that around 25% of retail staff will work on Boxing Day.
Since the pandemic in 2020, M&S has asked for volunteers to work on Boxing Day and given the day off to most of its workforce, with only the retailer’s smaller food outlets opening on December 26.
Last year, the retailer publicly said it kept stores closed “in order to give our colleagues a much-deserved extended break with their family and loved ones”.
M&S operations director Jayne Wall said: “Christmas at M&S is very special and we are grateful to our hardworking colleagues who make our stores great places for our customers to shop.
“Like most retailers, we always have some colleagues in our stores and depots on Boxing Day to help reset. However, this year we will have more colleagues working than previously so we are in great shape to welcome customers on December 27.”
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