John Lewis and Waitrose will close most of their stores on Boxing Day, aligning with a trend among retailers to prioritize employee welfare over holiday profits.
- The Trafford and Stratford locations of John Lewis will be the only stores to remain open on Boxing Day.
- Over 300 Waitrose outlets, as well as 37 John Lewis stores, will shut their doors on Boxing Day.
- Certain Waitrose stores, particularly those attached to petrol stations, will remain operational.
- Both chains will also close most locations on New Year’s Day, following similar closure patterns.
John Lewis has made a strategic decision to close its standalone stores on Boxing Day, opting instead to maintain operations solely at its Trafford and Stratford shopping centers. This move comes in response to a larger trend observed last year, where competitors like Wilko and The Range made similar choices to prioritize employee well-being.
Similarly, Waitrose, a high-end supermarket chain, will close the majority of its outlets on both December 25 and 26. The closures will affect over 300 locations, with only a select few attached to petrol stations staying open to serve essential needs. This decision reflects a growing emphasis on allowing employees time to celebrate the holidays with their families, echoing the sentiment expressed by CDS Superstores in the previous year, which emphasized granting staff a “well-earned break.”
This approach also extends to New Year’s Day, with the majority of John Lewis and Waitrose outlets ceasing operations, continuing their commitment to staff welfare over profit-making during the holiday season. The decision aligns with actions taken by other retailers such as Home Bargains, who will similarly shut down all locations on key holiday dates this year.
The closures by John Lewis and Waitrose underscore a growing shift towards valuing employee welfare over traditional retail profits during holiday seasons.
