// M&S announces plans to close stores on Boxing Day
// The closures are to thank staff for their hard work
// The retailer’s CEO Steve Rowe wrote to 70,000 workers to inform them
Marks & Spencer has reportedly revealed plans to allow staff to have the day off on Boxing Day this year.
The retailer’s chief executive Steve Rowe has written to 70,000 workers to inform them that the store closure will be to thank them for their efforts in recent months.
The closure will apply to all M&S-owned stores in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, its Donington Distribution Centre near Derby, and all of its support centres, The Mirror reported.
READ MORE: M&S sales rise 29.1% thanks to “fewer promotions”
The initiative comes after rival supermarket Morrisons also announced it would shut its almost 500 stores on Boxing Day.
“Up and down the country, our colleagues have been there for our customers in the most challenging of circumstances,” Rowe said.
“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.”
M&S decided to close its operations on Boxing Day last year, having previously planned to open over 200 stores on December 26.
That announcement came despite the government’s plan to temporarily relax restrictions over the Christmas period.
In a separate move, M&S has said it will have extended opening hours at more stores before Christmas this year.
The majority of branches will open from 6am to midnight from Monday December 20 to Thursday December 23.
A “selected number” of stores will be open until 8pm on Christmas Eve.
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