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New Year's Day Working in Scotland

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About this campaign

Usdaw is campaigning for all large shops in Scotland to close on New Year’s Day.

We believe that our members should be able to enjoy New Year’s Day with their friends and families, and understand the importance of being able to recover following the busy run up to the festive period.

Only 3% of Scottish retail workers are happy to work on New Year’s Day.

How to support the campaign

Usdaw has been campaigning for a change in the law in Scotland, to require large retail stores to close on New Year’s Day.

Unfortunately, the Scottish Government has refused to bring in this change to the law, despite 94% of respondents to the Government's public consultation being in favour of this move.

The decision is an extremely disappointing one for our members, who deserve a decent break over the festive period.

We aren’t giving up on this, and want to keep up the pressure on the Scottish Government to give key workers in retail time off to spend with their loved ones.

You can help by emailing your MSP to ask them to reconsider this decision.

Show your support by sharing our message on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter).

What Scottish shopworkers say:

"As a store manager I have had to work Christmas and New Year. A lot of hard work goes into the weeks leading up. By Christmas Day you are exhausted and then back to work on Boxing Day. Last year I also had to work New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and on the second."

 

Scottish shopworker

21 August 2024

"You're tired from working and don't really relax or enjoy the limited time you get with the kids. Then you start all over again working New Year’s Day too!!!"

 

Scottish shopworker

21 August 2024

"Finishing times on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay are creeping up later, which has a severe impact on family life for retail workers"

 

Scottish shopworker

21 August 2024