Scottish shops should be closed on New Year’s Day to give shop workers a well-deserved break says Usdaw

Tony Doonan – Usdaw regional secretary for Scotland says: “Our members remain deeply disappointed with the attitude of the Scottish Government and their refusal to enact powers given to them by the Scottish Parliament to stop the opening of large stores on New Year’s Day. Usdaw members’ have consistently made a strong case for retail workers to have a proper break at New Year, but Ministers are clearly not listening to the 98% of Scottish shop workers who want stores to close.

“All the SNP in Government has done is stand back while New Year’s Day trading has grown, forcing more staff into work and away from their families on 1 January. Retail staff work incredibly hard all year round, but it is particularly busy and stressful throughout December, so they deserve to be able to spend time with family and friends.

“For those retailers who do open, we have negotiated national agreements for shops to be staffed with genuine volunteers only, and our workplace reps are supporting members to help make sure that happens at store level. We also send our appreciation to those workers behind the shopfront who have to work on New Year’s Day, not least in distribution, food and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

“Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday in Scotland, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers. We urge retailers to ensure that, if they do trade on 1 January, stores are staffed with genuine volunteers only. Our message to the public is, if you really feel the need to shop on New Year’s Day, please respect shopworkers and understand they would most likely prefer to be spending time having a well-earned festive break.”

What Scottish shop workers say:

• “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!!!”
• “If, like myself, you have to work Boxing Day and New Year’s Day - it should be paid at least time and half.”
• “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.”
• “I am not happy working till 1930 on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. By 4pm our store was fairly empty.”
• “Finishing times on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay are creeping up later, which has a severe impact on family life for retail workers.”