Marks and Spencer has revised its policies for working on Boxing Day, affecting a significant number of employees. As per internal documents obtained by the Guardian, all staff members are now required to work on one of the days between December 26, 27, and 28. This marks a departure from the previous five years when M&S sought volunteers for Boxing Day shifts.

The adjustment means that approximately 25% of store personnel will now be scheduled to work on Boxing Day exclusively, with the option to take the day off as holiday if they prefer not to work, as reported by the Guardian. While the larger M&S stores will remain shut on Boxing Day, the company aims to have more staff on hand to prepare for reopening on December 27.

Statistics reveal that over 40% of permanent and 30% of seasonal M&S employees did not work during the peak days. Additionally, staff members must also be available to work on December 22, 23, and 24 in anticipation of the Christmas rush.

Jayne Wall, the operations director at M&S, expressed gratitude towards the dedicated employees who contribute to the festive shopping experience at the stores. She noted that while stores typically have some staff working on Boxing Day for reset purposes, this year will see a larger workforce in place to ensure a smooth reopening on December 27.

M&S initiated the practice of keeping its stores closed on Boxing Day in 2020 as a gesture of appreciation for the hard work of its employees during the challenging times of the Covid pandemic. Last year, the decision to remain closed was made to allow staff members a well-deserved extended break with their families.

The changes to working arrangements were implemented prior to a cyber attack in April, which is expected to result in significant financial losses for the company. The attack disrupted IT systems, impacting payments and click-and-collect services, leading to logistical challenges and potential data breaches for customers.

Customers are advised to exercise caution if contacted by individuals claiming to represent M&S, as the extent of the data breach remains under investigation. However, the company assures that no actionable card details, payment information, or account passwords were compromised in the incident.