John Lewis has a strict policy. They shut up shop on Boxing Day. Every single store. It’s been that way for years.
Why? Is it a weird corporate punishment? Nope. It’s a treat. They give their staff a paid day off. Two days of Christmas cheer. A little retail hibernation.
Think about it. You’ve just survived the “Christmas Dinner Quiz.” You’ve argued about the turkey’s dryness. You deserve a lie-in. So do their employees.
The Quirky History Bit
This tradition isn’t new. It’s a curious part of their DNA. John Lewis was a pioneer of employee ownership. The Partners own the business. So, they vote on things like this.
In 2013, they tried a new thing. They opened a few stores on Boxing Day for the first time. The result? Chaos. Not riots, but a collective groan from staff.
Customers were confused. Partners were grumpy. The experiment lasted exactly one year. Then, poof. Back to the holiday. They learned their lesson: some days are sacred.
