HOME Bargains will be closed on Boxing Day after what it describes as a 'tough year for retail workers'.

The family business will also be rewarding most of its staff with two weeks' extra pay as a Christmas bonus of sorts.

Boxing Day is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year but the family-run business has instead told staff to 'make the most of the Christmas break and spend more time with loved ones over the festive period'.

All of Home Bargains' stores – including the Riverside Retail Park, Junction Nine Retail Park and Birchwood Shopping Centre branches – will be closed on Boxing Day.

The company has also said that stores will close at the earlier time of 5pm on Christmas Eve.

In addition to the time off, many members of staff will see two weeks’ extra pay hit their bank accounts in November, just in time for Christmas.

READ MORE > Wickes to close for three days at Christmas to thank staff

The boost was initially to create some financial security around any staff that had to self-isolate but a decision has been made to roll it out to all staff who started with the company before March 22.

In April, Home Bargains announced that any worker required to self-isolate due to Covid-19 would receive up to two week’s pay. Now, the retailer wants to ensure all employees receive that pay, regardless of whether they have been required to self-isolate or not.

As such, the company has stated that any member of staff employed before March 22 who has not needed to self-isolate over the last seven months, will now receive two weeks’ extra pay in November.

The move follows a 10 per cent pay increase for store staff in April as a thank you for their hard work during the UK-wide lockdown.

A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “We want to recognise how hard our staff have worked throughout some very challenging times and allow them to relax and truly enjoy the break safely with their loved ones.

“Home Bargains is a family-run business, and we know the importance of being together at Christmas time, now more than ever. Our staff work tirelessly to keep all our stores running smoothly no matter what and this is our way of saying thank you to all of our staff for their hard work and commitment.”

Other retailers have made similar moves to reward their staff after a very challenging year.

Wickes recently announced it will close all its shops for three days at Christmas for the first time in 48 years.