All Poundland shops to be closed for two days as bosses hand out free £25 payments

Poundland has announced that it will close all its stores on Day to give its staff a well-deserved break.

The retailer, which operates over 800 stores in the UK, confirmed that it will shut its shops on December 25 and 26, as well as on New Year's Day, as a gesture of appreciation to its employees.

Additionally, staff members will receive a £25 voucher to spend in their local branch before . Simon Wells, People Director at Poundland, stated: "We have brilliant colleagues here at Poundland and Dealz who work incredibly hard throughout the year, bringing our brands to life every day and supporting our customers."

"But we know they all particularly shine at Christmas, bringing the magic to our stores that our customers know and love. We're delighted to be able to support them with a well-earned rest once the festive season is over."

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This announcement comes as Poundland launches a recruitment drive to hire 1,000 new seasonal staff to cover the busy festive period.

The temporary contracts will run until Christmas Eve, with some being extended until early January. To support its workers, Poundland is doubling its staff discount on weekends, and each employee will also receive a £25 voucher to spend in-store, reports .

Those interested in applying can do so through the chain's career website. has confirmed that it will be closed on December 25 and 26, along with Home Bargains, John Lewis and .

With the surge in online shopping, some retailers may shift their focus to online sales and promotions instead of opening their physical stores on Boxing Day, they suggest.

Poundland has not said it would be closing stores earlier on Christmas Eve so normal opening hours will likely be in place. So, before you visit a Poundland store over the festive season, you should double-check the opening hours to avoid a wasted journey. Poundland has over 800 stores in the UK and in Ireland - all of which will be affected by this announcement - and employs over 18,000 people.

Simon Wells, people director at Poundland said: "We have brilliant colleagues here at Poundland & Dealz who work incredibly hard throughout the year, bringing our brands to life every day and supporting our customers. But we know they all particularly shine at Christmas, bringing the magic to our stores that our customers know and love. We’re delighted to be able to support them with a well-earned rest once the festive season is over.”

Other retailers have also started to announce their holiday opening hours with supermarket chains and confirming that they will be closing their stores on Boxing Day. John Lewis, The Range and Wilko have also said it will close branches on the day after Christmas.

Last year, dozens of chains across the country, including Aldi, Iceland, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, , and Poundland, decided to adjust their opening hours. Others opted to operate with reduced hours instead, including , Primark, and .