Walmart Will Be Closed on Thanksgiving for the First Time in 30 Years
When was the last time you remember Black Friday sales actually starting on Friday? Most stores have their deals begin before we can finish our Thanksgiving dinner — but Walmart just announced they’re changing that tradition for a very special reason.
The retail giant released a statement this week saying they will keep their Walmart and Sam’s Club store doors closed on Thanksgiving this year. CEO John Furner explained, “We know this has been a trying year, and our associates have stepped up. We hope they will enjoy a special Thanksgiving Day at home with their loved ones. We are certainly thankful to our people for all of their efforts.”
According to Business Insider, the credit for this idea goes to an employee who reached out to higher ups. “Kevin Carlyle is the People Lead at Store #475 in Round Rock, Texas,” Furner explained. “He recently wrote us and suggested that we close for Thanksgiving during this unusual year, so that our associates could spend the day with their families.”
The company says they will share more details regarding the Black Friday schedule at a later date. Depending on the state of the pandemic at that time, it might be safer for us all to focus on Cyber Monday deals instead.
And even though Thanksgiving is still quite a few months away, Walmart and Sam’s Club employees are probably already feeling extra thankful knowing they’ll be able to spend it with their loved ones this year without work pulling them away.
And that’s not the only good news shared in the company’s statement — they’re also handing out a third round of special bonuses to employees next month. Full-time hourly associates will receive $300 while part-timers will get $150, all of which is set to be given out on August 20.
“Since the beginning of this pandemic, I’ve been so proud to see how our associates have pulled together to take care of each other and our members,” Kathryn McLay, President and CEO of Sam’s Club, said in the statement. “These are extraordinary times, and our associates have lifted each other up in extraordinary ways, and we are so grateful.”
As the largest retail outlet in the country, this announcement has likely made a lot of people happy. The rest of us might have to wait on snagging price-slashed items, but it can’t beat the value of giving so many families more quality time with their loved ones.
