Supermarket giant Asda is offering its hourly paid workers the chance to take the coronation bank holiday Monday off on May 8. It says anyone scheduled to work who wants to take part in the Big Help Out to mark King Charles III's coronation will be able to have the day off.
The Big Help Out is a national day of volunteering to mark the king's reign. Workers who want to take part in the scheme will get paid and keep their remaining holiday entitlement.
However, anyone choosing to work on the bank holiday will receive double time, says the retailer. The supermarket says over 380 "community champions" will also be arranging litter picks in places such as parks, community centres, beaches and canals during the Big Help Out.
And details of local events and volunteering events will be advertised on its community notice boards. In addition, Asda will be surprising 10 Coronation inspired community projects across the country with funding.
Asda Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer, Hayley Tatum, said: “We’re proud to mark the Coronation of King Charles III by supporting the ‘Big Help Out’ and enabling our colleagues to come together, celebrate and give back to their local communities. We understand that this is an incredibly important event for many of our colleagues, and they want to get involved, which is why we’re offering them the opportunity to take a day off to support their local area, without needing to use their holiday entitlement.
“We are also saying thank you to those colleagues who do choose to work on Monday 8th May by offering them a double time payment as a thank you for their continued efforts to serve our customers over the Bank Holiday weekend.”
