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For the first time in history, pharmacy chain Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) will close almost all locations on Thanksgiving Day amid recent employee discontent over working conditions.
However, nearly all 24-hour locations will remain open, the Deerfield, Illinois-based healthcare giant said, adding that the decision will “give team members time with their loved ones.”
“We have consistently heard from our team members—who are the face of Walgreens—that time off is a meaningful way for us to demonstrate we value them,” Walgreens’ (WBA) Chief Customer Officer Tracey Brown noted.
Rival CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) said it will shut down its non-24-hour pharmacy locations early on Thanksgiving Day. However, Rite Aid (OTC:RADCQ) noted that while its pharmacy locations will be closed for the holiday, retail stores will remain open. The company, which recently declared bankruptcy, will close its stores on Christmas Day.
Pharmacy chains typically adjust their operating hours on Thanksgiving Day, and this year marks a change in that trend against a backdrop of multiple labor actions.
In November, IAM Healthcare launched a campaign to unionize retail pharmacy workers after thousands of pharmacists at Walgreens (WBA), CVS Health (CVS), and Rite Aid (OTC:RADCQ) joined a three-day strike.