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Walgreens will close most of its pharmacies and stores on Thanksgiving Day for the first time in the company’s history, executives said Thursday.
The move to close more than 8,700 stores for the federal holiday comes as some Walgreens workers staged a three-day walkout this fall to push for improved working conditions and increased staffing numbers, Reuters reported.
“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,” Tracey Brown, EVP and president of Walgreens Retail and chief customer officer at Walgreens, said in a statement. “We heard them, are committed to listening to their feedback and are dedicated to doing what is right for them. We hope they can enjoy the holiday and spend time with their loved ones.”
Still, nearly all 700 24-hour Walgreens locations will stay open for critical healthcare needs, such as prescription access, health screenings, and vaccinations, according to the company. Other sites, including distribution centers, will also operate during the holiday, Walgreens execs said.
The move may put pressure on competitors like CVS and Rite Aid to follow suit.
CVS and Walgreens pharmacists also walked off the job for three days in October in an attempt to pressure the company to boost staffing levels, Reuters reported. CVS spokesperson Carissa Falzarano told Healthcare Brew that most of the chain’s pharmacies have historically had shorter hours on Thanksgiving, but this year the company is shutting all non-24-hour pharmacies early for the holiday. “This enables our customers and patients to shop our health and wellness products and access our pharmacy services while giving our store and pharmacy teams the opportunity to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with their families,” Falzarano said.
Rite Aid spokesperson Catherine Carter told Healthcare Brew that none of the chain’s pharmacies were affected by the walkouts. The company’s pharmacies will be closed on Thanksgiving, but retail will remain open, Carter added.