This festive season, thousands of hardworking Britons who are scheduled to work over Christmas will receive a complimentary festive meal as a thank you for their service.
A Festive Thank You for Essential Workers
Pub giant Greene King is launching ‘The Big Christmas Shift’ across 700 of its pubs throughout December. The initiative aims to raise the spirits of the nation's hardest workers by giving away a total of 30,000 free Christmas dinners.
The scheme has the proud support of the Blue Light Card, with 10,000 of the 30,000 meals reserved exclusively for its members. Eligible members, including those from the NHS and emergency services, can claim their meal directly via the Blue Light Card website.
Recognising Those Who Work the Holiday
Neil Caldicott, Chief Marketing Officer, emphasised the importance of the initiative, stating: "Millions of our members will be giving up their own Christmas Day to keep the nation running, and we’re passionate about making sure those people are celebrated." He added, "We hope our members enjoy a moment to relax, enjoy a festive meal, and feel recognised for the vital work they do every day."
This gesture comes as new research from Greene King reveals the sacrifices made by shift workers. The study of 1,000 adults who have worked on Christmas Day found that 43% miss spending time with family, while 21% miss the tradition of opening presents together and 22% long for festive TV. Alarmingly, more than half (53%) feel under-appreciated for keeping essential services running on the big day.
How to Claim and The Campaign Behind It
Shift workers had until 17 November to sign up for this alternative Christmas celebration. The campaign is featured in a new Greene King Christmas advert, filmed in Bury St Edmunds, where the brewery has been crafting beer since 1799.
In a nod to history, the pub company has also taken Santa Claus back to his original green outfit, which he is said to have worn throughout the 17th and 18th century, before the red suit became standard in the last 100 years.
