Sainsbury’s Christmas ad is about a dad struggling to spend time with his family… so their staff have now kicked off about their OWN festive working hours
The heartwarming message about family Christmas has failed to impress some of the supermarket's workers
THE theme of the Sainsbury's Christmas ad couldn't be clearer - it's important to make time for the family over the festive period.
But its heartwarming message in the ad - called Christmas is for Sharing - has backfired with some of the supermarket's employees who have hit out at their own festive shifts.
Disgruntled staff member Will tweeted: "Funny that @sainsburys Xmas advert is all about being at home with family at Xmas, yet they've got me down to work Xmas Eve and Boxing day."
Another added: “Yep they got my mum working Xmas eve and boxing day too!”
A staff members hubby tweeted: "My Mrs has to work boxing day even though we have 2 young children!"
C Wrestling wrote: "#ChristmasIsForSharing so @sainsburys gonna give staff Boxing Day off so they can give that greatest gift this Christmas?"
Non-employees also joined in to support Will.
One tweeted: "Shops should not be open on Boxing Day,pressure is put on staff to work. And I don't work in a shop."
Another added: "I really think you should shut on Boxing Day too. You are not the emergency services."
In fact, there's even a petition to try to ban shops from opening on Boxing Day.
It was set up by , who points out no shops were open on the special day 30 or 40 years ago.
It's certainly hit a nerve too, as it already has over 100,000 signatures and many shop workers have backed it.
Not everyone was sympathetic about the Sainsbury's row though - with one user tweeting: "It's a given if you work in food retail. Don't like it get another job. I did 13 years so moved on."
Another suggested a brilliant solution: "Just do what the geeza does in the advert and send a toy in that looks like you. What can they say?"
The animated Sainsbury's ad launched yesterday, during I'm A Celebrity.
It follows Dave, a hard-working and devoted dad who struggles to find the time to get everything done so he can spend time with his family.
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After a busy day, he returns home late to find his children fast asleep in bed and then seeks help from a gingerbread clone so he can relax at home at Christmas.
On the new advert, Sarah Kilmartin, from Sainsbury’s, said: “Christmas is for Sharing has been a constant theme for our Christmas ads for the last three years and it continues to have real resonance for our customers.
“This year is no exception and we think many families will be able to relate to the idea that Christmas can be such a busy time that it can be hard to prioritise simple family time together.”
A sentiment the staff seem to share.