Walgreens has quietly pulled paid holiday pay for many hourly store employees — a wallet-lightening change workers say was relayed in early October — and it’s landing with a thud in Chicago and beyond. The timing, coming on the heels of the company’s private-equity takeover by Sycamore Partners, has sparked confusion and frustration among staff. Not exactly the holiday surprise anyone asked for.
According to Crain's Chicago Business, the chain eliminated six paid holidays for hourly store workers and notified staff of the shift in early October. Bloomberg Law reported the change could shave “hundreds of dollars” from some workers’ earnings.
What changed and who it affects
Employees posting on internal forums and public message boards say a Compass update — the company’s HR portal — now indicates hourly team members generally only receive holiday pay if they actually work the holiday, while salaried roles may remain eligible. Discussions on Reddit show managers and technicians gaming out schedules at locations that close on major holidays.
Buyout timeline and company response
Sycamore Partners completed its acquisition of Walgreens Boots Alliance on Aug. 28, 2025, taking the company private. Reporting by the Associated Press noted the deal followed shareholder approval over the summer and carried an equity value of roughly $10 billion. The company has not publicly reversed the updated holiday policy.
Worker reaction and local impact
Chicago-area employees told Crain's Chicago Business and posted online that the change wipes out one of the few predictable pay boosts for hourly staff — and adds to staffing strain at stores already facing consolidation. With Walgreens in a multi-year shakeup that includes previously announced store closures, workers say the holiday-pay tweak could make Thanksgiving and Christmas coverage even tougher.
What to watch next
Managers and labor advocates are watching for any clarification or reversal — and whether state labor authorities or worker groups push formal challenges. Bloomberg Law reported the company and Sycamore declined to comment when asked. We’ll be tracking local notices and official filings for updates.
