Some Tesco staff have claimed they have missed out on getting a Christmas bonus for the second year in a row, but they didn't exactly walk away empty handed.
Instead, they were given tubs of Quality Street.
The supermarket retailer is said to have given staff a 10% Christmas bonus in 2020 as an extra thank you for all their hard work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and in previous years has also been known to give out shopping vouchers - but in 2022, they were said to have just had to make do with some leftover festive chocolate.
The Guardian reports that Tesco staff received a plastic tub of Quality Street chocolates that were priced at £5 in store.
One worker complained to the paper that it was the second year in a row he had received only a tub of Quality Street and not a Christmas bonus, despite his particular store taking more than £10 million in December.
Tesco staff say they were given tubs of Quality Street instead of a Christmas bonus / Credit: Tesco
Tesco has addressed the claims by revealing that its staff discount was doubled to 20% on certain days during the run-up to Christmas, instead of offering vouchers or a cash bonus this past year.
The retailer said in a statement that it "would be wrong to suggest" chocolate replaced bonuses.
"We have never given a regular cash bonus at Christmas and it is wrong to suggest that we have replaced one with chocolates," Tesco said.
"To help colleagues with their Christmas shopping this year, we doubled our colleague discount to 20% in the run-up to Christmas - one of many benefits available to our colleagues, on top of the near 8% increase in base pay we invested over last year."
The tubs of festive sweets retail at £5 / Credit: Quality Street
Tesco also said bonuses were handed to shopfloor workers in April, May, and June 2020 when stores were very busy at the height of the pandemic, as well as in December 2020 to “recognise their exceptional effort during the peak Christmas trading period”.
The retailer has also pledged to invest £200 million into increasing its rate of pay for shopfloor staff to a minimum of £10.10.
It upped the rate again in October to a minimum of £10.30, taking their total pay rise last year to 8%.
Featured Image - Quality Street
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A look inside the trendy Catalonian café and bar coming to Sheffield
There's a brand-new Catalonian-inspired café and bar venue coming to Sheffield where you can grab a coffee or a pint at the same time.
This is Cats, a combined café and bar space that's making its way to Broomhill and offering anyone visiting the chance to experience a taste of Spain without having to fork out the cost of a plane ticket.
Catalonia is famous for many notable like impressive architecture such as La Sagrada Familia, legendary performers like Rosalía and phenomenal all-day hospitality which this new site is hoping to emulate.
Although we might not be able to judge their skills as vocalists, when it comes to construction and deconstruction they're excelling, as can be seen in their renovation progress documented across their socials.
Taking shape in the former Nibbles Pizza site on Ashdell Road, although you might not be able to order a 12 inch meat feast anymore, Cats will be offering a range of interesting wines, beers and bar snacks.
In newly-released rendered images, a fitting wine-red colour has been used throughout both interior and exterior, the latter having a small seating adjacent to the front door.
Inside, you'll find lightbulbs dotted around the almost-180 degree-spanning window seating with small warm lights to set the mood.
Directly opposite will be the bar with a muted-concrete countertop that has a coffee machine on one end and draught beers on the other - the ultimate dream.
There's even a cellar area downstairs with banquette seating and those familiar tabletop lamps which help keep the atmosphere as relaxed and intimate as intended.
As the name may suggest, this place isn't exclusively for feline lovers as this Sheffield venue is promising to be a dog-friendly site stocking 'Cats' branded dog treats and water bowls.
Of course, this won't be exactly how this café and bar space will end up looking like as working with an older may pose some potential challenges, but these plans shouldn't differ too much.
We can't wait to get our claws on a glass of vino.
Featured Images - Cats Sheffield via Instagram (Supplied)
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Trains from Leeds ‘extremely limited’ amid record-breaking heatwave
Daisy Jackson
‘Extremely limited’ train services are running across Yorkshire this week as the country melts in a record-breaking heatwave.
Northern has reached out to passengers to warn that a ‘significantly reduced’ number of trains are operating in and out of Leeds.
They’re urging people to avoid travelling at all unless your journey is ‘absolutely essential’.
And if you do have to travel, they’ve warned of ‘significantly longer waiting times, busy trains and short-notice cancellations’.
The disruption is set to continue all day today and into tomorrow, Friday 26 June, as temperatures up north are forecast to hit 34ºC and an Amber weather warning for extreme heat covers much of the country.
Northern has assured passengers that they ‘are doing everything we can to keep people moving as efficiently as possible’.
Passengers are encouraged to check their journey before setting off, carry water, and avoid peak times where possible.
If you chose not to take a planned journey, you can claim a full refund on your ticket, or travel on another day using Northern’s ticket easement.
You can see the full travel advice for Northern HERE.
Northern said in a notice to passengers: “Due to the continued extreme heat, we have significantly reduced the number of trains running on routes in and out of Manchester, and services remain in high demand. This will now continue into Friday, 26 June.
“We strongly recommend customers consider whether their journey is necessary and if customers do choose to travel this week, they are advised to prepare for significantly longer waiting times, busy trains and short-notice cancellations.
“We would ask all customers to only travel if your journey is absolutely essential and to check your full journey before setting off.”
Emily Sergeant -
10th January 2023 
