The self-adhesive label manufacturer, which employs more than 50 staff at its Burntwood, Staffordshire-based headquarters, has paid the bumper festive bonus to 43 eligible staff this month, ahead of their usual December salary payments.

The criteria for eligibility was staff with a minimum of six months’ continuous service, with reductions in the bonus for any eligible staff with either a formal disciplinary warning or high levels of sick leave.

The announcement came from the board of directors, which remarked on how resilient the workforce had been during a very tough year, and how their flexibility and determination had led to the record year for the company, which was established over 50 years ago.

News of the bonus was met with a round of applause around the room, with staff reacting “excitedly” and “all quite taken aback at the amount”.

Mercian said that, despite the coronavirus pandemic, loyal employees have arrived at work every day throughout the year and worked hard to deliver essential labels for the food, drink and pharmaceutical industries as key workers.

Managing director Adrian Steele said: “We are very proud of their achievements in such a difficult year, and felt that the bonus was richly deserved. We are investing heavily in further growth in 2021 and look forward to sharing in our successes again next year.”

In July, Steele shared some of the changed workplace practices the business adopted this year and that had become its ‘new normal’, as it continued to operate 24/5 throughout the year.