Page 4 | Which side of the supermarket argument are you on?

HallFloor · 2020-12-10T14:29:18+00:00

Asda have announced they're closing as a thank you to staff. The others are insisting they'll stay open. Personally, I don't think any shops should be open on Boxing Day, any year, but I know many don't agree.

OctaviaOrange · 10/12/2020 17:53

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants yep! Made a big thing about it in the media - 'ooh we are giving our staff a day off and closing!' and yes they are.

But the hounding of staff is unbelievable. If you don't agree to do the hours missed - that you were perfectly happy and prepared to do on your actual day of work! - they have just put you on the rota for whenever suits them

How do I know this? I'm one of their branch managers

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 10/12/2020 18:43

@user1471474138

There’s no extra pay for Boxing Day this year as it falls on a Saturday so not officially a bank holiday - the Monday is the day that attracts a premium if worked.

Depends on the contract

I didnt get any extra pay for working boxing day

And im actually surprised i kept my temper when customers told me how sorry they were that i had to work

OrigamiOwl · 10/12/2020 18:48

@Woohoowoowoo

Shops only open on boxing day because there is demand there.

No one on MN shops on boxing day apparently and yet all of the shops are open, so plenty of people do!

This was exactly what I was thinking.

I won't be going shopping on Boxing Day as I'll be working. But plenty of people must be going shopping or else shops wouldn't bother opening.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 10/12/2020 18:49

[quote OctaviaOrange]@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants yep! Made a big thing about it in the media - 'ooh we are giving our staff a day off and closing!' and yes they are.

But the hounding of staff is unbelievable. If you don't agree to do the hours missed - that you were perfectly happy and prepared to do on your actual day of work! - they have just put you on the rota for whenever suits them

How do I know this? I'm one of their branch managers [/quote]
Honestly, I don't know how that (all) get away with it. It's an absolute disgrace.

You must have the patience of a saint! It's SO hard when you need the money though isn't it & the bastards know it!

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer

I don't go shopping on Boxing Day. Partly because I think the shops should be closed, but admittedly mostly because it's my idea of hell. But I'm not sure what else would be better for customers to say? Nothing I suppose, but then
That comes across as rude 🤷🏻‍♀️

CherieBabySpliffUp · 10/12/2020 19:00

Just because the shop is closed to customers doesn't mean that staff won't be working.
Which will be at normal pay.
Also ASDA don't recognize when Bank Holidays get moved because they fall on a weekend so Monday 28th will only be at normal pay.

DwangelaForever · 10/12/2020 19:04

My local tescos has closed on boxing day the past few years.

Avondklok · 10/12/2020 19:04

All normal shops should close on BHs. Things like the Next sale starting at 5am are obscene.

lemonsquashie · 10/12/2020 19:06

Closed

Have had enough of shopping by then anyway

Peanutbutterblood · 10/12/2020 19:11

I think they should shut. I worked in waitrose when I was young and they did close but every year took a vote from staff, the managers said they wouldnt be able to do it forever which I thought was such a shame, theres no reason to be open boxing day

Ragwort · 10/12/2020 19:23

You might think it's obscene for ships to open but plenty of people choose to shop on Boxing Day. I've worked in retail all my life and plenty of people are willing to work on Bank Holidays or other 'unsociable' days, as a PP said, not everyone has a loving family that they can spend time with.

I think ideally there should be a system where employees can volunteer to work these days, I worked last Boxing Day - my choice - my employer is very relaxed and it is up to the individual manager to decide whether to open or not (charity shop - and I had plenty of volunteers wanting to come in as well).

If you are 'forced' to take the 26th Dec as a day's annual leave or your 'normal' day off it is not much of a choice is it?

My DH (not retail) has to take four days AL between Christmas and New Year, he doesn't want to, would much rather choose his own days AL without that choice being foreced on him.

DelphineWalsh · 10/12/2020 19:26

Close it but they should pay them a days leave for it. I should imagine most if not all are on hourly wage not salary and they shouldn't miss out on the pay they could be expecting.

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 10/12/2020 20:44

But I'm not sure what else would be better for customers to say Nothing I suppose, but thenThat comes across as rude

How is just making usual chitchat rude

I was never told on a Monday that they were sorry i had to work on a monday, or a Saturday

Just boxing day

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 10/12/2020 20:46

Im the same though witches no boxing day shopping because i stay in pjs and dont go to far from food/alcohol 😀

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 10/12/2020 20:47

Oh my god

Thats not to say that im suggesting thats what you do witches

laudemio · 10/12/2020 20:49

Families can only mix over Christmas so they should close. I think they should always be closed on boxing day though. We need quiet time in the world.
The supermarkets have done very well out of covid, its the least they can do.

FreshfieldsGal · 10/12/2020 20:53

I think Asda have done this for good PR. Must only be a recent decision as when I went shopping for my neighbour earlier this week it had a big poster of its opening hours and that said open Boxing Day 9-6.

Shops should be closed Boxing Day!

Biscuitsdisappear · 10/12/2020 21:01

Every year its about the shop workers and Boxing Day. Why doesn't anybody appear to get upset about the Police, Fire Brigade, Hospital Staff, Ambulance Service, Armed Forces, Search and Rescue, Taxi Drivers, Publicans etc, etc, who all work on Boxing Day which has nothing to do with religion?

WitchesSpelleas · 10/12/2020 21:09

@Biscuitsdisappear

Every year its about the shop workers and Boxing Day. Why doesn't anybody appear to get upset about the Police, Fire Brigade, Hospital Staff, Ambulance Service, Armed Forces, Search and Rescue, Taxi Drivers, Publicans etc, etc, who all work on Boxing Day which has nothing to do with religion?

There's a clear difference between essential and non-essential workers.

From your list, I don't think pubs should open either. Aren't taxi drivers usually self-employed so have the choice whether to work or not?

The others you list are 'life and death' services so there's a valid reason for them to be running.

NaughtipussMaximus · 10/12/2020 21:10

@FinallyMrsE

I think all shops should close on Boxing Day and I take my own personal stand against them by not going in any. It does absolutely no good whatsoever in the grand scheme of things but it makes me feel better.

Same.

whiteroseredrose · 10/12/2020 21:16

I wish they'd all close on Boxing Day. They all did back in the day when I worked at Sainsbury's.

But the shops were shut on a Sunday then too. And we all managed.

Kazzyhoward · 11/12/2020 14:08

@whiteroseredrose

I wish they'd all close on Boxing Day. They all did back in the day when I worked at Sainsbury's.

But the shops were shut on a Sunday then too. And we all managed.

Some shops have always opened on Boxing Day. We had a newsagents back in the 70s - there were newspapers, so we had to open (part of the supply agreement back in those days). That meant paper boys also had to come in to do the deliveries. It was our busiest day of the year - we'd have queues outside of people wanting their fags, sweets, chocolates, magazines, newspapers, etc. There was a traditional "corner" grocers next door who opened too - likewise they did a roaring trade. Same with petrol stations etc. Some shops have always opened. People do seem to forget (or not old enough) the days before the dominance of supermarkets. Yes, supermarkets didn't open on Boxing Day, just like at first they didn't open on Sundays - there's been scope-creep over the past few decades. Don't forget that the old fashioned department stores used to have Boxing Day sales too!

ekidmxcl · 11/12/2020 14:24

I think food shops need to be open on Boxing Day. Vulnerable people have unpredictable problems. Plus, I just drove 100 miles to do a shop for an elderly relative as some kind souls have taken every single vulnerable priority slot that Tesco have for the entire of this month in his area. Every single vulnerable slot, every single day. WTAF. Shops need to be open and we need to wake up to the fact that we aren’t all in this together and people are crapping over others. I’ve been getting the priority slots for him all through the pandemic. I don’t understand exactly how they’ve vanished in December unless they’ve been taken by people who don’t need them. He’s in and out of hospital, food sometimes goes off, it’s difficult to know when to get it. Unpredictable and difficult.

42andcounting · 12/12/2020 11:55

@myhobbyisouting

"Nobody's going to die if they can't buy some reduced sprouts and wrapping paper, are they?"

No. Nor are they from a "111 special".

What is a 111 special?

RosesAndHellebores · 12/12/2020 12:03

I like popping out on boxing day. It is a welcome relief and I usually pick up three or more large turkeys for pennies which I bone, chop and freeze and put in the freezer for a February stew for 60 for the homeless charity I volunteer with.

Have also picked up boned stuffed ducks for a fiver for my freezer.

Fifthtimelucky · 12/12/2020 12:06

Personally I can't see any need to shop on Boxing Day and I was disappointed years ago when what used to be the January sales turned into the Boxing Day sales.

I can see the attraction of picking up cheap food of course but surely anything that couldn't last until the 27th could be sold off cheap on Christmas Eve.