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Original poster

Should they change the Sunday Opening Hours?

208 replies

Tilda77 · 13/11/2022 15:30

Just that really..DH and I were then pondering going to the supermarket but have no mood at the moment and time is running out as they shut at 4pm.
I was just wondering what others thought of this law that large shops are only allowed to open for 6 hours on a Sunday? We would probably have gone to the supermarket a little later if that was an option. Some people may like to work on a Sunday to be able to earn some extra wages? Does anyone think it's time to change the laws or do you think they should stay the same ?

OP posts:
CarefreeMe · 13/11/2022 18:59

I don’t think they should even open on Sundays.

So many other (if not all) countries have a day where the shops are closed and they cope just fine.

I always do my shopping after work during the week.
Even though I hate it at the time, I enjoy not having to worry about it on the weekend and it’s much quieter.

woodhill · 13/11/2022 19:00

ThatGirlInACountrySong · 13/11/2022 18:48

I think if retail is expected to be full hours then all other services should open weekends too

Weekend closing for admin jobs etc, that should also be open 7 days

Who would want this but I take your point

BeeDavis · 13/11/2022 19:01

So you think retail workers should give up more of their Sunday because you couldn’t be arsed to go shopping during the times that they’re open 🫣

Readinginthesun · 13/11/2022 19:04

BeeDavis · 13/11/2022 19:01

So you think retail workers should give up more of their Sunday because you couldn’t be arsed to go shopping during the times that they’re open 🫣

Where I live , Sunday workers tend to be students or women who are unable to work during the week because of childcare .

Fatcatriot · 13/11/2022 19:05

BeeDavis · 13/11/2022 19:01

So you think retail workers should give up more of their Sunday because you couldn’t be arsed to go shopping during the times that they’re open 🫣

That is what people think. Entitlement and More and the state of britain

CeeJay81 · 13/11/2022 19:05

No thankyou, then I'd have to work more Sundays cause we'd need more staff to work.

Probably said by someone who works monday to friday, lucky for them. People already winge about working Sunday's as it is. How about we all have a day off and we close.

whatsthestory123 · 13/11/2022 19:07

there is also internet shopping with deliveries i think we have plenty of time to shop

give the workers Sunday of if they wish god knows they work hard enoigh

neighboursmustliveon · 13/11/2022 19:08

@Hellsmovie this isn't about planning better. We couldn't really plan this any other way. My point was, we would have liked to do more today than we were able to, thanks to sunday opening.

You can disagree with Sunday opening changes, but other people disagree and have given examples in how it doesn't work. In my example a local pub has missed out on £30 extra business from us (but McDonald's got an extra £11 and Greggs an extra £3.50) so maybe swings and round a-bouts in terms of commerce.

I disagree with many of the 'reasons' to keep the reduced opening but I'm not targeting posters telling them they can have family time another day, ask for an early shift or get a Monday to Friday job.

Some people have reasons to keep the status quo and others have reasons to change. Neither is right or wrong. Its just about opinions. Like many things in life, this will probably be resolved by majority. If the majority want to keep the shorter hours then it will stay, if the majority want to increase the hours then it should increase.

onlythreenow · 13/11/2022 19:08

So you think retail workers should give up more of their Sunday because you couldn’t be arsed to go shopping during the times that they’re open

I'm not in the UK, but how it works at any seven days a week business I've been involved in is that staff work one weekend day, (or sometimes two), and have the other weekend day plus another day (or, if working all weekend, another two days off during the week). Sunday used to be a day for family, but that is no longer the case. Many people work odd days and hours - I'm not saying it's right, but that's the way of the world.

PassTheLetter · 13/11/2022 19:09

Yes from me.

kingtamponthefurred · 13/11/2022 19:10

No. There are quite enough shopping hours in the week. And for those who don't know, there is this wonderful new invention called online shopping.

cushioncovers · 13/11/2022 19:14

The law is outdated. It's no longer a day of rest for most people as we aren't a religious country anymore. I would hate for everything to be shut on a Sunday.

Redwineandroses · 13/11/2022 19:14

I'm in two minds because sometimes it's a pain on a Sunday when the shops shut at 4pm but at the same time I feel it would just be one continuous week with no "end" if that makes sense.

Original poster
Tilda77 · 13/11/2022 19:14

neighboursmustliveon · 13/11/2022 19:08

@Hellsmovie this isn't about planning better. We couldn't really plan this any other way. My point was, we would have liked to do more today than we were able to, thanks to sunday opening.

You can disagree with Sunday opening changes, but other people disagree and have given examples in how it doesn't work. In my example a local pub has missed out on £30 extra business from us (but McDonald's got an extra £11 and Greggs an extra £3.50) so maybe swings and round a-bouts in terms of commerce.

I disagree with many of the 'reasons' to keep the reduced opening but I'm not targeting posters telling them they can have family time another day, ask for an early shift or get a Monday to Friday job.

Some people have reasons to keep the status quo and others have reasons to change. Neither is right or wrong. Its just about opinions. Like many things in life, this will probably be resolved by majority. If the majority want to keep the shorter hours then it will stay, if the majority want to increase the hours then it should increase.

You said it so well

OP posts:
CarefreeMe · 13/11/2022 19:17

Most supermarkets are open 24 hours or from early until late.

No one needs to go shopping after 4 on a Sunday.

HouseofHolbein · 13/11/2022 19:22

I love to work sundays. I work in home delivery and start at either 4am or 5am. Sunday opening means that we can generally get finished before any customers come in making it the best day of the week 😊

Bank holiday Mondays used to be the same but unfortunately now they are open standard hours.

IScreamMonday · 13/11/2022 19:23

catsonahottinroof · 13/11/2022 18:29

We were having this discussion today and I agree, I don't understand why they don't open 10.30 - 4.30 or even 11 til 5. Most people would probably prefer a lie in.

They are free to choose any 6 hours between 10 and 6. Our m&s does 11-5.

I think it would be healthy for all retail to close for a day

MugginsOverEre · 13/11/2022 19:25

I agree. I remember the days when supermarkets closed at 6pm, 7pm on a Friday and shut on Sunday. That was also back when supermarkets just sold food. Bank Holidays closed, boxing day and new year's day closed. Never heard any wailing and gnashing of teeth like these days when shops have the temerity to shut for one day!!

And the number of housewives actually available to go shopping during those times compared to modern day?
It used to be fine when the little wifey staying home used to be the norm. Now the only people able to go shop during daytime working hours are the retired, unemployed, shift workers and those who work weekends so have days off during the week.

woodhill · 13/11/2022 19:27

Or they went Saturday

Lots of women worked

We have online deliveries as well now

Kite22 · 13/11/2022 19:41

MugginsOverEre · 13/11/2022 19:25

I agree. I remember the days when supermarkets closed at 6pm, 7pm on a Friday and shut on Sunday. That was also back when supermarkets just sold food. Bank Holidays closed, boxing day and new year's day closed. Never heard any wailing and gnashing of teeth like these days when shops have the temerity to shut for one day!!

And the number of housewives actually available to go shopping during those times compared to modern day?
It used to be fine when the little wifey staying home used to be the norm. Now the only people able to go shop during daytime working hours are the retired, unemployed, shift workers and those who work weekends so have days off during the week.

No, all those things mentioned were both my childhood and my time as a teen and my time as a young adult and parent of young dc. My Mum always WOTH and I have always WOTH.
Of course, back then we didn't have the other options of either internet shopping or the flexibility many have now through home working or, at the least more flexible working, but we still managed fine.

Schoolchoicesucks · 13/11/2022 20:34

woodhill · 13/11/2022 19:27

Or they went Saturday

Lots of women worked

We have online deliveries as well now

Should the online deliveries operate on Sundays or after 6pm weekdays? Or is it fine for delivery drivers to work Sundays and evenings as long as the shops are shut?

Choconut · 13/11/2022 20:45

Yes, yes, yes to more opening on Sundays.

Florenz · 13/11/2022 21:08

It's not healthy to have everything set up for the benefit of the consumer, people need time for quiet reflection, shops are open enough hours during the week and saturday and 6 hours on Sunday that everyone has ample time to buy needed provisions.

I don't see it changing, limited Sunday hours are one of the few things the right and the left are both in favour of, for different reasons.

surreygirl1987 · 13/11/2022 21:18

As a pp said to those who want shops to close on Sundays, is it just shops or what about other leisure too? No swimming pools, museums, galleries, cinemas, theatres etc open either? No thanks

Precisely.

Also, my local small coop is open until 10pm on a Sunday anyway. I'm not sure what the exact law is, but it seems bizarre that some stores are allowed to be open and some not. Also, some allow customers to come and browse for half an hour before tills are allowed to open... what's with that?!? It's all pretty weird and random really, and definitely needs updating.

woodhill · 13/11/2022 21:28

@Schoolchoicesucks

Good point

I wouldn't be fussed if the drivers didn't work on a Sunday either

The shops were open late on a Thursday evening

What's your opinion overall?