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Sunday opening hours

67 replies

catbla2957 · 29/10/2023 09:52

Ok so I can't remember the last time I shopped on a Sunday. I need to shop
Today and loads of places don't open the tills until 11am. Seems so outdated. Surely there are staff that want to work a Sunday.

Maybe I'm completely wrong on this as I say I very very rarely need to shop on Sundays but surely many want to or need to.

OP posts:
Caspianberg · 29/10/2023 11:49

@GrumpyPanda - ok not all mainland Europe, but a large %. Where I live is 100% shut anyway

Starlightstarbright2 · 29/10/2023 11:53

You do know many people who work in shops start well before 10/11... Staff don't just work opening hours..

GrumpyPanda · 29/10/2023 20:08

@Caspianberg are you in Germany or Austria? Just be glad you weren't living there in the 80s then. Shops closing at 6:30 on weekdays and 12:00 on Saturdays, the horror. Of course all part of a mindset that wifey's at home anyway so why would you need anything open after work.

UsingChangeofName · 29/10/2023 20:34

If we abolish reduced hours on a Sunday we will lose something to commercialisation that will neverbe regained. It would never go back. It was promised that workers wouldn't have to work Sundays if they didn't want to when Sunday trading was introduced, but obviously that was soon forgotten. Why should every day be given over to commercialism and consumption?

This.
The only change I'd vote for is a reduction in Sunday hours.
I cannot see the positives in eradicating a day when only a few people had to work. Not to do with Christianity at all, but everything to do with having a break from frantic pace of life and people having to work.

madamehooch · 29/10/2023 20:52

Lots of retail workers rely on public transport to get them to work. No way of working any earlier or later on a Sunday where I live because of this.

Carsarelife · 29/10/2023 21:00

To be honest I much preferred it years ago when shops didn't open at all on a Sunday, apart from the odd corner shop or petrol garages.

fluffypotatoes · 29/10/2023 21:07

It gives the 24/7 shops a gap to give it a good clean and restock

cardibach · 29/10/2023 21:23

Londonandon · 29/10/2023 10:38

Agreed. If they did away with the outdated laws it would provide increased jobs and increased productivity and growth. It’s a ridiculous law.

How would it? I only need one food shop a week - a supermarket opening more hours wouldn’t make me shop again. Same for clothes etc. I have things I need and a certain amount of disposable income to spend. I don’t suddenly have more because shops open another few hours. It would reduce profit, surely, as the income would stay the same but outgoings would increase for shops.

Caspianberg · 30/10/2023 04:07

@GrumpyPanda - yes. They still close at those times today. Apart from chains in big towns, our local town all
shops close 12pm Saturday, and supermarkets are closed every day by 6pm. It’s awkward sometimes, but I don’t mind it now actually.

Sprogonthetyne · 30/10/2023 04:26

I don't think there are that many people that 'want' to work Sundays, just lots of under paid staff that could be pressured into agreeing to work. Either by fear of benifits been cut if they don't give up their (possibly only) day with their DC out of school, or by the threat of no hour next week on their 0 hour contract if they don't take any and all "offered" this week.

WhiteCupNotBlue · 30/10/2023 04:43

On Sunday I started at 8. We trade at 10. By ten to ten we had people queuing and trying the doors. There is nothing urgent enough that you need to bang the door at us when you see us on the floor at 5 to. Emergency mascara? Maybe plan a little better! Fast forward it's one minute to 4 and you decide that you need a wander around looking at new blushes and lipsticks. We tell you we are closing but of course it is more important to you that you get a full browse so you arent at the till until 10 past, making me, and my staff, late. But at least you have the latest concealer you saw on tv, right? We dont close the doors and leave, we then restock the shelves and count the tills. While you are having a leisurely shop with your family, we would love to have that time with ours! Yes, we can have a day off during the week, but it means the kids are at school, so its not exactly the same, is it?
Society is very much a want right now mindset. Let's go back to planning and respecting peoples time.
Yes, if you need sanpro i would probably let you in a little early or forgive you if you ran to the doors at a minute to. But other people are so entitled.

Despite what the above sounds like, and working 60 hour weeks, I actually love my job. The only downside is the entitled nature of people who dont see us as people to, expecting us to adhere to their schedule right now, whilst simultaneously not having th e manners to even bother interacting with us at the till, talking on their phones, saying things like oh people would love a little 8 hour shift on a sunday wouldnt they, it's just a little shop job.

8 hours means 1/2 break minimum. Which means someone has to cover that break. Which means a minimum of 3 people working. Take those hours away from the weekly hours budget. Which means on an eight hour contract they cant work during the week, So the weekdays run short on hours. Wait, everyone wants late trading. So we spread the already reduced because of sunday, hours out. Management are doing 14 hour shifts open to close. We spread the staff so thin due to the hours budget there are queues and people complain. There isnt stock on the shelf as we are so busy we cant replen and people ask us to get something from the back. If there are two members of staff on, nope we arent doing that as it leaves the staff member of the floor at risk being alone. It risks the stock due to gangs of shop lifters. People get angry and aggressive. And then we close, and replen and put up with people banging on the door at us because they cannot plan their life!

Its not as easy as someone wanting a longer sunday shift. We dont have the hours. Yes, corporate could increase the budget but they won't!

Went on a little rant there, but i feel better now!

WhiteCupNotBlue · 30/10/2023 04:49

Oh and its 4.45 and I am having coffee before starting my half hour commute to my little shop job to work the stock delivery. By the time you wander in at 9 I will have been at work sweating my arse off for 3 hours. I won't get a break until about 1 when the third staff member comes in, and even then it's just a cigarette. Then by the time you have done your day and are commuting home, we are still working that massive Christmas delivery after hours, counting the tills, sweeping the floor. I will get home at about 7. Yes, I chose this. Yes, I love my job, but please realise it isnt as simple as open 9-5 then people work 9-5! Running a shop doesnt mean just opening the doors.

ohdamnitjanet · 30/10/2023 04:51

I’ve never met anyone who wants to to work on a Sunday full stop. Who do you know that doesn’t value a full weekend off? Plenty of people have to work weekends but wish they didn’t. As much as I miss 24 hour supermarket opening I’m pleased staff don’t have to do those hideous shifts anymore.
Just let there be one day of rest for jobs that don’t allow it.

ohdamnitjanet · 30/10/2023 04:54

WhiteCupNotBlue · 30/10/2023 04:43

On Sunday I started at 8. We trade at 10. By ten to ten we had people queuing and trying the doors. There is nothing urgent enough that you need to bang the door at us when you see us on the floor at 5 to. Emergency mascara? Maybe plan a little better! Fast forward it's one minute to 4 and you decide that you need a wander around looking at new blushes and lipsticks. We tell you we are closing but of course it is more important to you that you get a full browse so you arent at the till until 10 past, making me, and my staff, late. But at least you have the latest concealer you saw on tv, right? We dont close the doors and leave, we then restock the shelves and count the tills. While you are having a leisurely shop with your family, we would love to have that time with ours! Yes, we can have a day off during the week, but it means the kids are at school, so its not exactly the same, is it?
Society is very much a want right now mindset. Let's go back to planning and respecting peoples time.
Yes, if you need sanpro i would probably let you in a little early or forgive you if you ran to the doors at a minute to. But other people are so entitled.

Despite what the above sounds like, and working 60 hour weeks, I actually love my job. The only downside is the entitled nature of people who dont see us as people to, expecting us to adhere to their schedule right now, whilst simultaneously not having th e manners to even bother interacting with us at the till, talking on their phones, saying things like oh people would love a little 8 hour shift on a sunday wouldnt they, it's just a little shop job.

8 hours means 1/2 break minimum. Which means someone has to cover that break. Which means a minimum of 3 people working. Take those hours away from the weekly hours budget. Which means on an eight hour contract they cant work during the week, So the weekdays run short on hours. Wait, everyone wants late trading. So we spread the already reduced because of sunday, hours out. Management are doing 14 hour shifts open to close. We spread the staff so thin due to the hours budget there are queues and people complain. There isnt stock on the shelf as we are so busy we cant replen and people ask us to get something from the back. If there are two members of staff on, nope we arent doing that as it leaves the staff member of the floor at risk being alone. It risks the stock due to gangs of shop lifters. People get angry and aggressive. And then we close, and replen and put up with people banging on the door at us because they cannot plan their life!

Its not as easy as someone wanting a longer sunday shift. We dont have the hours. Yes, corporate could increase the budget but they won't!

Went on a little rant there, but i feel better now!

That’s a fabulous rant!

WhiteCupNotBlue · 30/10/2023 05:03

ohdamnitjanet · 30/10/2023 04:54

That’s a fabulous rant!

Haha, thanks!
And it's not even "Christmas" yet! I love retail, i really do, but people dont realise what goes into it.

Wrongsideofpennines · 30/10/2023 05:14

I think the rules for larger shops having to close and smaller ones not needing to must support independent retailers and for that reason I would support the current status quo.

Interestingly The Entertainer doesn't open its shops on Sunday. It says its to give their staff time with family and friends. I don't know if they are struggling as a business because of it but Ive not seen anything to say they are.

According to this 91% of staff in larger stores oppose longer Sunday trading hours. https://www.keepsundayspecial.org.uk/

Home | Keep Sunday Special

https://www.keepsundayspecial.org.uk

garlictwist · 30/10/2023 05:32

I agree. It's so outdated. Often Sunday is the only day of the week I can go to a supermarket and it means my whole day is dictated by these ridiculous trading hours.

ItsGreyNotBlack · 30/10/2023 05:34

I’m for not opening Sunday. Ex retail Manager.
Retail is bad enough, it just ruins family life never spending time together.
Hated Sundays.
Give staff back their family time.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 30/10/2023 05:38

MotherOfCatBoy · 29/10/2023 11:43

I remember when the shops didn’t open at all on Sundays, apart from little corner shops and petrol stations. It was nicer, more peaceful, less traffic, a day for seeing friends , outdoors, or watching movies. I miss that. And the shops used to close half day on a Wednesday.
I get that people need access to shops and perhaps that is catered for now by supermarkets being open until 10pm or even 24 hours. Also back then we didn’t have the luxury of online ordering and delivery. I think there is more than enough access 6 days a week and shops shutting on Sunday would be lovely.
I am not religious, but I would appreciate one day with a slower pace of life.

I remember this too and the boredom of a grey sunday afternoon with black and white films on TV. No thanks.

Simonjt · 30/10/2023 05:51

Caspianberg · 29/10/2023 10:41

Try living in mainland Europe, nothing is open at all. Not even for 1 min on a Sunday. The only place is the petrol stations or some train station shops if large city.

Our supermarket closes 5pm Saturday, reopens 7am Monday. Locally most other stores if not chains, even garden centres close 12pm Saturday also, then all
day Sunday.

We live in mainland Europe, everything apart from government owned alcohol shops is open on Sundays, most places are open their usual hours, or longer.

Caspianberg · 30/10/2023 05:56

@Simonjt - some countries ( mainly Scandinavian one so think are open) Majority aren’t. Everything is shut Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday where I live. And from 6pm weekdays.

TrashedSofa · 30/10/2023 06:00

Sprogonthetyne · 30/10/2023 04:26

I don't think there are that many people that 'want' to work Sundays, just lots of under paid staff that could be pressured into agreeing to work. Either by fear of benifits been cut if they don't give up their (possibly only) day with their DC out of school, or by the threat of no hour next week on their 0 hour contract if they don't take any and all "offered" this week.

Agree. I always think it's telling that we don't have any real sustained campaigns from retail workers groups advocating for their right to work at times when shops are currently closed. It's the same with Christmas. People just assume it's what workers want, because it would suit them personally if that were the case.

MidnightOnceMore · 30/10/2023 06:02

catbla2957 · 29/10/2023 10:43

As I said I rarely if ever shop on a Sunday. It just struck me today that it feels outdated. I'm sure there are people, students and families juggling childcare who would love the chance to work longer Sundays.

You rarely shop on a Sunday, but need the shops open for much longer on Sunday to not shop in them?

This makes no sense.

The Sunday hours are limited due to workers' representation. Workers deserve a family life too.

Jethia · 30/10/2023 06:04

I'm in Scotland. Most things are open 7 days a week here without restrictions on hours. I didn't realise other areas still had restrictions.
Loads of students work at weekends in the supermarkets, and I knows a number of parents who've worked weekends when their children were young so they didn't have childcare costs.
It's just normal life here, no/one really thinks about it

Gillypie23 · 30/10/2023 06:16

It's the law for Sunday shopping.