to think the government has no grounds to control when shops are open and for how long

[Objection]

Like many people, I'm always thrown by shop closures at Easter. I really don't understand WHY the government deems it necessary to restrict or ban shops from opening - surely that should be at the owners descretion?
Unless I'm missing some crucial point, surely Easter is optimum time for shopping and the economy would benefit from it?

*discretion

I agree.

It's weird, isn't it?

EatShitDerek - I must say, the only thing I wanted today was a second hand nightie, sweets and fried chicken

Try living in NI, our shops aren't allow to open until 1 on a Sunday. Pisses me off.

I think it's nice to have at least a couple of days a year where non essential workers can all be off and enjoy family time.

If everywhere could open people would simply end up working. If it was just a case of people being given a choice if they work or not then that would be one thing but we know that wouldn't be the case.

Really a day with no big shops is hardly a hardship is it?

But it may also be a time that people want to spend with their families - I think the point of legislation like thiamin to ensure that there is, at least the occasional day when retail workers can be sure of being off on a public holiday.

And surely there are enough days in the year when you can shop, that not being able to do it on Easter Sunday shouldn't be. huge deprivation.

It's so dated - Hence my I HATE Easter Sundays thread YANBU

There are enough days in the year for people to have off to spend with their families thoigh

Protecting workers rights and holidays is a far better solution than blanket banning trading.

Yes Objection I agree not everyone has today off anyway!

So sod the shop workers - they should just put up with almost never getting a public holiday off to spend with friends and family, eh, Elsea?

They don't need public holidays. Work should provide holiday time if they want it.

Why do people need to be able to shop every day of the year? Can't they think of anything else to do?

I grew up in the days of half-day closing on a Wednesday, all shops closed on a Sunday, and far more restricted shop hours than we have now - most shops shut at 5pm. You planned your shopping, and had to be a bit more organised so you didn't run out of stuff, but we coped.

I think that shops should open for six hours good friday, easter monday and every other bank holiday as well as closing for easter sunday, xmas day and boxing day so that we can spend time together as a family.
I dont understand why people go crazy when shops are closed for one day. I am knackered from being busy last night right up until closing.
Back to it tomorrow though.

So shop workers should have to work every public holiday simply because people can't manage one day without shopping?

But they do have the opportunity to not work the public holiday - book it off as annual leave! By being open on Easter Sunday shops aren't forcing their employees to work.
If it really was that much of an issue, a simple rule stating that employees have options or time off in lieu or just simply guaranteed overtime would be a better solution.

I think the shops should be open and pay at least double time so that workers who want the extra money can pick up the shifts and be compensated well for it, and those who don't want to work can take the day off. Opening Sunday hours of 10-4 really wouldn't be that bad. Especially on Easter, which really doesn't mean much beyond chocolate for the vast majority.

From what I have seen on here, Elsea a lot of retailers force their staff to work bank holidays as overtime - but with no extra pay - and no time off in lieu. People can't argue because they need the extra money (retail wages are dire) and because they need the job.

If their rights were better protected in other ways, it would be OK to do away with the odd bank holiday when the shops can't open - but they aren't, so doing away with days like today would mean a worsening of retail workers' conditions. I don't need to shop so desperately that I think it is worth that.

So if 90% of the workforce wanted Easter Sunday off they would all be allowed to?

For me, this is literally the first weekend off I've had all year so, yeah, I'm a bit off put that I can go mooching around the shops.
My point is more generalised against the government needlessly banning things however.

People who work in catering, hospitality, recreation, the emergency services, social care, farming, transport and the power industries all have to manage their holidays around bank holidays.

I would rather that opening hours were left to the shops.

Just book time off if you don't want to work weekends objection. Your earlier post suggests it's easy so why not?

But 90% of the population wouldn't want Easter Sunday off because, unless you are religiius, it's a pointless chocolate induced holiday.
Just take another Sunday off with your family?!