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?

Having lived in Switzerland we always used to enjoy coming to the UK and going shopping on a Sunday for the novelty if it. With hindsight, I much prefer the Swiss "absolutely no shopping on Sunday" approach. Doesn't hinder consumption much and does a world of good promoting family life and outdoors activity.
We now have a "no shopping on Sundays" family rule.

Of course the govt should not interfere - there are many things it should stop doing and this is one of them

Objection my DP works in a restaurant and no staff are allowed to book holidays on bank holidays. And no holidays are allowed during the summer holidays. I know it's not the same as retail but it means that whilst almost everyone is having a family day together, my DP has to work and I'm therefore stuck at home with the baby as all my family have their own plans

I work in retail and we're also not allowed to book any holiday from November until January. So Christmas for me is spent mostly dealing with angry last minute Christmas shopping. Yayyyy.

I seem to recall that when the Sunday opening legislation was passed the caveat was that shops would close on Easter Sunday which is the principal festival of the Christian calendar; Christmas being the 2nd most important. I don't think the government needlessly banned Easter Sunday opening; it was negotiated at the same time as Sunday opening 51 weeks of the year was legislated for.

Seems entirely appropriate to me but then I remember the shops closing at 1pm on Good Friday and every single Sunday and that was until I was in my late 20s/early 30s. I don't understand why it is essential to shop every single day.

'Leaving it to the shops' would be fine, Vivacia, if most shops treated their staff decently. The impression I get from posters on here who work in retail, is that that is NOT the case.

YABU no reason why the "now now now" consumers can't wait to hit the shops for 2 days out of 365!

Let the shops decide - it's just another bloody day!

Lol how did we ever manage when there werent any shops at all open any Sunday. That was nice though because we did things like visit each other, or spend time on days out. How we ever survived not having a tesco on the doorstep open 24/7 I really cant imagine :)

Oh, and neither me or DP get double pay, extra holiday etc.

But it isn't "just so people can shop" - it's about the business owners as well as the consumers. Closing on Easter Sunday probably results in a loss of an otherwise lucrative day

'Leaving it to the shops' would be fine, Elsae, if most shops treated their staff decently. The impression I get from posters on here who work in retail, is that that is NOT the case.

Rich talking about consumerism when I bet everyone has been out and bought all their easter eggs and not gave it a second thought

SDTG it's not a dichotomy.

But its not the government's place to "promote family life" - it's the government's job to ensure the country is safe and the economy sound. not to make sure people spend more time with their kids.
If you're the kind of person who is neglecting your family life, no shops on Easter Sunday isn't going to force you to spend time with them.

People will just shop on another day though.

Seriously we are talking about 2 days a year. If people can't cope without shops on 2 days a year they have a problem!

I don't know why people are saying that others should go one day without shopping. For many people, Sunday is the best opportunity for shopping.

TuckingFypo - but surely that's illegal? If it's not then it should be. THAT'S the kind of thing the government should be controlling, not opening times but employment rights!

So they have 51 other Sundays in the year to shop then!

That's not what I meant. If you have two adults in the household, working Monday to Saturday between them, then Sunday is the day for the food shop. Close on a Sunday and that's 15 days of struggling. This was us for quite a few years.

Objection I'm not sure if it is or not. It's not a set rule but it's well known that you don't put holiday in for those months because you won't get it.

The company I work for are, IMO, one of the stingiest, meanest companies there is, who treat their staff like rubbish

But its not just consumers that are missing out - it's businesses too!!!
In economic times like these, limiting businesses like this doesn't seem to be helping the situation.
Yes, it's just one day a year, but that's not the point.

Given 24 hour opening at the vast majority of places - and home deliery- I am sure you can cope! Seriously it's one day!

we opened boxing day it cost company more in wages than sales most only coming in for reduced bargins

TuckingFypo - something should be done to sort that out because it's disgusting.
I imagine they don't pay a living wage either?