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?

I think its right ....when i was young it was normal that shops were closed in Sundays - day of rest and all that. You bought more on Friday/ saturday - had a shopping list. You planned ahead something which many don't do as they are used to having/ getting what they want when they need it.

Hmmm mis-type there.

Note my DH does not have babies with his cousins

We're also banned from taking any annual leave over Easter and Christmas. Also no doubletime or days off in return for overtime. That sort of stuff went out around about the same time as annual bonuses!

The past three days have been retail hell, all staff working yet queues still out the door all day, if we had to go in today I honestly think i'd keel over

Oh dear. Shame on you OP. How sad.

I used to think Sunday opening and long hours for shop opening were a good thing for customers but since the advent of internet shopping I cannot see the point.

My husband works them Pipbin. Not like it's any of your business though.

Also with the "just get leave" thing,

If it was a normal working day then many people wouldn't be able to take it.

So I guess you'd still get people doing xmas dinner with the retired people and some of the working people but mum or dad and some others would only be able to join in 1 year out of every 4 or whatever.

Seems a bit crap to me.

Going back to the OP: Unless I'm missing some crucial point, surely Easter is optimum time for shopping and the economy would benefit from it?

My thinking is though that people will have the same amount of money to spend and will spend it just the same even if they have to wait a day. An extra day for shopping isn't going to give people extra money to spend. If anything it will boost the local economy of coffee shops and National Trust places as people will go there rather than to town centres and supermarkets.

My husband works them Pipbin. Not like it's any of your business though. No it's not, I was just wondering if this dislike for shops being shut on one Sunday in the whole year was coming from someone who would never be asked to work it anyway. It's very easy to have the opinion that people should be at work regardless, when it's not us who will miss time with our families.

If i was asked to work it - I would not be bothered. To me it is just another Sunday. I can spend time with my family at other times Pipbin.

That's fine for you then Elsea.

This shop worker has been at work today!

Although the store was closed to customers we were in shelf stacking and tidying.
A customer did hammer on the window to ask if we were opening!

Oh and the phone constantly rang with customers ringing in.
I haven't had a day off over the weekend.

I remember working in retail, as was DH and we got christmas day off only. we had to drive 300 miles to his mum on Christmas eve (after setting up the sale) and then back again Christmas day.
Most retail employers are dreadful and don't care a jot about their employees.

I don't object to shops being shut (only bigger ones of course) I do object to policy/law whatever being determined by religious dates

That applies to Sunday opening hours too imho.

and that is fine Elsa if everyone working is doing so because they are happy to do so but realistically we all know that wouldn't be the case.

In some European countries (including those who have survived the recessions much better than we have) not only can you not shop on Sundays but many shops are closed on Mondays. Not solely for religious reasons but because they put family and well being over money.
Money is not actually the most important thing in life.

It's only so the church can pretend we're still 'a Christian country'

Imo it should be changed to Christmas eve - Christmas day - boxing day. Or just give us some more bank holidays and legislate for double pay on bank hols.

I have yet to see anyone explain how their life is going to be damaged beyond mending by not being able to shop on 3 days out of 365!!

Exactly SDT And shops closing on Easter Sunday has been going on for 20 years. Why are people still surprised by it? Before that shops were closed every Sunday.

Some absurd demands for more time to shop on this thread. Go Internet shopping if you're so desperate to spend money.

3 days? here its christmas day and easter and thats it!

Can we not have two days a year protected down time in this country?

No we cannot. Some people seem to be like sharks that will die if they don't swim, they MUST SHOP. Heaven help that they change their routine for one day!!!

Of FFS... It's one Sunday for crying out loud. Can't people cope without the option of shopping for one day? It's been great round here... No bumper to bumper traffic from 10am to 4pm. I feel so sorry for those who work in retail who would like to have time with hero families without the usual whining from those who are unable to shop 365 days a year. Go online if you are that desperate.

Does anyone agree that everything except for hospital, ambulance, fire and police services should stop on all bank holidays, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. Maybe Mother's day and Father's Day too.