To wonder how long it'll be before mcdonalds is open Xmas day.

[letsplaynice]

I in no way want this but their opening hours this year are crazy shut at 10 Xmas eve open again 8 on Boxing Day then only shut 8pm till 8am Hogmanay it makes me a bit sad

[gobbynorthernbird]

In a general debate with regard to hospitality/retail, then IMO places should only be open if staff are happy to work.
However, this isn't a general debate. The OP was about McDonalds, and reeked of snobbery to me.

[Bogeyface]

Yep, ours it open too.

As is the vairy posh hotel H works in, he will be working 7am -4pm, but I guess thats ok as they are charging £65 a head and not paying a higher rate for the staff. Personally I would rather he was at McDonalds, at least the pay BH increments.

[Waitingaround]

Many NHS staff are not well paid (cleaners, porters, health care assistants etc)- and also get no choice but to work- why are retail staff so special?? Those working at Next etc know that there will be an expectation to work over the festivities just the same as those in the emergency services do- but the Next staff are not asked to work christmas day.

[PhaedraIsMyName]

Christmas only became a public holiday in Scotland in 1958.

Do you want all hotels and restaurants to close.

Aside from those going to and from work who might like to pop into MacDonalds is it beyond your imagination to think there will be others for whom an hour or so in MacDonalds is a better alternative to where they might otherwise be?

[emms1981]

I used to work in a shop, not food shop and they started opening boxing day last year, I left before that came in, my dh works for McDonalds and he's of christmas eve christmas day and boxing day but working new year.

[nancy75]

When I started working in retail the thought of opening on boxing day was unheard of, the longer i was doing the job the worse the hours got, the last year I worked in a shop I finished at 10pm on xmas eve and started at 5am on boxing day - but hey as long as people can buy stuff cheap on boxing day who gives a stuff if retail staff get a christmas.

I don't work in retail now and I have never and will never go shopping on boxing day

[Playthegameout]

It doesn't matter if people keep bemoaning those who shop on Boxing Day, the fact is they do, in their hordes, so the shops will open. The friends I have that work in retail want to work as they get BH pay.

When I was at uni I worked for debenhams and in a pub. I happily worked xmas eve, xmas day and boxing day because the pay was good and I could still go out. Plus I enjoyed the atmosphere, we had a good giggle at Debenhams over Christmas.

[nancy75]

I would be surprised if most retailers pay more than normal pay for boxing day

[PhaedraIsMyName]

I admit I wouldn't want to work these days. I'm off on Monday 22nd, in briefly on the 23rd then off until 5th January. In theory the office is supposed to be open until lunchtime on 24th and 31st and all day 29th and 30th but it's a skeleton staff of people who have used up all their holidays.

I have, long ago and far away, worked Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Hogmanay when I was a student.

I have never gone, and never will go, shopping on Boxing Day or New Year's Day.

[usualsuspect333]

The Co Op pay triple time for working Boxing day. The staff are happy to work.

[Waitingaround]

The local hospital pays time and two thirds for Christmas Day.

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

Agree with judgy

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

I had a Big Mac from a drive through after picking ds1 up from University today, it was bloody immense!; haven't had one in years.

Just felt the urge to share, as you were.

[ilovesooty]

If my company ever decides to run a service on Christmas day I will be happy to volunteer. I would be happy to do it for regular pay and the option of a day off somewhere else.

I'm glad hotels work at Christmas otherwise that would be my break away screwed.

[susiedaisy]

Wouldn't bother me as long as the staff were paid well. I am working Boxing Day this year but will be paid an enhanced rate of pay so am quite happy with that.

[mytartanscarf]

It has been a real education to me to see the importance people place on Christmas.

I've always been brought up to see Christmas as something only children celebrate!

[JudgeyHotPants]

Ive always even brought up to see Christmas as something only children celebrate

On which planet? you must have had a pretty strange upbringing in that case.

[SirChenjin]

Don't be sad OP - DS1 (17, still at school) works p/t in McDonalds and he is thrilled to be working over the holidays as it means more money in his pocket for his driving lessons and nights out with his friends. Sadly it's just normal rate of pay, but it's all money in the bank as far as he's concerned.

[OneStepCloser]

hmm, I can understand Mcdonalds being open Christmas Day, for a lot of people I can imagine that being welcome, however I do wonder if staff are made to work on that day or just volunteer. DD works pt in Next and has to be in on Boxing Day for 5.45, meaning she has to leave at about 4 in the morning to get there, luckily a manager is picking her up, but there was no volunteering or extra pay for that. She doesnt mind too much, more of a just get on with it type, but shes young and too scared to debate it with them.

She has managed luckily to get out of the NY shifts though which is more important to her.

[FreudiansSlipper]

i can understand you point

i rather shops would stay closed for 2 days. i can remember the only shops open on boxing day were corner shops and diy shops (not sure why)

we are so obsessed with shopping now we have followed the states and this is a national past time

in france shops are closed sunday i was surprised but it was nice that people just strolled around enjoyed just doing very little

[mytartanscarf]

Does it automatically make people strange if they don't do exactly what you do then Judgey? you are so aptly named

We just had presents as children, then money, then nothing. everyone was happy enough

[iamthedivergentbuddytheelf]

ours is open and it's been busy last few years

[confused79]

I actually don't see the problem, and why would it that be that big of an issue that it make shop "sad"? I suppose yeah it's sad if families are taking their kids to McDonald's as opposed to doing the usual festivity of roast or left overs at home. However, they don't just cater for them, they also cater for people working who want a quick meal, people travelling etc... Which will still happen over the christmas period.

[kennyp]

me and my children had boxing day lunch in mc donalds a couple of years ago. it was a complicated reason why we were there but i was so grateful for it being open. it was nice to see other people (to cut a long story short).

i think cheeseburgers for christmas day lunch sounds peachy to me to be honest.

[ilovesooty]

OneStepCloser if she has transport to work and isn't being lumbered with all the public holiday shifts what is the need for "debate" ?