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

[Owllady]

Our McDonald's never closes, even at Christmas. But McDonald's do have good working policies don't they? Good pay?good progression if you want it? I know my friends niece is a manager fir them and she has children and they are a BRILLIANT employer for her. She's paid well, has good flexibility and only started out as weekend staff

I worked in retail btw. I didn't mind working Christmas, I minded how bloody horrible the customers were :( ESPECIALLY first thing on boxing day.

[Owllady]

Mine would love McDonald's on Christmas day
Much better than my roast anyway :o

[usualsuspect333]

Not all retail workers are downtrodden saps who are too thick to work anywhere else.

You work in retail,you know you will most probably have to work BH.

My DD will have to start work at 4 o clock in the morning for the next few days to process all your on line grocery orders. It's part of her job though and she will get an enhanced rate.

I bet you don't feel sorry for her when you book your delivery slot.

[ilovesooty]

Well said usual

I bet some of those looking down loftily at those of us shopping on Boxing day haven't given a thought to those in your daughter's position. Just because you stay at home in the bosom of your families at Christmas it doesn't mean that your choices never impact on someone else's work and family life.

[Owllady]

I'm degree educated and worked in retail. Natch!
Lots of people do

I also used to train cash admin for area and touch loads of money

[Owllady]

Not everyone celebrates Christmas in this country anyway!
An I pointing out the obvious?

[ilovesooty]

No Owllady you aren't. However it's already been stated that we're a predominantly Christian country so those who don't celebrate it don't matter.

[mytartanscarf]

And those who don't are "strange"

even though we are

[BathshebaDarkstone]

When I was homeless I ate fast food 3 meals a day. I was never homeless over Christmas but I don't know what I would have eaten if I had been and it had been shut. Also to the pp who mentioned pubs, we used to visit my granny for Christmas, she was too old to cook and wouldn't let anyone else in her kitchen so we booked the pub every year. I don't celebrate Christmas, I'll happily work Christmas day if I can have Yule off.

[ilovesooty]

Oh I forgot about being strange

[FreudiansSlipper]

i doubt many of those who do not celebrate Christmas would object to shops being closed Christmas and boxing day or macdonalds. there are different ways to spend spare time than shopping

[TerryDolittle]

Many people on this thread seem to think employees will get a choice as to whether they work over the Christmas period or not. Sadly, that's often not the case. You won't just have your non-Christmas celebrating staff being forced to work over the festive period just to satisfy our (and many other's) nations utter obsession to shop.

[Ragwort]

No one 'goes into retail

What a stupid comment - when I was a graduate a long time ago some of the most popular training schemes were in retail - M & S, John Lewis etc. Sadly I didn't get into either but I eventually joined another retailer and have had a fabulous career.

I've often worked Christmas Day - not in retail but in hospitality and in the caring professions - I've never minded - you often get treated a lot better than by your own family . I've often chosen to volunteer on Christmas Day too - I love it.

Christmas Day can be incredibly lonely for many people so it is great that there are other options than sit on your own and being sad. Isn't it one of the busiest days of the year for the Samaritans?

[ilovesooty]

As stated previously they might object if they worked in one of those places and had to take time off for something they don't celebrate.

[mytartanscarf]

I'm not bothered one way or the other, although I had to spend one Christmas homeless - well, sort of anyway, I had my car - but anyway I just had to eat sweets and crisps.

I think what some of us are getting at is that Christmas isn't, or doesn't have to be, the same for everyone. I have always celebrated Christmas one way or the other but that hasn't been always with special food or presents. It just is.

I'll be on my own, I'm working Christmas night from about 6 till 10 and I will prob be glad of the company

[usualsuspect333]

My DS also works in retail, he chose to go into it and is happily climbing the career ladder.

MN has a very snobby attitude towards retail workers.

[slithytove]

I work in retail.

Even if there was a restriction on opening hours, we would still be in. Restocking etc. We do on Easter Sunday.

Before my mat leave, I worked Xmas eve till ten - open till 6. Back for 6 on Boxing Day.

There is just no need for it.

[Owllady]

Strange people are narrow minded, surely? they don't have the luxury of calling others strange :)
Most people are open minded and can encompass the fact not everyone is into this Christmas thing for all sorts of reasons

One thing you need in retail is to be open minded (corny but true)

[OneStepCloser]

Not a debate as much ilove its more the fact that shes been given an awful lot of hours over the Christmas period and as she finds it difficult to speak up tbh, in her shop its not an enhanced rate of pay, but, shes not moaning about it at all, she`ll just get on with it, and smile during the frenzy on BD.

Sorry, I think my point was a lot of people seem to think that staff tend to volunteer for these shifts and get extra money, but thats not always the case.

[FreudiansSlipper]

but then are they not likely to take time of for celebrations that they want to celebrate, swings and roundabouts

i agree Christmas is very lonely for some people, i am not sure shops being open makes a difference because this is about us parting with our money which as we know many people do not really have. i think pubs and community centres could provide a service that is more beneficial for those struggling

do not most of us feel it is a shame that we are such a consumer driven society this just plays into it

[mytartanscarf]

I do think shops should open a little later on Boxing Day.

I mean - a lie in is up there in the human rights charter, surely?

[londonrach]

I half understand in my town macdonalds gives warm food to some of the homeless.

[Owllady]

I have friends who are nurses, paramedics, carers, police, fire service. They all have to work part Christmas too. Would we all rather they didn't?

[Owllady]

Yes, I wish there was more community too. How do we make that happen though?
I live in a village I don't feel part of

[FreudiansSlipper]

they are essential services that we always need even if it is just to be on standby lives can depend on these services

m&s as great as the food is is not