About non-essential shops being open on boxing day

[NayrusWisdom7]

Just that I am sick and tired of christmas being ruined every year by having to work Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. The sales may be all well and good but someone has to give up their day to make it happen! I think if stores are to be open at all on boxing day they should be subject to sunday trading hours of 1-6 only. I'm sure fellow retail workers will agree.. Or maybe I'm just bitter?

'I was surprised by how many local shops and off-licences were open on Christmas Day.'

Ours is run by people who are not Christian. Why should they shut?

As for people who go to restaurants being dickheads, wow. Takes one to know one, I guess.

You said other people without families were dickheads if they ate

When did I say that? I said anyone who goes out. I did not specifically target sad/lonely/bereaved people, you just made that up.

I think if you haven't managed to comprehend it by now I really can't be bothered to explain it to you again.

I never said you targeted bereaved or lonely people. You said "anyone" and that includes these people.

It's really not very productive debating a point with someone whose skills in that direction are so poor.

No I don't think I will thanks anyway for trying to convince me other people should be made to be miserable and seperated from their families on xmas day because other people cba making their own dinner.

I suppose your answer is people dont like it they should quit and find one of the millions of jobs available because they dislike the working conditions one day a year!

Christmas really is t that special and sacred anymore

Not everyone celebrates it
And those who do are becoming less bothered by it
It's just one day!!

caroldecker, no, I did not mean to suggest workers are interchangeable. Most retailers already use 'Christmas temps', this is what I was referring to but it wasn't very clear.

Oh dear. I see you're still on the cba to make their own dinner attempt at debate.

Thank goodness I was served by people who were pleasant and friendly yesterday and today. I'm grateful that they were there.
And 26 I agree that for some the day is really nothing special. I'm sure that in multicultural areas a good few shops and restaurants are open today and possibly were yesterday.

'No I don't think I will thanks anyway for trying to convince me other people should be made to be miserable and seperated from their families on xmas day'

Diddums. It's hardly a prison sentence. No one works 24 hours a day.

I'm glad shops are open on Boxing Day. We had a lovely lunch out today and then a stroll around the shops. We had a coffee and I bought a couple of books.
Shops were busy but not overly so. I got chatting to an elderly lady in Waterstones as we were looking at the same book, and she was saying that she was desperate to get out of the house as she had been on her own for the last few days, and hadn't seen a soul.

Personally, it wouldn't bother me if shops opened on Chrustmas day. Two of my friends worked yesterday. One doesn't celebrate christmas anyway.
We are thinking if going away for Christmas next year, but I can't decide if I want to go somewhere hit or cold..

No one works 24 hours a day

My DP worked 18 hours on xmas day. How do you propose he travel the 8 hr round trip hours back home to see his family in the spare 6 hours? Lets just not think about the travel to and from work and the fact that after 18 hours he probably needs an hour or two kip. Or should he just be on call 24/7? I suppose he should have been 'grateful' to have it off at all.

I'd suggest your partner acquaints himself with workplace legislation.

Completely agree. I am a SAHM but refuse to go out over Christmas Day/Boxing day. It's not like there isn't enough time to get enough food etc in. It's the same dates each year ffs so no need to go out at all. I understand that people want to spend gift cards etc and go to the sales but surely it can wait until the 27th or the weekend? I am completely baffled at a poster above who doesn't need to go out, doesn't want to go out but is going out anyway [baffled]? Can getting some jeans for a 'bargain' or 10p advent calenders that will go out of date in 6 months not wait another 24 hours?

Some posters have mentioned that they get little time off work so enjoy spending one of the few guranteed days off doing shopping. But it's catch 22 as unless you are in an essential job (nursing/care etc) you are being forced to work to make the business money because it sees an opportunity to make money. If people didn't shop/go to the cinema/ring up about their car insurance etc then the businesses would lose money as they'd have to pay staff wages. The obvious response to that would be not to open and then bingo, more people get time off over christmas.

I have family that go out for a Christmas day meal and others that get up early to go to the Next sale on Boxing Day. Utterly selfish imo as you are then forcing someone else to give up time with their families to serve you. It's pretty much a case of 'I'm alright Jack so screw everyone else'.

It basically does not exist in hospitality at most times, let alone during December. You are expected to opt out of the working time directive as a standard.

Utterly selfish imo as you are then forcing someone else to give up time with their families to serve you. It's pretty much a case of 'I'm alright Jack so screw everyone else

^ This 100%

Individuals can choose to opt out of the 48 hours a week limit.

Employers cannot insist that their workers work without the required rest breaks in between shifts or insist on any other opting out breaching any other article of the directive.

My violin is playing. I fail to see how this gives anyone the right to be as hateful and horrible as you are because of one fucking day.

So get another job! Move closer to your families and get a job in a care home, there are always jobs in those, my H works in one. Then you don't work 18 hours a day and have a few hours to spend with your family if you care so much about one fucking day.

DH worked 12 hours yesterday. We had Xmas dinner late. He'd be sacked if his bosses found out he hated his clients so much.

Thankfully, he doesn't.

It's easy for people with families to describe people on their own who want to eat a meal out on Christmas day as "utterly selfish".

Quit my job, take another job i a completely unrelated field which I have no interest in. Move hundreds of miles away to a place where there are virtually no jobs because I dislike my job one day a year? What a reasonable and completely viable option that is. Idiot.

Tough that's horrible for your daughter. No excuse for that sort of behaviour from any customer.

Blimey, mean - you're bitter!

Did you seriously think you could have Christmas day off when you chose a career in hospitality?

'Blimey, mean - you're bitter!'

And personally insulting. You have to wonder who is an idiot, however, to go into hospitality without realising you have to work on Christmas. All of them.