AIBU Christmas and retail

[ItsaTenfromDen]

I work in retail, yes this is my choice at the moment, would dearly love another job, but so far this is proving hard to find.

AIBU to be annoyed by someones desire to go shopping on Boxing Day? I will be up at 4.30 and opening at 6am. What can anyone possibly need at 6am on Boxing Day? We don't sell medicine or food!

I appreciate that Doctors and Nurses and other professions have to work, but I see that as a necessary park of their job. People need medical attention every day.

Even if I didn't work in retail I would never think of going shopping on Boxing Day, I've seen enough of the shops in the run up to Christmas.

I feel for you! I'm so glad I'm on maternity leave this year!

It ruined my Xmas's for years until I got out of retail. Staying late Xmas Eve, to tired to enjoy Xmas day with my family the to bed early Xmas night to be up early for the sales.
You have my heartfelt sympathy Op at least if they all started on 27th you would have a small amount of time to enjoy your Xmas.

Why people NEED to go shopping boxing day is beyond me, shop assistants are not a vital emergency service, and if and when they get time off in lieu for all the hours they have worked in December (no time off allowed in the run up to Xmas) they get if off in February!

I agree with you OP. I cannot understand why anyone would want to go shopping on Boxing Day. I think it's really sad that society deems that we need to consume day and night.

I signed the petition, shops should be closed!

AIBU to think that anyone who gets up to queue in a Next sale on Boxing Day is sad as hell?

I feel for you OP. Just no need for it, 10am maybe. 6am just no

I work in retail. I also signed that petition.

However I know nothing will change. I love my job, the industry im in is very interesting but I'd adore boxing day to be closed. I just want a sit down!

YABU

Christmas can be an incredibly lonely time for people. Going round the shops helps reduce the loneliness for some people who may not have spoken to anybody for days.

I think the shops should stay open.

Its not really any of your business why people go shopping on Boxing Day OP

Definitely not signing the petition!

I have a shop, and we'll be shut from 5pm Christmas Eve until the 2nd January.

Gotta have a life.

I have worked in retail for 7 years now.

Every year christmas eve, boxing day and the following day is compulsory for ALL staff, no exceptions and no extra pay.

Usually I'm in till 9pm xmas eve and back at work 5.15am boxing day. Its shit and I hate it.

NO holiday is allowed from the start of December until the 2nd week of Jan. If you find you are genuinely off sick for any of the compulsory days they dock 2 shifts worth of pay

Whilst I appreciate emergency services have to work to, they usually get to take it in turns, split the worst shifts and get paid extra.

We get none of that, all so people can be abusive about how crap they think the sale is on Boxing Day

shopper do you not think its equally sad that my children never get to spend xmas eve or boxing day with their mother? Instead i'm trying to get bank holiday childcare for them.

Yanbu. Shops should be shut on boxing day.

I don't shop in shops or on line on boxing day.

Shopper5 I hadn't thought of the loneliness aspect but even so, still think shops should be shut for a few days. There are plenty of pubs open if someone wants to get out of the house and see people.

Do you work at next op?

Yabu, for me at reasons thousands of people don't celebrate Christmas, Its also not a bank holiday. It's like any other day of the year.

Many people are alone over the xmas period also, and it's good for them to be getting out the house.

Shopper

Aworldofmyown that is all shocking. I had no idea things were so bad for retail staff - especially about not getting extra pay. I assumed it was at least double-time on Boxing Day. Fucking outrageous retail owners.

There are plenty of pubs open if someone wants to get out of the house and see people

Maybe that isn't an option. Going to a pub and sitting where you don't know anybody. At least at the shops you don't feel so isolated and more likely to speak to somebody even it is shop staff being nice to you

Walter nope, another clothing retailer

Shopper surely a better way to deal with the very real problem of loneliness around Christmas would be to allow everyone apart from vital services proper time off - meaning that people could actually visit their families rather than (as often happens) leaving elderly relatives alone?

And I can't imagine that the number of people who are lonely at Christmas AND who find going round shops makes that go away is anywhere near as large as the number of people whose Christmases are ruined by having to work stupid hours.

Also TBH I think a large part of the loneliness and atomisation of society is linked with out of control consumerism - it's short sighted to assume that allowing consumerist behaviour to get even more out of control is anything other than a very short-term fix.

do you not think its equally sad that my children never get to spend xmas eve or boxing day with their mother? Instead i'm trying to get bank holiday childcare for them

If it bothers you that much, get another job. I don't think that is sad. You get Christmas day with them.

MsJamie Erm....Boxing Day is a Bank Holiday.

Hearing it from the point of view of retail staff yanbu.

Personally I don't shop on Boxing Day but I know people who love to.

We are all used to 24/7 consumerism.

aworld

All of that is awful.

Isn't the sick pay rule illegal? Are you part of a union?

Nathan no extra pay whatsoever, no holidays from now till the middle of January. If Christmas Day falls on your usual day to work you have to work the hours on another day that week.

Shopper being lonely at Christmas or indeed anytime is terrible for anyone.