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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU Christmas and retail

298 replies

ItsaTenfromDen · 21/11/2016 13:35

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.

OP posts:
Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 14:25

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

You are assuming that people have families. Not everyone does. It is not restricted to the elderly either

BonusNewt · 21/11/2016 14:25

I would never go shopping on Boxing Day. In my family it is a repeat of Christmas Day but in a different house and perhaps starting slightly later, giving you a lie in or a nice walk first.

Original poster
ItsaTenfromDen · 21/11/2016 14:27

Aworld Elizabeth The only way you would get sick pay is if you had a sicknote from the Doctor. Otherwise you just wouldn't get paid.

OP posts:
Puddington · 21/11/2016 14:29

Aworld that's exactly my experience too although I will grant that they don't dock two shifts for sick days (that sounds absolutely horrific and possibly not legal!) but we'd all be too terrified to take a day off even if we were sick anyway lol. Not uncommon to work 6-day weeks or even more without a day off, for all staff, in the run-up to Christmas and the aftermath of the sales either. If such a thing as double or triple time did exist or the magic ability to "not put your name down" if you didn't want to work it might not be so bad, but every single staff member is flat out and as another customer said it's hard to enjoy Christmas when you're so knackered and with so little time.

I'm always agog at the sheer hordes of people who queue up for HOURS before the store opens at 5am or 6am, a few years ago they stood outside in howling wind and rain for hours, in a queue that went through the shopping centre and all through the car park Confused I just don't see the appeal.

Aworldofmyown · 21/11/2016 14:30

shopper yep, because jobs are so easy to come across when you have children Hmm

elizabeth yes, completely illegal as are a lot of the things retail companies do. They either deny all knowledge from head office and you lose your job or you can take up a grievance in which case you cannot be anonymous and would also lose your job. Yes they would have to pay you off but at a rate of a few weeks at your contracted hours (which cleverly are usually about 8hrs) so is the job worth more to you - yes it is sadly.

I have had a few chats with acas and revenue and customs, sadly all action would result in me losing my job and not much else. Retail staff are ten a penny.

EveOnline2016 · 21/11/2016 14:33

I'm working Christmas Day, my kids will manage.

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 14:34

yep, because jobs are so easy to come across when you have children

Its your choice to work in retail. At least you have a job. Many people do not.

MaddyHatter · 21/11/2016 14:34

the whole shopping mall by us refuses to open on Boxing day, and most of the big retailers work on a voluntary rota on sunday hours.. i never volunteered once.. screw that!

i think its such a shame that more city-fied areas don't work the same :(

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 14:35

I'm always agog at the sheer hordes of people who queue up for HOURS before the store opens at 5am or 6am, a few years ago they stood outside in howling wind and rain for hours, in a queue that went through the shopping centre and all through the car park confused I just don't see the appeal

Personal choice isn't it? Many people may not see the appeal of BDSM but if they enjoy it why not? I am sure people would be agog at some of your choices in life.

RebelandaStunner · 21/11/2016 14:35

No need for shops to be open on Boxing Day imo. We have a party and already have all the food and drinks in beforehand. Even if we weren't the last thing I would want to do is go shopping and I love shopping!

Puddington · 21/11/2016 14:37

I'm quite certain I didn't say it wasn't their personal choice Shopper, I just said it utterly baffles me Grin Grin Grin

AntiqueSinger · 21/11/2016 14:37

Itsa I too think shops should close on boxing day. Xmas is nothing but one big commerce fest. Its a joke. I would respect it more if people just went by its pagan roots but calling it a christian festival, when overall it is the biggest showcase of greed, excess and squander ever is rich. In the xmas spirit, retail staff deserve the day off.

Lorelei76 · 21/11/2016 14:38

Shopper, you're telling people to make different choices so you should be fine with people saying that lonely folk can choose to do something else on Boxing Day.

It is amazing that essential services close yet blooming shops remain open.

HerRoyalNotness · 21/11/2016 14:39

I agree with you and I don't work In retail. There is backlash here in the US with several retailers choosing to close for Black Friday this year. I hope it is the start of a change.

If I were alone over the holidays I'd much rather take a book to a cosy pub and sit by the fire for a few hrs. There is plenty to do in life other than shop!

TinselTwins · 21/11/2016 14:40

YANBU

I didn't mind working the holidays as a waitress, people are generally cheerful and tip well and there's a good atmosphere at work - actually enjoyed / didn't mind doing christmas in hospitality, was fun & good money

But retail over the holidays is soul destroying - the people who go in during extended hours over christmas are generally vile to the staff, generally I enjoy public facing roles and chatting/helping out the little old ladies etc, but OMFG! the people who crawl out of the woodwork for the extended christmas/boxing day hours are sofucking awful - aggressive towards staff if there isn't their size on a sale rail, pushey and shovey, faces like a cats arse, bitchin that the shelves don't have the full stock of the chrismas range at 7pm on Christmas eve!.

ON top of that: no christmassy spirit allowed amongst the staff, you've got management breathing down your neck even more than usually over sales targets. Little or no extra pay.

It's absolutely awful in every way.

Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 14:41

It is amazing that essential services close yet blooming shops remain open

People want to shop on boxing day ultimately

gillybeanz · 21/11/2016 14:41

If you work in retail aren't you able to choose if you work Boxing Day.
Surely, all staff aren't in are they?

BaggyCheeks · 21/11/2016 14:43

What is this? A race to the bottom? People can complain about crap working conditions without having to be told that they should be grateful they have a job.

NathanBarleyrocks · 21/11/2016 14:43

The whole consumer nation we have become absolutely baffles me. It is quite sad really.

AChristmasCactus · 21/11/2016 14:44

I don't think it's an argument about need. Nothing that's sold in those shops is essential, it's more about shopping as a form of entertainment.

I think it's symptomatic of a wider issue. People getting into fights on Black Friday, adults spending £150 or more on "luxury advent calendars", people queuing for shops on boxing day instead of spending time with others. It rings a bit hollow for me. I don't know whether it's because I work in healthcare and see a lot of death, but sometimes I wonder about peoples' priorities.

I hope this doesn't come over as too judgemental; it's just my point of view. Maybe people have motivations for participating in this stuff that go deeper than my perception, in which case I would listen if they were explained to me.

Puddington · 21/11/2016 14:44

Surely, all staff aren't in are they?

Yes, all staff are rota'd on Boxing Day shifts (either the early or the late shift), including Christmas temp staff who may or may not be kept on afterwards. Definitely no choice as to whether you work Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, or indeed the rest of the "red weeks" (basically the whole of December and part of January where no leave is allowed to be booked).

NathanBarleyrocks · 21/11/2016 14:44

People want to shop on boxing day ultimately What for? Genuine question. What can you possibly so desperately need?

Original poster
ItsaTenfromDen · 21/11/2016 14:46

Right folks, I'm off to work:)

Just a tip, it's Christmas jumper day on the 16th December, do not expect to be able to come in at 7pm on the 15th and get a jumper for your little cherub, there won't be any left:)

OP posts:
Shopper5 · 21/11/2016 14:46

What for? Genuine question. What can you possibly so desperately need?

Why not? Does it matter whether they need it or not? Sometimes people like to wander around the shops without desperately needing anything.

BaggyCheeks · 21/11/2016 14:47

gilly In every shop I worked in it wasn't a choice, unless you had both a very understanding employer and a water-tight alibi. You couldn't just have it off for the sake of the day, you had to have physically no way of being in. Everyone was in - sales, cashiers, stock room, managers, admin staff for the full day, with no allocated lunch break, anyone caught taking one put on a warning.