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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think Next are horrible to their staff?

139 replies

BonnieF · 26/12/2017 11:40

Next stores opened at 0600 this morning for the first day of their sale, which means their staff had to get up in the middle of the night on Boxing Day. I doubt they were given any choice about this.

Other retailers, e.g. M&S, Tesco & Sainsbury's opened at 0900. John Lewis /Waitrose doesn't open at all on Boxing Day.

I understand that this is the busiest time of year for retailers, and that retail staff know what they are signing up for, but surely Next's decision to open at such a ridiculous hour is both unnecessary and unreasonable?

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 26/12/2017 12:27

You kind of expect hotels to be open 24/7 because well, people stay the night in them. If I got a job in a hotel I would expect to work hotel hours even (especially!) over Christmas. Clothing retail though? Not really.

I don't understand the comparison. There are loads if jobs that if having the whole of Christmas off is that important to you you wouldn't apply for.

Scrumptiousbears · 26/12/2017 12:29

Many people have to work over Christmas. Me included. It's a decision you make when you take the job.

Solo · 26/12/2017 12:29

When you are desperate for a job you sometimes have to accept those conditions even if you don't want to. I think we should go back to the good old days of nothing open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I don't go to the shops for anything on those days and certainly not sales! I worked in retail for many years in the 80's and we didn't open for those 2 days.

Sparklingbrook · 26/12/2017 12:32

Yep, sometimes you have to take a job with hours that are less than ideal unfortunately if needs must.

EB123 · 26/12/2017 12:33

I fknd it bizarre, I do love a sale bargain but why the need for it to be at 6am!

Why is next so popular anyway?

Wineasaurous · 26/12/2017 12:33

@Sparklingbrook of course I would expect retail to be open on Boxing Day. They're a business who need to make money. The same as the little bakery down the road that is also open.
If people will go out shopping then you'd be a wally business owner to not cash in on that.
Hotels don't need to be open over Christmas. Neither do restaurants or pubs. But they do open. Not to benefit other people, they do it to make money.

Sparklingbrook · 26/12/2017 12:35

Not all shops are open Boxing Day Wineasaurous.

WashBasketsAreUs · 26/12/2017 12:36

It's in the constitution that John Lewis, the founder, wrote for his shop workers that they don't open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Same applies to Waitrose, obviously.

kmc1111 · 26/12/2017 12:37

For every person who doesn't want to work certain holidays, there's another person who could really use the money and doesn't care.

When I was younger and working in retail and hospitality, working Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Years Eve was the only way I could afford to have a nice Christmas Day. Without those days pay I'd have been skint over the holidays and eating a tin of beans on toast for Christmas dinner.

It's all very well to say the shops should shut if you have a lovely generous family to go home to. Not so great for all the young people who actually need every cent from every shift.

Winetime0909 · 26/12/2017 12:39

I work in m&s and we have been open since 8am! Wish shops could stay closed today no reason people can't go 2 days without going shopping!

gamerwidow · 26/12/2017 12:42

Yes the staff knew the terms but it’s still a shit way to treat your staff. It’s not like jobs are so plentiful anyone could really refuse those terms anyway.
It’s one thing to be a part of the emergency services or another essential service where someone really does need to be in work so that a service is provided. It’s another thing entirely to expect non essential services to open on Boxing Day especially when staff have to get up at silly o clock to get there. It’s just greed. Who are these people queuing up at 6am to buy a load of old shit Next has especially shipped in for the sale anyway.

Wineasaurous · 26/12/2017 12:43

I never said they do Sparkling

YellowMakesMeSmile · 26/12/2017 12:44

Plenty of people have to work over the holidays.

They obviously do it for a reason and it's always packed so there's the demand for it. It's part of a job role. No different than any other job outside of 9-5.

Many workers start that early every day not just one day a year.

Sparklingbrook · 26/12/2017 12:44

I agree gamerwidow.

ijustwannadance · 26/12/2017 12:47

It's nothing new though. 20 years ago when I worked in the city centre and started work at 7am, I would walk past the queue of people lining up to get into next. The shop was quite small so they had to wait until people had left to let more in as it was so busy.

It would be bloody freezing too. I thought they were crazy. Still do.

Polarbearflavour · 26/12/2017 12:49

I never go shopping on Boxing Day and feel sorry for staff who have to work. Well done to John Lewis did not opening!

Do retail staff still get time and a half / double time for bank holidays?

When I was a nurse, I got time plus 60% for bank holiday working. Healthcare is essential. Retail isn’t.

As far as I know, the trains aren’t running today, well at least GWR isn’t.

Sparklingbrook · 26/12/2017 12:50

There's no trains here today. Nor buses I don't think.

The man at M&S garage worked Christmas Day said he got double time for it. They probably did a roaring trade in batteries.

Saladd0dger · 26/12/2017 12:57

I got up at 4am today to get to Tesco for 6am. Made sure all the prices were correct before 9am opening. Im not bothered about working today, they did us a nice fry up this morning mmmm

DisaronnoAndCoke · 26/12/2017 13:00

Yanbu, it's shit! Sil gets up at 4am to queue

Jerseysilkvelour · 26/12/2017 13:04

I've never understood why Next open so early for their sales. I've never found anything in there worth purchasing though never mind anything worth being there at 6 for!! I know some people love Next but they'd love it just as much at 9:00 or 10:00.

I was in M&S at about 10 this morning and it was so quiet I wonder why they didn't just open later, at 12 town was busier but I don't see why they don't just open later.

Reflexella · 26/12/2017 13:07

They shouldn’t allow the shops to open. I refuse to shop online/in store on B day

buggerthebotox · 26/12/2017 13:12

I think many people just want to get out of the house tbh.

But the Next sale? Just don't get it at all.

Wishingandwaiting · 26/12/2017 13:15

For every person who doesn't want to work certain holidays, there's another person who could really use the money and doesn't care.

Exactly

Op it’s important to you. It’s not for others. For some it’s a hellish time of year, alone, poor, in abusive relationship - so to be working and getting money is blessed relief.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 26/12/2017 13:15

My DS worked for NEXT last Christmas. He said it was fine; management were decent, the rota was fair, he always got paid on time. There are worse jobs.

I don't think the shops need to be open on Boxing day though. But it might be nice if the trains were running.

G1ggleloop · 26/12/2017 13:17

The underground is running. I got lucky and got today off. Usually I have to work it. Our rostered leave gives you Christmas off around once every 7 years.

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