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AIBU?

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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:
halcyondays · 26/12/2017 13:18

I don't know why anyone wants to get out of a warm bed at that time on Boxing Day morning to go shopping in the sales.

Until maybe about 5 years ago, only a few shops opened on Boxing Day, Currys did (we once went because our washing machine died just before Xmas) and Woolworths used to. Most shops including Next were closed on Boxing Day and started their sales on the 27th. Then one year when the 27th was on a Sunday, Next started opening on Boxing Day because they couldn't start their sale at stupid o'clock on a Sunday. That's when most of the shops started opening on Boxing Day.

BishopBrennansArse · 26/12/2017 13:18

I refuse to shop on Boxing Day.
I'm going down town in a minute but only to see the now annual steam traction engine meet.
It's lovely.

unlucky83 · 26/12/2017 13:19

Having worked in catering and with a DP who still does I don't think working over Christmas is a big deal (although this year DP has a new job and he is off all this week....which is all a bit weird for us all.)
I didn't know Next open so early today until DP told me this morning. He told me because he thought it was very odd - everywhere was quiet, dark, no one about, very few cars on the road and then he came across the Next store which was packed...hundreds of people and cars outside apparently.
But what I found completely mid blowing is how DP discovered Next was open so early
At 7am on Boxing Day he was GOING TO THE GYM ShockShockShock. Apparently he work up early and just felt like it...
What about the poor people working there?
I'm surprised the Gym was open today at that time - there must be a demand for it - other people must WANT to go...I still can't quite get my head around it ...
Sofa, Christmas chocs and rubbish telly ...or the Next sale or ...even worse imo and I hate shopping... the Gym...

IsaSchmisa · 26/12/2017 13:20

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.

Mmm, not sure about that, not wrt the Christmas period at least. It's quite a big claim.

This is a country where the majority of people celebrate Christmas. For those who don't celebrate, some of them still prefer not to work it anyway because their children are off school or other loved ones are taking time then: it's still common enough in some sectors to have a Christmas shutdown. If you're a retail worker and a very strict Hindu who doesn't do Christmas, you might still have kids who have their holidays now and a DP whose employer are closed over the period.

Of those who don't celebrate, be it because of belief or because they've nobody to celebrate with, some of them still wouldn't want to or wouldn't be able to work it due to childcare and transport issues.

People often bring up those who eg don't have anyone to celebrate with. It's true that Christmas can be a very lonely time for those in that position. It's less certain that they're instead going to prefer either working in or shopping at Next sale or similar. One might not expect to see a soul over Christmas and still regard Boxing Day sales as one of the circles of hell. One might be lonely and still prefer that to going into work. Lonely people aren't a monolithic bloc.

And then added to which, as working over the period becomes increasingly normalised, so too is extra pay for it becoming less common. And shorter holidays over Christmas may well lead to more loneliness, because if you only get one day and you're in London but your family are in Glasgow, you're less likely to be able to travel to them.

I expect there are people who do want to work over Christmas and are more inconvenienced by not being able to than vice versa. I'm less sure they come anywhere near the numbers of those who don't want to work but are obliged to do so.

QuiteLikeable · 26/12/2017 13:22

I don't understand why anyone would queue up in the middle of the night to buy stuff that nobody would pay full price for Confused

The whole thing is needless. What next, to drive the hype? 5am opening? 3? Opening at midnight on Christmas Day?

Littlepond · 26/12/2017 13:22

I have never and will never shop on Boxing Day.

Lesley1980 · 26/12/2017 13:24

The next sales used to be really good though. They had two seasons & twice a year all stock was 50% off. Now it's broken up into 4 seasons & not everything is on sale. You don't know what's going to be there as they bring out the same old rubbish from the warehouse.

I worked for next 15 years ago & the sale was horrible. Customers pushing you over to get stuff & grabbing things from you whilst you tidied. The best job was holding the queue here stick.

LazyDailyMailJournos · 26/12/2017 13:24

I used to work in retail a long time ago. The Next sale has always opened early. The shop I worked in was closed on Boxing Day but I used to work in the stockroom and got paid extra to go in on BD and prep for the sale starting on the 27th.

That was back in 1998 and I have very clear memories of seeing people queuing within cordoned off crash barriers all the way down the pavement to get into the Next sale. This is not a recent development - it's always been batshit! The weird thing being why people go so crazy for Next; I don't get it. They don't sell anything special, unique, collectable or ridiculously cheap - so why do people get so excited about their sale?

Ollivander84 · 26/12/2017 13:26

sarahj- I worked yesterday so anyone who had care planned still got the care and wasn't alone, I did 4 visits a day as usual Smile

There were SO many places open yesterday when I drove around town. Newsagents, garages, pubs, restaurants, care staff, emergency pharmacy, hospital staff, district nurses.. etc

Rudgie47 · 26/12/2017 13:26

I remember last year Next were advertising just in Poland for seasonal staff. People from the U.K couldnt apply and the store that was doing this was in an area where there was high unemployment. I think that was wrong, everyone should have been allowed to apply.

brizzledrizzle · 26/12/2017 13:28

@sparklingbrook bargain clothes for her DDs HmmShock

IsaSchmisa · 26/12/2017 13:30

Don't give them any ideas QuiteLikeable.

Crunchymum · 26/12/2017 13:33

I can't get worked up about it. It's a one off early start? What about shift workers who do that every bloody day?

If you work in retail (as I did when I was at Uni) you know you will work Xmas Eve and Boxing Day my shop actually didn't open on Boxing Day but if it did I'd be working and all over the festive period as it's the busiet time

Crunchymum · 26/12/2017 13:33

busiest even

Lovemusic33 · 26/12/2017 13:47

Some people are quite happy to work over Christmas, some don’t celebrate it, some are on their own and would rather work and others need the money.

Next usually advertise for people to work Boxing Day, those people get the bonus of being able to have first dibs on sale stock.

I have been to a couple Next sales, I don’t go anymore as I like my bed too much, I used to enjoy going and getting bargains, I now do it online in my pj’s.

mathsquestions · 26/12/2017 13:58

I once saw someone so annoyed with the guy shovelling all the shirts into a bin liner he ripped a huge hole in the bottom of the bag. He got a huge cheer.

LazyDailyMailJournos · 26/12/2017 14:04

Unlucky if his gym is like mine there will have been no staff on site as it's 24/7 pin-pad controlled access. They have monitored CCTV at the times when there are no staff on site and there are also panic buttons throughout the gym that connect through to the security control room.

harshbuttrue1980 · 26/12/2017 14:13

I worked in Next one Christmas as a student. We got the choice about whether to work on boxing day or not. I chose to do so - double time, first pick of sale stock with staff discount and getting out the house as an 18 year old who had spent the last 24 hours stuck indoors with my parents - what's not to like??

Not everyone has an idyllic John lewis style christmas with an adoring partner, lots of friends and perfect little ones. Some people are happy to get out the house and do something non-christmas related.

Oldraver · 26/12/2017 14:42

I've always been of the thought no shop needs to open on Boxing Day

Until yesterday when our smoke alarm battery failed and has been beeping since midday yesterday..It wasn't one we expected to replace either (supposedly 10 year battery)

GingerbreadMa · 26/12/2017 14:46

Somehow I doubt any customers were actually there at 6am to buy their tat either.

I have several colleagues who take great pride in the ridiculous times they start queuing for the next sale on boxing day. Its "tradition" apparently Hmm

Boxing day is by name and actual tradition a day of GIVING. Not grabbing.

harrietsoton · 26/12/2017 14:50

Honestly it just sounds like typical retail.?

Believe it or not staff can have NIGHT shifts too (around 10pm-7am). Also they could have shifts that start at 7am, when the store opens later. So the people starting today at 6 may already be used to it. (they probably get paid extra today too - I would request a long shift on Boxing Day for $$$$)

I’m probably not sympathetic though as I used to work at Westfield London where normal opening hours are 10-10. So I could start at 7am or finish at 11pm

TenancyTroublesAgain · 26/12/2017 14:52

It is ridiculous. Nobody NEEDS a sale, especially not at 6am ffs.

GnomeDePlume · 26/12/2017 17:30

Lots of people dont NEED lots of things. Nor everybody wants two days of Christmas feasting. I was very happy to potter round a DIY store with DH today. It was lovely and quiet and we were able to complete a project. DH is back to work tomorrow so today was the perfect day.

NewPapaGuinea · 26/12/2017 19:15

I like Next clothes, but the sale stuff seems to be brought in specially and is no way as nice as the regular clothes. Would be nice if Boxing Day was also a day off for retail staff.

GingerbreadMa · 26/12/2017 19:17

Lots of people dont NEED lots of things. Nor everybody wants two days of "Christmas feasting. I was very happy to potter round a DIY store with DH today. It was lovely and quiet and we were able to complete a project. DH is back to work tomorrow so today was the perfect day"

In the same post you have said how lovely it was for you and DH to both have boxing day off...AND how you want other people/other peoples DHs to staff B&Q for you.....

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