To think that all shops should be shut on Boxing Day?

[Terfing]

With the exception of a few pharmacies etc.

About ten years ago, I worked in retail as a student. We would close early on Christmas Eve and not open again until the 27th.

I have a younger family member who got a temporary retail xmas job this year. At their interview, they were told that they would have to work Boxing Day, for which they are getting no extra pay. Even worse, they have to stay late on Christmas Eve and come in early on Boxing Day to help set up the sale.

AIBU to find this very sad? Can people really not go more than one day without shopping? We could ten years ago, and nobody died! What changed?!?

I agree tbh. What could people really need that can't wait another day?

Back in the 80s the sales used to start on New Years Day, then in the 90s I think they moved to Boxing Day...

Sales are never really the same now anyway, they used to be to clear stock for new seasons. Now it's just a gimmick.

I’d have most shops shut every Sunday again. Not particularly for religious reasons but to reduce the idea that shopping is a leisure activity and the great God of consumerism is key to happiness.

Yes. Combined with lack of public transport on Boxing Day it means many folk don’t get to have Christmas with their families unless they live very close.

The inconsistency doesn’t work. If train crews get the day off (rightly, IMO) then so should retail staff. Shops are not essential 24/7/365 services....

not everyone celebrates Christmas though. also other people work and might be the only day they can shop, like how some people can only do something on a Saturday, maybe some people can only do it on a Tuesday. don't get me wrong, I aint leaving the house for the next few days, but it isn't the same for everyone.

Its hideous.. and I bet the shops are busy!

I agree, and don't shop on Boxing day.

Yes i agree even though i was a nurse for many years so worked many xmas,s i cant see any need for shops to be open on bank holidays .

I understand what your saying OP but please also remember those who work for the emergency services/hospital staff etc who have to work Xmas day never mind Xmas eve and Boxing Day ASWELL

I totally agree.

Even worse, our local MCcalls is opening Christmas Day and the Staff don't get a say.

I offered to do a petition for them, but they were nervous about losing their jobs.

At one time the only shops open for two days were ran by people not from this Country or a religion that didn't celebrate Christmas.

No-one outside the Care/emergency services should be working Christmas Day.

Yanbu. I'd be happy. I don't work in retail.

Shops should be shut. And I'm not keen on them being open on a Sunday either (though I often pop in for a few bits if I've forgotten lunch things etc).

I think it's unreasonable that working in retail on holidays has become so normalised that people no longer get any kind of compensation for it.

You cant shut a hospital though currant and as a former nurse i have worked loads of xmas days , shopping isnt an e.ermegency though.

current the hospital and emergency services are essential though. Shopping can wait a day.

I get that Currentcake but they are essential services. Going to buy a jumper at 50% off on boxing day is not essential.

I should add that I'm not religious myself. However, the Christmas holidays are a big part of British culture and tradition. It's a shame that we are losing this.

I agree that it's a shame that the emergent services have to work, but they do get a premium payment, I believe? Which many retail workers won't.

Yes, there will be people who can only shop on Boxing Day, t this isn't the fault of the overworked and underpaid retail staff?

I agree. People don’t need any of the things on sale immediately. They could wait a day to buy a sofa or a new dress.

Unless it is a necessary service then it should be closed.

Yanbu. Shopping isn't an essential activity and as a pp pointed out the dearth of public transport on that day makes it difficult and expensive for retail staff to get to work at all. I'm not religious btw, I just don't think that workers should have to give up statutory holidays for no good reason. I would class staffing hospitals and essential services as good reason. Being able to buy stuff, not.

i think YABU to start yet another thread on this, this has to be at least the 3rd one, all posters outraged

I went to Sainsbury’s last night and felt really sad that they were already clearing out all the Christmas stuff. It’s not even bloody Christmas Eve yet!

When I worked in a call centre Boxing Day was a hugely popular time to work, but that was because we got double pay.

Not everyone wants to be off Boxing Day - is you don’t celebrate Christmas or even if you do but your partner is also working Boxing Day for instance.

I have no issue with shops being open. BUT it should be optional to work it and to incentivise people they’d therefore need to offer higher pay on that day.

The only way you'll get this changed is by people voting with their feet and staying home.

No retailer is going to miss out on profits from the shoppers who come to the events.

I've never shopped in sale. Personally think it should be kept to online only.

YANBU

Back in the late 80s I worked in a large supermarket. They started opening on Sundays and bank holidays while I was there. It was great. We got paid double time and got a day off in lieu. People were falling over themselves to work those days. A year later it changed to just double time and not long after it became a normal working day and surprise surprise staff no longer got given any choice.

I no longer live in the UK and where I am shops only open if enough staff want to work. It's quite nice to see shops running with short opening hours in the summer so staff can have a decent summer holiday. It feels more caring and less profit driven.

And tbh regarding hospitals unless the service is essential most clinics and community services are closed on Boxing day and other bank holidays