Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No think we should all boycott the shops so next year the poor people don't need to work

304 replies

Rosepetalgeranium · 01/01/2019 10:39

They really don't need to be open today, seems silly that most are open Sunday hours and taking people away from enjoying the day with family

OP posts:
Biggerknickersagain · 01/01/2019 11:21

I work in a restaurant/pub/venue.

I cannot unsee some of the stuff I did last night 🙈 or preceding NYE's - please can this boycott extend to pubs/restaurants/hotels etc?
Maybe the whole of Christmas and New Year? 😉

Joking aside, apart from essential services nothing 'needs' to be open Christmas, New Year, Sundays etc, they're open because there's a demand for them to be and it makes money. Many don't get extra money for these days, but due to demand it's sometimes 'easy' overtime when there's plenty of childcare about. Or people welcome the chance to not be with family, or don't have family.
Yeah, doing it all the time you do get fed up from time to time, but generally you know that's the deal.

Gwenhwyfar · 01/01/2019 11:21

"In what way did your stacking jumpers in size order whilst chatting about X factor aid humanity?

IT DIDNT now take your £7 an hour and six off!"

You're not a nice person are you?

planespotting · 01/01/2019 11:21

@Laiste ring your local store
DH pointed out to me this morning that my smart device can ring other devices and a voice pick up at the other end. I didn't know how to react and hung up Blush

Frozenteatowel · 01/01/2019 11:22

I celebrate Jewish new year in September so Dec 31/Jan1 isn’t a big deal to me. I’ve never had a job that meant I worked on NYs day but I wouldn’t have minded going into work.

Gwenhwyfar · 01/01/2019 11:23

"but nobody forces anybody to get a job that includes bank holidays or weekends working. "

The Job Centre does actually and economic reality as well. You have to apply for any job you can get.

Birdie6 · 01/01/2019 11:24

I'm a nurse - working on Christmas Day / New Years / Easter is normal for me. I enjoy it and I get paid more for doing it. What are you actually asking for - you want everything to close down because you feel sorry for folk who like to work ?

TeIlIo · 01/01/2019 11:25

Sundays should be shut too and half days on Saturdays, no one has any more money to spend if they are open longer!

That would be terrible and impractical, cutting the biggest shopping days to a half day Confused. Would be the death of the physical shop.

Original poster
Rosepetalgeranium · 01/01/2019 11:25

What parallel world are some people in where working a job is a choice?

All those people working in Tesco I'm sure would rather not work!

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 01/01/2019 11:26

I used to work NYD to escape abuse; and then to keep myself busy. I'd have hated it to be closed. In a fair few years if working it across different businesses and places, most people who really wanted it off would get it if they updated their preference before the rota was made, and there are always people who will swap.

But the shops wouldn't close anyway. There was an economic study on this a few years ago. We need shops open today; people spend well.

PurpleDaisies · 01/01/2019 11:26

All those people working in Tesco I'm sure would rather not work!

Rubbish. I like working. It means I get paid.

LaurieMarlow · 01/01/2019 11:26

Sundays should be shut too and half days on Saturdays, no one has any more money to spend if they are open longer!

If you're trying to kill the high street stone dead, that would do it.

ChrisjenAvasarala · 01/01/2019 11:27

@Rosepetalgeranium

Closed on Sundays and half days on Saturday's? What planet are you on?

When I was a student those were the only 3 days I could work! Where would you suggest I got my money from in your magical world of everything being shut st the weekend?

LaurieMarlow · 01/01/2019 11:27

Actually almost everything is shut in Ireland today. And NYD isn't that significant a celebration here.

PurpleDaisies · 01/01/2019 11:28

Sundays should be shut too and half days on Saturdays, no one has any more money to spend if they are open longer!

And as a full time teacher, when am I able to shop?

whatamidoingwithmylife · 01/01/2019 11:28

My partner loves working the holidays as it means double pay. He volunteered for overtime but they had too many staff wanting to work! Although he may have changed his mind now as he was out all night dealing with a large fire 😯.

My ex also worked all Xmas and new year at the local council as he hates being with family and being reminded that it should be a joyous time. I'd work it if I could but sadly my employer don't allow bank holiday working.

Birdial · 01/01/2019 11:29

I agree with you on this strongly, OH works in retail and had no choice but to work over Christmas and the occasional days he was given off didn't allow us to actually do anything or see family and they're not near. There is absolutely no reason shops need to be open until 8pm on boxing day it's a joke.

Unlike emergency and care services which are vital life saving services, my OH shouldn't be away from his family on a bankholiday to sell some woman a handbag.

Fair enough if you don't want to be home and volunteer to work it but in department stores no one usually has a choice. Nothing extra is paid, NHS pay unsociable hours and extra pay because they have to work, but no one would suffer if the shops weren't open.

ChrisjenAvasarala · 01/01/2019 11:29

*2 days!! Not 3. I honestly can count!

RainbowBriteRules · 01/01/2019 11:29

I totally agree OP. I refuse to go to a shop, cinema, restaurant etc. or anywhere non-essential on Boxing Day or New Years Day. They shouldn’t be open and workers shouldn’t have to do it.

2019rubberband · 01/01/2019 11:29

All those people working in Tesco I'm sure would rather not work

Stop making ridiculous judgements. You fail to see that people are different. It's a real shame tbh. You are trying to dress your judgment of others up as wanting to do them some good. Your failing. You are coming across as a condescending twat.

2019rubberband · 01/01/2019 11:30

They shouldn’t be open and workers shouldn’t have to do it.

What part of not all workers are the same is not getting through?

Aeroflotgirl · 01/01/2019 11:30

Yabvvvvu, some people want to work, and need the money, they able to make a choice for themselves.

Frozenteatowel · 01/01/2019 11:30

MrDarcy wtf! While I am totally grateful to medics for doing such essential work not every job can or needs to be life changing in order to be important or of value. Yes I AM grateful to the staff in shops who fold the jumpers etc because it makes my life as a customer so much easier, faster and pleasanter. And they deserve every penny because it’s repetitive and probably not very interesting. And if talking with your co-workers makes the time go faster then that’s fine too.

PurpleMoon5 · 01/01/2019 11:30

I left retail four years ago, and I was paid time and a half for bank holidays. I worked for a major supermarket and as far as I know, staff are still paid this premium. It was a real incentive to work, especially for 'poor' students.

GerryblewuptheER · 01/01/2019 11:31

Ok so if shop workers didn't work.when would the likes of emergency services and Drs etc get their stuff,?

Society is being destroyed by attitudes not jobs . These jobs you find so and I social.that are open.evenings and weekends and holidays are what enable people like me who can't afford chikd care and who have a full time working partner to also have a job. Or id be stuck at home all.the time and not see anyone

delboysskinandblister · 01/01/2019 11:32

I work Saturday mornings in the shop but I would prefer Sundays to be open til about 6pm. What do you do if you don't work in a shop and then Sunday's the only day with free parking and time for the family to go out together? I love shopping even though I've no money