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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:
PinkFizzz · 01/01/2019 12:33

Retail worker here, I don't think you've put your point across very well and your logic is flawed.

I think things should be open if there's a market for it, but it should be optional to work with better incentives for doing so to encourage workers to volunteer.

We have a multicultural society - not everyone celebrates at this time of year, if they want to work then let them but I do think there ahould be a fairer system in place for those who would like the time off once or twice a year for the big holidays and I'd happily work on the ones I don't recognise to allow others time off for theirs.

I get very little time with my family, but lucky that my employer is closed today (Scotland). I was forced to work crap shifts over Christmas though.

yesmelord · 01/01/2019 12:34

Poor people?

I worked in retail for years, some news year days included, I don't think I'm 'poor' and I find that so offensive.
I have a mortgage and enjoy shopping as much as the next person, ok I don't shop in Waitrose and Prada but aldi and primark are alright for me!
Not everyone is as lucky no, but do you seriously think everyone who works in a shop or retail in general is poor?

I'm certainly richer than you in knowledge and manners that's for certain! Grin

yesmelord · 01/01/2019 12:34

New year days*

Sparklingbrook · 01/01/2019 12:35

yesmelord, OP meant 'poor' as in having to work not as in having no money!

TeIlIo · 01/01/2019 12:35

Also loving that we're all unreasonable for thinking it's bonkers for your idea of half day Saturday and shut on Sunday shopping. Why can't we just shop in the middle of the night in a 24 hour on during the week Hmm

But in a thread a couple of days ago you were whinging about your gym being shut 4 days in December Confused

yesmelord · 01/01/2019 12:37

@Sparklingbrook then she needs to put her seriously misplaced sympathy somewhere else doesn't she!

Sparklingbrook · 01/01/2019 12:38

Maybe yesmelord. This is AIBU after all.

daisypond · 01/01/2019 12:40

It's not just retail workers and emergency services that work non-standard hours. Do you perhaps watch any television or listen to the radio? Will you be using any electricity or flushing the loo? There are people behind the scenes making the systems behind these services happen for you on public holidays.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 01/01/2019 12:40

But in a thread a couple of days ago you were whinging about your gym being shut 4 days in December

Over a weekend too it seems. I mean how dare they Hmm

expatinspain · 01/01/2019 12:42

But in a thread a couple of days ago you were whinging about your gym being shut 4 days in December

😂 Maybe the OP's sympathies only extend to shop workers, or things that don't inconvenience her 😂😂

Dvg · 01/01/2019 12:43

Some people don't have family. Some people WANT to be able to go to the shops today -_- .. its just 1 day, take a holiday day if you want to spend more time with family.

2019rubberband · 01/01/2019 12:46

I can't spend time with my family as I'm alone as others have been forced to work. That's the whole point of this thread

But you are missing out really important factors. Your short sightedness, which now transpired is because YOU have to work, rather than you care about the situation in general, is incredible.

In order for products to be placed on the shelf for shoppers Monday - Friday other people have to work out with these hours. Shop workers are not just the people we see in the store.

2019rubberband · 01/01/2019 12:46
  • Sorry because you have family who has to workBlush
Tiscold · 01/01/2019 12:57

People want to work today, my dad volunteered for a 12 hour shift today for example because that will be an extra £120 plus in his pocket.

Why shouldn't he have the chance to earn that money?

topcat2014 · 01/01/2019 12:58

If there are 1/365 hours less to fill, then it stands to reason that 1/365 of the retail jobs will be lost in the economy.

Omgineedanamechange · 01/01/2019 13:02

But in a thread a couple of days ago you were whinging about your gym being shut 4 days in December

Grin Grin busted OP

LaurieMarlow · 01/01/2019 13:07

Gym workers clearly don't deserve time with their families the way retail workers do. Wink

I take it your family mostly work in retail OP?

Polarbearflavour · 01/01/2019 13:07

Waitrose/John Lewis is closed Boxing Day and today.

There is no need for shops to be open everyday. Staff no longer get paid extra money for it.

The NHS is an essential service but staff will at least be getting paid unsocial hours enhancements.

Polarbearflavour · 01/01/2019 13:09

I also chose to work in an office job so I can take two weeks off over Christmas etc. I suspect that many retail workers do not have a choice about where they work and have to work bank holidays for no extra pay.

LuluJakey1 · 01/01/2019 13:15

My Auntie Ella workedin John Lewis in New astle in the 1980s. My mum said it was closed on Sunday and Monday so the staff still had their weekend, because they worked on Saturday.
Sounds like a good idea to me, along with getting rid of Amazon and online shopping- apart from groceries. Also town parking to be free everywhere. And get rid of late licensing past 12.00 pm and all day drinking hours.
We'd all have to go out and use shops, walk more, speak to each other more, take back our towns as community facilities rather than places to drink. High Streets would flourish.Staff would have better work-life balance. We would have to learn to do more relaxing things on Sundays than shop.

Ollivander84 · 01/01/2019 13:41

I don't have a giant family to spend time with, I'm on my own. And I'm not forced to work, that's just the hours I work! We only shut Christmas Day, Boxing Day and NYD, that's it. So none of this 2 weeks off over Christmas
Every single job I've worked I had to work Christmas - carer, mobile phone customer services, ambulance service, retail (Boxing Day)....

ForalltheSaints · 01/01/2019 13:46

Trains run today as do some buses. They do not on Boxing Day. I am OK with shopping today but want non food shops closed on Boxing Day.

SwedishEdith · 01/01/2019 13:48

My Auntie Ella workedin John Lewis in New astle in the 1980s. My mum said it was closed on Sunday and Monday so the staff still had their weekend, because they worked on Saturday.
Sounds like a good idea to me, along with getting rid of Amazon and online shopping- apart from groceries. Also town parking to be free everywhere. And get rid of late licensing past 12.00 pm and all day drinking hours.

Nothing stopping you behaving like this. But lots of people don't have the time to spend every Saturday doing all their shopping.

FuzzyShadowChatter · 01/01/2019 13:49

I can see the argument to reduce consumption or pushing for businesses to treat their employees at or near the bottom better or having more personal protection and consideration for the importance of leisure time, but as many have said, there are plenty of other people on low wages who work during the holiday time period. Some even beyond emergency services are essential to keep things running - from utilities to hotels to make being with family more possible - so yeah, people are going to be working.

Not everyone can have leisure time at the same time and have the most common leisure activities available for people to use. It would be lovely, I think, if there was more drive for more community spaces, but right now in many town centres and such, shops and eateries are one of the major ways people do things together. Cinemas and other activities require someone to be working. We'd have to not use many other things and some of that will mean more people miss out - many have been reliant on taxi drivers and gas station attendants to see their loved ones. We still get leisure time, it's just at a different time, whether people should have more is a different idea than should have it at a specific time.

Personally, after a horrible December, I was pretty glad to be able to order on the 25th after working and get the last few things for the New Year delivered later the same week - which means warehouse workers and delivery workers. I've obviously no idea how they feel about working those days, I can only hope they enjoy their leisure time when they get it just as most of the rest of try to do.

KimchiLaLa · 01/01/2019 13:53

No shops are open today?