To think if you want retail workers to get Boxing Day off...

[StillCoughingandLaughing]

... the same should apply to bar and restaurant staff, cinema staff etc.?

The last couple of years now I’ve seen campaigns on Facebook pushing for all shops to be closed on Boxing Day to give retail workers ‘A precious day off with their families’. ‘We can all cope for one day without the shops, for heaven’s sake!’, people say, as magnanimous as you like. Yet they go on to wax lyrical about how retail workers deserve to be able to go to the pub or for lunch with their families, or to the panto, like everyone else.

Who do these people think are cooking the meals, serving the drinks etc.? Taking their tickets and showing them their tickets at the theatre? Why don’t these people deserve to be graciously awarded a day off by the great British public - regardless of whether they might actually want the overtime?

AIBU to think that if you’ve ever been to the pub, restaurant, theatre, cinema etc. on Boxing Day, you’re being a massive hypocrite by supporting this kind of campaign?

I can remember when everything was closed on the holidays. No shops, no cinemas, not even a petrol station. And the same on Sundays, too. They were called 'Blue Laws and we all managed to survive.

(I'm in the US, so no Boxing Day for us, more's the pity)

I suspect those campaigning dont work in retail. For a lot of people it’s a chance to earn a fortune on one of the most boring days of the year while simultaneously getting out of having to visit family etc. Its a win win.

The thing is, people are always going to have to work those days, even in "non-essential" services.

Even if every single pub, restaurant, cafe, cinema and shop closed on Boxing Day, the delivery drivers would still have to work to get fresh food to the shops on the 27th. People would still need to come in to pick the online orders for the 7am delivery slots the following day. People would still need to transport the food needed for restaurants and cafes to re-open on the 27th.

People would still shop online over the festive period. People still need to work to ensure the websites are up and running, to answer the phone-lines if people have trouble using their gift cards, or struggle to set up their DC's xbox.

We live in a 24/7 society - it's totally impossible for non-essential workers not to work on Public holidays anymore.

I think my opinion will be an unpopular one, but here it is. I work in healthcare, and although I don’t have to every year, I’ve often worked Christmas Day and/or Boxing Day. Of course that’s different because it’s essential, but it’s nice to be able to go out and do something if I choose to when I do have Boxing Day off. Go to the pub, the cinema, maybe do some shopping, return a faulty gift or whatever. I know theses aren’t essential things, but it’s nice to have the opportunity. Sure, it’s crap for those who don’t want to be working those days and have to, but for many it’s extra money and for those in hospitality, I’d bet extra tips.

I don’t say this as a total outsider. My DH is a retail manager who works at least every other Boxing Day, and he will be this year. He’s been fair and his staff will either work Boxing Day or New Year’s Day, not both. The money the business makes over the Christmas period is essential to keep it going, so if they did shut (particularly on Boxing Day) then that means less profit and more chance of the shop failing. With so many empty stores in town centres now, every penny counts.

I also have family working in the theatre industry, and the money they make over the Christmas period is so important to them. January and February are very slow months and not earning for a day in December would not be good for them.

We don’t shop on Boxing Day. I don’t really understand why anyone would want too but I guess some people think they are going to get a good bargain (even though there are sales all year round now). Of course some people have to work Christmas Day and Boxing Day of the world would come to a stand still, I think if you work in catering, care or NHS you expect to have to work.

I would be happy for shops not to be open Boxing Day, I’m sure we can all cope for 2 days without having to go to a shop.

I do agree with you, think it should be an all or nothing. I don't particularly like the whole having every thing open except for Christmas day but I can see why places do. Pubs and that can make a lot of money over the Christmas period, so financially it makes sense. So it's a bit of a tricky one. There's obviously demand for it so any business would be daft to miss out on it! Same for bank holidays though. Do get the holiday entitlement though so kinda makes up for it.

Apart from going to football I have never done any I feel the things you mentioned. Sport is a huge part of Boxing Day tradition- should this be included too ?

Yanbu. I don't do anything on boxing day. No shops, restaurants, cinema etc.

The money the business makes over the Christmas period is essential to keep it going, so if they did shut (particularly on Boxing Day) then that means less profit and more chance of the shop failing.

I don't understand this. If people are going to spend money, wouldn't they just do it on the 27th if the shops were closed on the 26th?

@ivykaty44 we can't protest. Those in charge rather the money be ringing in the tills. Obviously while they're sat at home enjoying Boxing Day.

@adeline a lot of people are back at work on the 27th as it isn’t a public holiday.

I guess I’m surprised that this is such a big deal to some people. I have a lot of friends in retail through my DH and they all just accept that it’s part of the job.

Customers have actually called head office today to complain that we opened at 7am today instead of our usual 5am. Ridiculous

I don't get the angst tbh although ideally those that work will get extra pay/holiday. I don't shop or go out on Boxing day but I watch TV, use the internet etc so I can't really judge.

My Dsis works in retail and christmas day is counted as their day off that week

I'm pretty sure a bank holiday cannot count as your normal day off unless you wouldn't normally be working on the day it falls on.

I don't understand this. If people are going to spend money, wouldn't they just do it on the 27th if the shops were closed on the 26th?

Because the 27th is a normal,working day so most people would be back at work and the profits for shopping would be less. The reason the shops open on bank holidays is because that's when they can maximise their profits.

I disagree that everywhere should be closed on 26th. There will be some people who need the extra money/time off, some people might want the company, or to get away from a houseful of relatives. Maybe just a fair system where it's shared or allocated to those who don't mind working would be better.

M&S is closed boxing day I think

I am confused by this thread. So what should I do then- not go out on Boxing Day for a meal so as not to demand service on this day or go out for a meal given that the waiting staff will be working anyway now and they may prefer to get tips etc?

I never saw going out on Boxing Day to establishments that were open as a moral issue, every day's a school day!

YABU.

My sister used to work in hospitality and they loved the Christmas work for the extra wages and huge tips. Shop staff just dont get that.

On the whole I agree.

I'd make exceptions for theatres doing pantomime (boxing day tradition going back years although I don't go myself) and for the usual places which are always open - service stations, and all vital services.

What about people who go to hotels/holiday for Christmas.

@FriedasCarLoad why would panto be an exception if you otherwise agree? A lot of theatre staff are on low pay, and won’t get tips, and it isn’t an essential service. It’s no different to cinema staff or bar staff.

It extends further than that - I used to work in an office which provided loans. So we were always open boxing day so people could get their interest free sofas from DFS etc.

However, I think the key thing is for the employer to reward staff properly. We used to get double time and free dominos and you'd only work either boxing day or new year's day, never both.

I'm pretty sure a bank holiday cannot count as your normal day off unless you wouldn't normally be working on the day it falls on.

It absolutely can do. It does where I work. If you are full time, your day off this week is Wednesday and one other day. If you want an extra day, you have the option of taking Christmas Day as annual leave and having three days off in total.

Not everyone has Bank Holidays included in their holiday entitlement.

Retail staff don't always get extra pay for boxing day.

When I worked retail we never had double pay. Just time off in lieu.
I refused to work that day in principal anyway.

The reason the shops open on bank holidays is because that's when they can maximise their profits.

That may be true for Boxing Day, but it's certainly not true the rest of the year. I worked both August BH's this year and they were the quietest days of the season. We didn't even take £500 when on our average Monday we take 3-4k. After paying out wages (everyone gets double time for BH pay) we made a pretty big loss on those days.

If people have money to spend, they'll spend it regardless. People might be back to work on the 27th, but the 28th and 29th fall on the weekend this year, so many will be off to shop then. It's also school holidays so there'll be plenty of parents around who are off work too as childcare is often shut.

Most sales have already started haven't they?