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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

193 replies

StillCoughingandLaughing · 24/12/2019 12:38

... 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?

OP posts:
cushioncovers · 24/12/2019 15:59

I'm 49 and when I was a kid the January sales started on January 2nd.

RufusthebewiIderedreindeer · 24/12/2019 16:00

I work in a well known coffee shop and customers noses are pressed up against the window half an hour before we open on Boxing Day

I saw this last year...weird

ivykaty44 · 24/12/2019 16:04

Cushioncovers

Some larger stores in London the Boxing Day sale was shown on tv during the 1970s & 1980

I can remember thinking as a child what an aweful way to spend Christmas night camped out on the street to get a bargain. Harris’s didn’t start their sale until 1st January

Small towns etc the shops were closed

itsmecathycomehome · 24/12/2019 16:04

I know lots of people who will be working or on call over Xmas - including a carer, a midwife and a prison warden - but none of them are bothered. They know that it's part of their job I guess, and the pros and cons were weighed up when they chose their respective careers.

ivykaty44 · 24/12/2019 16:05

Harrods not Harris

RufusthebewiIderedreindeer · 24/12/2019 16:08

I wouldnt have half as much of a problem if people were paid a decent extra rate for working on bank holidays and over Christmas

danmthatonestakentryanotheer · 24/12/2019 16:08

My DD works for a family attraction that will be closed to the public (although she will be there for a few hours...animals still need to be fed). Their FB visitor posts are filled with "why aren't you open we want to spend some time there with the children" etc.....Do these people not realise that the staff also want to spend time with their children?? It's not essential for them to be open so they don't.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 24/12/2019 16:08

I don't go anywhere on Boxing Day for that reason.

But even that has consequences - people working at TV Broadcasters, National Grid, Water companies etc. All have to be at work to make sure we aren't cut off.

There is no real solution to it, as we live in a world where people need to run everything we rely on.

Picking on retail or entertainment workers always just feels like people are saying "why doesn't everybody ELSE not go shopping/out/where I am, so I am not bothered by them"

doritosdip · 24/12/2019 16:12

My uni aged ds is working every day this week except the 25th. He's happy to be earning more money.

Not everyone celebrates Xmas and I've read lots of social media stories where Xmas opening is a good thing

metro.co.uk/2019/11/03/nandos-branch-will-open-christmas-day-feed-homeless-people-11034089/

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/chip-shops-christmas-day-cardiff-17433805

Roselilly36 · 24/12/2019 16:12

I agree to a certain extent, of course shops could close for a couple of days, but there are also so many other industry sectors that people have to work over Xmas too. With so many retailers, starting sales Boxing Day, I can’t see the tide turning tbh.

LakieLady · 24/12/2019 16:14

I still live in a town that has half-day opening on Wednesdays and where most things close on Sundays - it's really nice to see, actually.

I'd love that! There was something really nice about a town centre, all quiet and peaceful on a Sunday.

I grew up in the London suburbs and half-day closing had stopped by the time I left school in the early 70s, I think. I was quite surprised when I moved to a small town in the sticks in 1991 and all the non-chain shops shut on a Wednesday afternoon.

adaline · 24/12/2019 16:20

I'd love that! There was something really nice about a town centre, all quiet and peaceful on a Sunday.

It's really nice, you're right! I walk the dog on Sunday and everywhere is deserted - it's so peaceful.

HeIenaDove · 24/12/2019 16:32

"YABU- lots of people have to work on public holidays because otherwise the world would come to a standstill. Think of those offering services such as hospitals, firefighters and those taking 999 calls, those looking after animals at the RSPCA, police, power station workers etc. etc. etc"

EXCEPT UK Power Networks got fined because of the lengthy power cuts of Christmas 2013 so this has already been proved wrong. They were too short staffed. Fuck me , memories are short!

Shops all over the country still opened that Boxing Day though. So the UKs priorities are arse about face.

BG2015 · 24/12/2019 16:47

I don't go anywhere for 2 days (other than other people's houses) not interested in shops, pubs, eating out.

Quite happy eating and drinking in my own home, wearing my pyjamas and being with my family.

Why anyone would want to get up at 5am and queue for a load of old tat heaven knows.

WTCT · 24/12/2019 16:55

I saw an amazing tweet the other day, saying no one needed to (physically) go shopping on Boxing Day because they could just shop online 🙄

I think, nowadays, if everywhere shut on Boximg Day.. I mean everywhere (including warehouses that deal with online shopping orders), life would grind to a halt for a lot of people.

Sad really.

1Morewineplease · 24/12/2019 16:59

I really wish that we could go back to a time where Christmas Day and Boxing Day were work free days.
I say this with apologies and enormous respect to those who have no choice but to work those days.

kateandme · 24/12/2019 17:03

funniest comments i saw on the local one of those campaigns to us was from a vicar "yes,yes, a i agree dont you think we'd love the day off."
errrrm...

kateandme · 24/12/2019 17:05

WTCT oh yeh haha because the elves do online shopping for you. Grin

HeIenaDove · 24/12/2019 17:07

Hope someone reminded that vicar that retail workers have to pay council tax unlike him.

If he wants parity with them perhaps he should be careful what he wishes for.

kateandme · 24/12/2019 17:09

adaline pubs too?do you see people walking to church.sorry im trying to dreamily picture this lovely village.i assume the uk?

formerbabe · 24/12/2019 17:12

I really don't care to be honest

beautifulstranger101 · 24/12/2019 17:15

I go out on Boxing day because my youngest son's birthday is on Christmas day and everything is shut on Christmas day so we go out on Boxing day instead. He's only 10 so he loves to go to the cinema/bowling/ meal out etc and I'm sorry but I dont feel a jot of guilt about that- its my child's birthday. I spent many, many years working for the NHS all over the Christmas and New Year period so Ive done my bit and noone can say I haven't contributed on those days.

lazyarse123 · 24/12/2019 17:27

At the Co-op we have to use annual leave for christmas day but we were all given 9 extra days about 3 years ago to cover all bank holidays plus a day, which is better as you can choose when to take it. There is an M & S near us which is open christmas day, now that's just greedy and definitely unfair on the staff.

Arnoldthecat · 24/12/2019 17:37

I'm in favour of more of a christmas shut down,,which includes xmas day and boxing day. We dont need year round gorging and greed.

pineconeupyourarse · 24/12/2019 17:39

PMSL at the idea that a carer on minimum wage ‘chose their career.’