To feel for retail workers tomorrow and think most shops should just close until January

[MindYours]

Tomorrow a load of retail workers will have to drag their arses out of bed away from their families at stupid o clock, just so people can trample all over each other trying to get a tenner off a handbag in the sales or to do a food shop they probably don't really need?

If it was up to me I would close the majority of large supermarkets and high street clothing stores until 2 January, as some offices do. People have all year to organise themselves and make sure enough food is in. There are many convenience stores open all year round because they are privately owned and choose to, or because they don't celebrate Christmas etc.

Would it really be so bad for large chain stores to give their staff a proper break (I don't work in retail myself) and just let January sales start in... January?

Ffs

Dd working today, happy b/c she gets double pay here for working on a public holiday. I mean, would she rather not have to work while she studies ? Sure. But given she has to, well, today is OK. It's not like she's down a mine or something - the worst things that will happen is that her feet will get sore and she'll be dealing with some arsey customers.

I'm glad the supermarkets aren't closed all week! I can't afford to do a two week shop in advance of Christmas, and little corner shop stores are too $$ for anything, including bread and milk.

You seriously think shops should close for 8-9 days, OP? You obviously have no idea about business.
Grow up.

What about those who don't work in retail? Should they all get a christmas break too? No A&E services, fire brigade, emergency plumbers? What about those in non essential roles that aren't retail? Times have changed as society demands 24/7 services, its unlikely to go back to 1960.

What offices close until January?

I don't think you have thought this through OP.

We will need to do a food shop before 2 Jan.

Not many people get more than a few days off except if working in a school or maybe a factory.

I think closing boxing day would be brilliant and there seems to be a move towards this. But January?! Can't imagine how horrific the shops would be if they were closed for a week. Totally impossible.

I agree we don't need to shop on boxing day but to stay shut until the 2nd? Are you right in the head?!

The supermarkets were heaving in the run up to Christmas while people stocked up for ONE day. Can you imagine if it was for more than a week?

Oh FFS

Oh for goodness' sake. When I was in paid work we only had the statutory holidays off. Unless you booked annual leave you finished at 5pm on Christmas Eve and returned at 9am on 27th January. You then got a day off for new year.

What offices close until January?

For the last 20 years, I have worked in offices that close between Christmas and New Year. Some of them longer. Large multinationals mostly, but also a civil service role.

My office used to close between Christmas and New Year. I think it’s sensible, saves heating and lighting the building for a handful of staff.

I’m sick of these threads. I feel more sorry for nhs workers personally

I'd better go buy a freezer to fill with milk and bread and frozen veg for one week of the year then.
Boxing day I can see the arguments for. Til 2 Jan, I'm not convinced.

Sorry I meant returned on 27th December. I only worked in one project that shut down between Christmas and new year and it was a pain having such a lot of annual leave dictated to you.

Boohoo, poor shop workers. What about police officers, doctors, nurses, bar staff, restaurant staff, RAC/AA men, care workers, hospital porters, air traffic control, pilots, train, bus, tube drivers....shall I go on? The list of people who work over Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year is endless. My daughter works in entertainment and she will be working from 8.30am till about 10pm. Shop workers are not a unique case.

It’s not great, no.

But retail is on its knees. If we don’t use the high street shops, they’ll die off. That will leave a huge hole on our streets, and many people without jobs at all. The retailers depend on the Boxing Day sales!

And yes you could move them to Jan, but by then the spirit of Christmas is well and truly dead and everyone is being sensible and not spending.

My Christmas present for myself is not to leave house until 3rd January. I don't need to get anything online either. I might have a stretch in my back garden! Lazy Christmas indeed.

If it was up to me I would close the majority of large supermarkets and high street clothing stores until 2 January, as some offices do

Yeah just sack a shed load of workers, who cares about the working classes anymore.

Often the consensus on MN is that if you don't want to work over Christmas don't apply for a job with that in your contract.

Behave lol

I used to work in retail. Never had a problem with going back to work on the 27th. I mean, it was hellish and a longer break would be nice but would only delay the inevitable and be a huge inconvenience for customers. Especially when we're trying to keep the High St alive. I don't think shops should open on Boxing Day, mostly because public transport doesn't run properly and until it does, why should shop staff go in?

Now I have an office job and we closed 20th (although I took a week on top from 13th) and we reopen Jan 6th. So some offices do still have a long break. After 4 years in retail I don't take it for granted and love every second.