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?

DH is a scientist. He’s been called into work on xmas day before to sort an issue out. He’s back to work on Friday. He has colleagues in, some are doing shifts as they run 24 hours a day.
Lots of jobs run 365. You just don’t know it. Not everything closes just because office staff are off.

Every year this massive angst about retail workers. Plenty of people have to work. Plenty are probably relieved about it. I’ll be taking my kids to spend their Christmas money and I’ll look in my favourite shops. I can’t wait to get out of the bloody house.

Never mind, wasn't thinking from a business point of view just in a perfect world I suppose. Over and out. Happy 2020.

Agree with town centre shops etc and supermarkets being closed in Boxing Day. We’d all cope without them opening for 2 whole days!

It would be nice for people to be able to spend time with their families. Of course emergency services/care can’t do that as that’s needed 24 hours but you need to go shopping, so there is a difference.

Definitely not until the 2nd Jan though!

And what about all the NHS, fire service, police and everyone else that has to work Christmas...

As a GP, can I opt into this Christmas till New Year break?

You don’t think anyone would mind if we shuttered the surgery for 10 days, do you?

And what exactly will they do with their extended holiday? Cos obviously all the restaurant, cinema, museum, bar, cafe, theme park, zoo etc staff also deserve the time off so they should close too.

You do realise that places that close over Christmas take those days holiday off their staff, right? It’s not extra free time off, it’s literally stopping them having time off in summer to spend with their families.

My EMT daughter would love the holidays off. She understood when working EMS she would be obligated to do whatever shifts were needed.

Oh jeez, this has been done to death. I work for the NHS and it certainly doesn't close until after New Year. Dh fixes trains and regularly has to work Christmas and New Year's day, part and parcel of the job.

I worked in retail many years ago and working on Boxing Day etc was par for the course. The world doesn't grind to a halt because of public holidays.

Never mind, wasn't thinking from a business point of view just in a perfect world I suppose.

A lot of people find work a good escape from xmas. Not everyone likes this time of year and it would be horrible to enforce xmas.

I think there IS a difference between essential workers working over the holidays and some wanting to get to the Next sale at 6am though. It's got a bit silly and unnecessary surely?

There has been so many threads on this topic today!

Closing until January is a bit intense, come on.

The murder rate would go right up if we all have to be confined inside with the family for 9 days.

Amazing idea. I'm a health care Assistant, people can do without care for two weeks surely? Ffs none of us want to be dragging our arses as you put it out of bed but it's our job so we do. I dont mind actually, lucky to get xmas day off this year but I'll be at work for 7am next xmas.

What offices close until January?

Mine does 🙋🏻‍♀️

Can you imagine dropping the babies milk tub on the 27th n being in a mad panic trying to get some till the 2nd. Or hoping what you had lasted.. nappies or bog roll with a bout of d&v..

Even not from a business point of view it’d be a massive pain in the arse and it’d make it harder on workers who can’t just opt out, no retail demand no public transport demand.. nhs and care workers now paying double time for taxis for ages if they can’t/don’t drive.

The shops used to close for at least a week if not more and that was in the days when fridge /freezers were a luxury. People managed then.
I know lots of people do work Christmas but emergency services is totally different to retail. People can die without our emergency services. No one will die if shops/hotels shut for a few days.

I need Sainsbury's to be open as I didn't have room in our tiny freezer for lunch for tomorrow.

Noone ever gives a shit about other non essential roles like restaurants, bars, cinemas, bowling alleys etc. even though our hours are far more unsociable?

As an aside, I have worked in hospitality for 9 years and purposely work somewhere that closes Christmas Day. I previously worked in retail and chose to work in a shop that closed Boxing Day as well as Christmas Day.

ViaSacra considering my DD couldn't get an appointment until the 15th of January, it wouldn't make any bloody difference to us.

I work on the 27, it's a normal working day. I do think closing on the 26th should be mandated

just in a perfect world I suppose
That's your idea of a perfect world, it sounds like shit to me. You do realise not everyone even celebrates christmas, let alone obsess over it.

I totally agree that shops, restaurants, cinemas, pubs etc should be shut Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Yes it is shitty for those in essential services to have to work (I worked many a Christmas in my time) but the clue is in the name ‘essential’.

I desperately need to get my DC new shoes before they go back to school. We are busy for most of the school holidays. Tomorrow would have been the perfect day to do it. On a point of principle though I won’t because shopping on Boxing Day just reinforces the idea that shops should be open when nobody should have to work it. I’ll have to brave the crowds at the weekend instead. Nor will I order anything online tomorrow. It’s just wrong and I feel so sorry for the staff.

I think Christmas is massively over rated in this country. And all the expectation that everyone wants to spend time with their family (as if this is their only chance to do so all year).

Many people don't have families or don't have ones they want to spend time with.

I'd happily work on boxing day, I think it's a rubbish time of year to have time off.

FFS.

RETAIL WORKERS AREN’T THAT SPECiAL!!!