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?

I remember Sundays were no shops were open and we managed just fine. Now I look back and wish they would stop Sunday trading. Why? There are other days of quite late opening, if you can't manage there is something seriously wrong.
So christmas day and boxing day, if people can't or don't want to cope with shops closed I think it is very sad and pointless. Its 2days once a year, you know its coming, all year you have to organise. If owt goes wrong there is community spirit. Close the bloody shopsand get a grip. I've been there so has many and I actually find the 24/7 shopping more damaging and precious tnay just coping for 1 or 2 days.

Yes I fee for retail staff. I also run a business like that and will not open Christmas or boxing day. Even if some would even happily use our services i wish I could close every Sunday too just one day of peace would be bliss.

Christ. I'd be quite happy to work on Boxing day.

Inside I remember that as well, it was boring as hell. A lot of people used to hate Sundays.

I work in a convenience supermarket and will be working Tomorrow. I really don't mind, would prefer to be off obviously but that's the job. What I do object to is that some staff never work christmas or new year and I don't know how to change that without falling out with colleagues. We've had diffferent managers for the last 4 years so it's awkward to start saying ",they had it last year" without sounding like a child. But I don't think shop workers should be made a special case as hundreds of jobs require staff at this time of year.

I think it'd be nice for shops to close for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

The problems with this argument assumes that the entire population celebrates Christmas, which they don’t. There will be people who are not celebrating Christmas, why should they use mandatory leave for a holiday they don’t celebrate?

Also, are all pubs, restaurants, entertainment outlets going to stay shut too? We’re all going to sit inside and get no fresh air (or go to parks but not expect any cafes or toilets to be open) and slowly drive everyone insane. Spending Christmas together is lovely but most families will be at each other’s throats having to spend a week inside spending time with each other.

My office doesn’t shut. There are people in my office working between Christmas and New Year because they have chosen to use their annual leave at other times of the year. Not all offices shut.

Where do we draw the line? Public transport? People might need to use those services to see their family or are they just going to be isolated for a week? Emergency services? Can we just ask everyone to not commit any crimes for a week and a half and to not hurt themselves? Utility workers? Electricity, internet, water goes off. Is it OK if those utilities stay off because people are on forced shutdown from their office?

My office is closed on bank holidays but operational 24/7. Which means we have someone on call today. In the same way we have someone on call over night, every night. To keep providing our customers the service they need, not just expect.

I'm happy to be working tomorrow, double bubble and a break from shit tv/dishes and listening to the dog farting.

Cake I think all entertainment places should be shut Christmas and Boxing Day. Travel... that is a difficult one as could be viewed as essential.

An on-call / standard service for some industries is essential.

I know lots of people don’t mind working Boxing Day but lots do.

My office doesn’t shut. There are people in my office working between Christmas and New Year because they have chosen to use their annual leave at other times of the year. Not all offices shut.

My last employer never used to, only done it over the last 8 years or so. It does eliminate any arguments over who gets the time off.

What about sporting events? Should all the people working for football events etc tomorrow have the day off as well? As other people have said there’s all the emergency services, entertainment facilities and utilities

Retail workers are really just a small number of people who work on Boxing Day

I’m on a mandated furlough from the place I’m currently contracted to. No pay for me for 2 weeks, it’s part of my contract. I can handle it, I budget for it during my contract. A lot of others doing similar role would like to work and earn during this time

Sporting events I also think are inappropriate on Boxing Day and have gone for years. Most of the staff supporting these events would surely rather be home with their families (or even if work is the easier option with young kids, their partners would rather they were home to help out). If people don’t have caring responsibilities then they could
use the time to have a rest / watch telly / eat chocolate.

One of the main reasons I am in my job is getting Christmas and New Year off. Absolutely priceless.

Glad they don't. I don't get paid unless I'm at work and losing a week would be a bad thing.

DS2 is working tomorrow and is very happy about it (although isn't looking forward to getting up in the morning) because he's skint and needs the money before he goes back to uni

I remember Sundays were no shops were open and we managed just fine.

I suppose you would prefer us all to be dragged to a church and lectured to for 2 hours. Is free will a thing of the past?

Most people work between Christmas and New Year, don't they? I'm not but my DH is and most of my friend are. I wouldn't care if the shops closed on boxing Day as I never go shopping on boxing Day but life returns to normal the day after Boxing Day. The supermarkets would be even more unbearable before Christmas if they were going to be shut for over a week. People would be filling vans with supplies. If I worked in a shop I think I would rather have the annual leave to use at a time that was convenient to me than have to be off for over a week in December.

@MindYours Daft. So ALL retail staff should not work from 24th December to 2nd January??

So do you also extend this to...

Panto workers
Theatre staff
Cinema staff
Pub staff
Restaurant staff
Hotel staff (travelodge/premier inn/holiday inn as well)
Banks
Service Stations/Petrol Stations
All corner shops/convenience stores
Libraries
Community Centres
Churches
Food Banks
Solicitors
Post Offices
Train/Rail workers and railway stations
Bus drivers/bus services
And while we're at it, close down the police, fire stations, and hospitals and doctors and dentists as well.

Cos if shops staff/retail staff shouldn't be at work from 24th December to 2nd January, then NO-ONE should. And the whole country will go into meltdown in the week running up to Christmas Eve, worrying themselves silly about whether they have enough food and drink and medicines and petrol, and praying they don't get ill and need hospital treatment, or need a doctor, or a dentist. And pray that they don't need the police or fire brigade for anything, as the whole country will shut down for 9-10 days.

Why not start an online petition OP? I'm sure the whole country will be delighted for EVERYONE to shut down for 9-10 days. You will be stuck in the house with your family (or on your own though,) as there will be no-where to go, because no-one will be working, and nowhere will be open. No pubs, no shops, no restaurants, no theatres, no trains or buses running, no petrol stations open, and a LOT of people will be at risk with no police/ doctors/ ambulances/ hospitals/nurses/dentists/fire brigades working.

As I said, start a petition, I'm sure everyone will be delighted for all of the above to happen!

If they will insist on shops closing Easter Sunday it wouldn't hurt for shops to be closed Boxing day, some large chains have decided to not open to be fair to their staff this year, most staff who worked Christmas eve will have had to stay late to get everything marked up for the sales & shops like Next are opening at some ungodly hour in the morning for their sale, it is just greed.

I hated Sundays when I was a child. Sunday school and being dragged round to tea at boring relatives.

I've quite enjoyed today but can't imagine anything more ghastly than being forced into family time because nothing was open for days on end.

Hotel staff, emergency services, care home staff, pubs, restaurant workers, cleaners.... lots of people deserve tomorrow off, but they are needed.

Tiger and no care homes so people would all have to take responsibility for their elderly relatives.

@Nat6999

Yeah closing Boxing Day too is fine, but closing retail for 9-10 days is batshit. For a start, hardly ANYONE gets that amount of time off in any job (more people work it than not.) And another thing; Christmas is hugely busy for retail, and that week after Christmas is a crucial time of year for them.

Shut them down til 2nd Jan and they'd lose millions. Loads of companies have shut down this past decade; all the rest will go if they implemented a 10 day break for Christmas (for Retail workers.)

It's a batshit idea!

@ilovesooty

Oh yeah, no carers/care homes too! So people will be forced to care for their own relatives who need high-level care (for 10 days - SHOCKER!)

You are assuming that everyone a) is Christian b) celebrates Christmas C) has enough cash to take a week off at Christmas. When I worked in the service as a young un we were fighting over Christmas and New year shifts. Double time, and loads of tips.

In the service industry

I'm back in work on the 27th and I work in an office. We will be busy I think (garage)