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Original poster

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

142 replies

MindYours · 25/12/2019 21:30

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?

OP posts:
Misscromwellrocks · 26/12/2019 08:44

2nd January is a bit far, but definitely the shops should close for a couple of days after Christmas. But no doubt as I write people are rushing to their nearest shopping centre to buy more stuff in the sales.

CakeAndGin · 26/12/2019 09:02

But emergency staff, carers etc are needed. That's the difference. Do you really need to go shopping today? Do you really need to go to the pub or café today? You can't compare retail with essential jobs because it's not the same.

and if you can't be with your family for 2 days take a walk.

But where are people going to walk to if nobody needs to go to the pub or cafe today? Many people will go to a place with facilities, toilets and the provision to get a drink. Some places, the toilets are in the cafe or the pub. Personally, if I need to use the toilet when on a walk, I will buy something from that establishment because it’s not a public toilet. Even if public toilets are at every park someone needs to make sure the toilet roll is stocked, the pipes haven’t frozen and caused a burst, they are clean and useable.

nowaypose · 26/12/2019 09:20

A fair few businesses do close usually from the last working day before Christmas Eve until the 2nd of January. My DH is an engineer and his company does this, it’s fairly common within the construction industry because no one is building homes or swimming pools over Christmas. I teach so automatically have it off which is great but I chose that profession, people don’t have to work in retail if they don’t want to although I appreciate finding a new job and retraining can be tough.

Having said that, I’ve always found Boxing Day sales ridiculous. You spend hundreds in the lead up to Christmas on gifts, presents and possibly decorations only to then be asked to spend more after Christmas too. No thanks.

PineappleDanish · 26/12/2019 09:27

This is just ridiculous. Nobody wants to stockpile enough food to last well into the new year.

If you don't want to go to the shops today then don't. I won't be. But I probably will need to get milk tomorrow from the local shop and will want to do a supermarket shop before New Year .

I am another one who worked in retail as a student (Debenhams) and took all the hours they could give me during the Christmas break from Uni. Also there aren't that many offices which will be closed completely until the New Year, it's less it's a one man and his dog type office with only a very local customer base.

Sunnybythesea7419 · 26/12/2019 09:29

What about all other jobs who work 24x7x365 !

We celebrate Xmas on another day instead

ememem84 · 26/12/2019 09:36

Where I am shops have just been allowed to open on a Sunday. Cue loads of people saying “poor retail workers they need a break it means they can’t go for Sunday lunch out with their families” the sensible noted that if shops remain shut bars restaurants hotels still open to accommodate Sunday lunchers. Emergency services remain open. Nurses and doctors in hospitals continue to work. So it’s always about the retail staff but what about the rest?!

SilentTights · 26/12/2019 09:50

I think this thread is a perfect example of how grumpy people get after just one day... a week would probably send the murder rate through the roof!

Nat6999 · 26/12/2019 11:16

Next sale has been online since Christmas Eve, much more civilised to buy online, no queues, no fighting to get what you want, doing your sales shopping at home with cuppa. I can remember when all shops used to have half day closing during the week, ours was Thursday afternoon, my dad worked in a local family run department store when I was young, my mum always said that if it hadn't have been for half day closing we wouldn't have had my younger brother.

yellowallpaper · 26/12/2019 11:22

I'm sure the employees wouldn't be happy if their shops closed down for lack of sales. This time of year is very important financially

ScreamingValalalalahLalalalah · 26/12/2019 11:24

Yes to closing on Boxing Day. No to closing between Boxing Day and New Year - most people have to go to work for at least some of those days, if not all.

Juliette20 · 26/12/2019 11:26

Surely retail workers do get a break anyway? Even if a shop is open 24/7 it doesn't mean that they work 24/7. Most work between 7 and 40 hours a week as in any other job.

adaline · 26/12/2019 11:28

I'm sure the employees wouldn't be happy if their shops closed down for lack of sales. This time of year is very important financially

Yep, though that's often ignored on threads like this!

The Christmas sales bring in masses of trade for lots of places. Trade that's needed to support them through the quieter months like November and February. Lots of places couldn't survive without the money they bring in on Boxing Day.

BlaueLagune · 26/12/2019 11:28

I think the OP is assuming everyone wants to be at home with their families for 10 days. I'm not sure the majority do! A few days, maybe. But not well over a week.

Dozer · 26/12/2019 11:30

What about other services, hospitality, catering, transport?

FenellaMaxwell · 26/12/2019 11:32

They’re not volunteers, though, are they? They get paid, and get BH pay for today so 🤷‍♀️

SentimentalKiller · 26/12/2019 11:33

Are you aware that not everyone is Christian and not everyone celebrates Christmas yet you want the world to stop operating for those that are HmmBiscuit

gh621 · 26/12/2019 11:58

@FenellaMaxwell what’s BH pay?

ememem84 · 26/12/2019 12:08

I’ve actually just had to go out to the shop. Dh has a bit of what we think is conjunctivitis. I popped to boots (as he can’t really see properly out of the eye so can’t drive) to pick him up some stuff for it.

It was absolutely dead. But nice it was open. I also took advantage of it opening to pick up an order which had been delivered.

I did say to the pharmacist I hope they’d have a quiet day - she said it made a change from people saying “oh it’s such a shame the shops open today....”

squeekums · 26/12/2019 12:16

Ok yep close shops even longer and I'd just shop more online. Simple

I've worked retail, I'd happily work boxing day or any public holiday yet the state I'm in says nah shops must close even if the rest of country is open. Guess what, bricks and morter is DYING in our state cos we all go bugger it, I'm shopping online. Longer closes ain't wanted. Us workers want the work, people wanna shop

KateK00 · 26/12/2019 12:43

I think those comparing the incredible people that work in emergency services to the people that work in retail are missing the point. Emergency services are always needed and those in that line of work know that. Retail and even hospitality is not essential in the slightest and we should be able to cope if these places are closed for at least Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I work in retail and we don’t open again until 28th December and we do just fine so I don’t think all shops rely on Boxing Day sales.

Emeraldshamrock · 26/12/2019 12:44

BH pay. Bank holiday pay usually double time.

adaline · 26/12/2019 12:57

I work in retail and we don’t open again until 28th December and we do just fine so I don’t think all shops rely on Boxing Day sales

No, but some absolutely do rely on them.

Our Winter Sale is the biggest trading event of the year and Boxing Day is one of the busiest days in the calendar. We make 10x more money on Boxing Day than we do any other day of the year, and that's taking into account refunds and exchanges.

Closing on that day would be financial suicide for us. It carries us through the quiet months of February and November when we barely make anything.

Unihorn · 26/12/2019 13:01

Emeraldshamrock most restaurant workers don't get any extra pay (they certainly don't in any I know) on bank holidays.

9ofpentangles · 26/12/2019 13:07

I have worked in retail for years and, while I agree being shut til 2nd Jan is a bit much, the hours in retail have got worse and worse.

Sunday pay used to be double time and now it's just a normal day.

You didn't used to have to make Christmas hours up and now you do.

Shops are open later and later, with some operating 24/7 even when shut.

Customers have got more and more demanding with our 24/7 culture and want what they want and now and aren't aleays nice about it either.

You don't get 2 days off in a row every week - the law states that you only need 48 hours per fortnight.

Staff are expected to work the busiest shifts eg Thursday to Sunday and it's blooming tiring - especially in 4-6 week run up to Xmas. You do need more than a day off.

I am surprised at the comparison with the emergency services. They are saving lives. The shops are not.

Everyone I know has got very sick. Managers aren't particularly sympathetic to this - nor are they in the need for work life balance though they see themselves right

FenellaMaxwell · 26/12/2019 13:07

@gh621 Bank Holiday pay - time and a half or double time

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