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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be thinking about Easter Sunday shopping laws

152 replies

JellyfishandShells · 09/04/2020 09:08

DH and I were just discussing our food options for the next week. We have no problems in getting what we need (SW London) - supermarkets well stocked around here and we are very flexible about when we can shop.

Just checked and the usual Easter Sunday closure is on the timetables of all our local stores. It’s an anomaly, a concession given to the anti campaign in the 80s, when Sunday opening was first allowed. The reason given was that staff and customers would be able to go to church on an important day in the religious calendar.

Not religious myself, and not bringing this up as a general discussion point, but at this time I think an exception could be considered. It is going to increase the number of people who are still working a traditional week, either from home or physically there , having to do their shopping on Friday or Saturday. The queues on those days will be proportionately longer. Stores have taken on a lot of new staff, on flexible contracts, so could surely cover the hours.

OP posts:
ConstantlySeekingHappiness · 09/04/2020 10:01

Easter is actually the most significant religious holiday of the year, much more so than Christmas.

This!

Just because some people aren’t religious doesn’t mean a religious holiday shouldn’t be observed.

Easter isn’t all about chocolate eggs and treasure hunts.

AvalancheKit · 09/04/2020 10:01

What is so special about Sunday?

Barbecues?
Family get together?
Picnic in the park?

It might as well be like Tuesday 21 October.

AriadnesFilament · 09/04/2020 10:02

As in, considered to have the same significance as, I mean.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 09/04/2020 10:03

'Do you not think the staff working in supermarkets deserve Easter Sunday off?!:

But they have rotas so still get time off, like NHS workers infact.

They should be open as NHS staff and other key workers working shifts still need their shopping particularly at the moment when they'll be working extra.

I've no idea how Scotland's shops are open and England's aren't. It's outdated and needs changing.

LondonJax · 09/04/2020 10:03

@AvalancheKit - unless, of course, you celebrate Christian festivals in which case Sunday is the most important day in the calendar. As someone already said, most churches are doing virtual services where you can dial in.

knittingaddict · 09/04/2020 10:04

I'm happy that the shop employees will be getting a day off, or at least most of them will.

They are doing amazingly in a job that I would absolutely hate to do right now. They must be so stressed.

Local convenience stores will be open if you really must shop. It's a shame that they can't close too. They deserve it.

Soontobe60 · 09/04/2020 10:04

Easter Sunday isn't a bank holiday as such, as those days are usually on a week day. It's a religious holiday, as is Christmas Day.

Etcni · 09/04/2020 10:06

Christian shop workers won't have stopped wanting to celebrate the resurrection just because they're so busy, and anecdotally, a lot more people are showing openness to faith because of all the fear and uncertainty. (and there's still church services accessible, streamed online or broadcast by the BBC, which many prefer to celebrate on Sundays in order to retain a sense of normality)

strawberry2017 · 09/04/2020 10:07

Shops and supermarkets close every Easter Sunday and Christmas, 2 of the most important days on the Christian calendar, I'm not religious but I respect this and don't see any problem with it at all.

Sennetti · 09/04/2020 10:11

@GetOffYourHighHorse

No don’t be ridiculous!!

You still need a manager in,cleaners,experienced staff,nobody gets a bloody break ‘rota’ or otherwise!!

Nhs staff can buy extra to cover the day off when they Shop today,tomorrow or whenever!

sweeneytoddsrazor · 09/04/2020 10:11

Supermarkets are closed for 2 days a year. If people cant manage to miss 2 days out of 365 then they are doing something wrong

teraculum29 · 09/04/2020 10:12

It's one Sunday,, staff should have day off.
And also Easter Sunday have normal pay rate, not like bank holiday or Christmas Day.(Most workplaces)
So if anyone one would like to earn extra over Easter period should work on Good Friday or Easter Monday.

onanothertrain · 09/04/2020 10:15

Sennetti I doubt all supermarket workers are working 7 days per week. Are they?

Doyoumind · 09/04/2020 10:16

Surely we can manage one day without the shops open.

Appuskidu · 09/04/2020 10:17

I’d rather the staff got the day off.

Vaki · 09/04/2020 10:20

My son will still be at work voluntarily easter sunday as will many staff in the shop he works.

This allows them to offer delivery slots to the vunerable, catch up on all the jobs that have been left recently and have a deep clean.
Sunday trading hours should stay imo, while it doesn't look like much of a difference, those few hours they re closed on a sunday, a lot of work occurs that can't when they're open

Sennetti · 09/04/2020 10:21

@onanothertrain

No but it means they get an EXTRA day off!!
Which will be much needed

As all annual leave is cancelled so nobody can actually book any time off to recover

Deathraystare · 09/04/2020 10:23

It's not like most people will be having the usual Easter lunch surrounded by family

Indeed plus Ramadam is starting on 23rd. Which is a time I would imagine people normally get together as well.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 09/04/2020 10:24

Easter is actually the most significant religious holiday of the year

yes, for Christians. Most people in the UK are not Christian.

I see your point, OP. It's safer to avoid shoppers 'bunching up' and spreading out visits as much as possible.

I also think the staff could use a day off, and I think some of them have been really badly treated, not given the protection they should, been exposed to bad behaviour and horrible working conditions.

To be honest, I think Easter Sunday off or not is not really enough - we should be considering how to treat all staff much better all year round.

MamaBearOnLockdown · 09/04/2020 10:26

Nhs staff can buy extra to cover the day off when they Shop today,tomorrow or whenever!

can they now Hmm
or maybe they should take Easter Sunday off too, because it's only fair after all. And of all the people who do NEED a day off, NHS is first on the list

Tunnocksmallow · 09/04/2020 10:28

I work in retail. My store is closed to trading on Sunday, but we have been told we still have to go in to work, as the store needs re-stocking, tidying, cleaning, databases put right. So no, we can’t even have Easter Sunday with our families.

onanothertrain · 09/04/2020 10:29

Sennetti I don't disagree. However that's not what you implied when you said a PP was ridiculous for suggesting supermarket workers would be rostered days off like NHS staff.

AmelieTaylor · 09/04/2020 10:29

I love that Waitrose closes of their own accord.

It's apparently busy there today though.

I don't know what is best to do this year. I don't know if some staff would have been happy for the extra shifts or if they'd all have been happier to stay home. I suppose, as with anything, there's a mix of opinions amongst the retail staff.

There are valid arguments for closing & opening

I wish no one had to work during this & everyone could stay home, staying safe & keeping others safe. But unfortunately it's not possible, so I just hope the most vulnerable staff are being taken very good care of and that all the others have good protection.

All stupid wankers should be removed from the shop & banned.

Sunday trading in general. There are arguments for both opening & closing. It's all very well saying all shops should be closed so people can spend it with their families,but lots of families count on one person being able to work while the other person is home to look after the kids with no childcare costs.
Sometimes we most harm the people we are trying to protect by assuming what is best for them!

GetOffYourHighHorse · 09/04/2020 10:29

'No don’t be ridiculous!! You still need a manager in,cleaners,experienced staff,nobody gets a bloody break ‘rota’ or otherwise!!'

I'm more bothered about key workers getting their shopping. The smaller shops like Tescos express are open, so all supermarkets should do what the smaller versions manage to do perfectly well.

Please tell me what is the difference between an open Tesco express (that people may not have locally), or a closed Tesco extra? Barring the size obviously. I'm sure they both have 'experienced staff, cleaners and managers' that work there.

Larger supermarkets in England being closed on Easter Sunday is an outdated rule that should be changed.

MorganKitten · 09/04/2020 10:31

*Di you not think the staff working in supermarkets deserve Easter Sunday off?

I already addressed that by noting the recent recruitment of many extra staff. And why Easter Sunday more than other Bank Holidays ? People can’t get together with wider family groups this year.*

You still think that justifies not giving them time off.
They can skype family, join online worship groups and have a rest as I’m sure you could volunteer to run the store that day.