To be thinking about Easter Sunday shopping laws

[JellyfishandShells]

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.

'Yes, I think the shop workers need a break after all. You can always order online anyway..'

Can you?!

Again, what is the difference between Tesco Express that will be open and Tesco Extra that will be closed? Don't the express staff 'need a break' or is in it fact down to ancient laws that need changing. Shop staff, like NHS and other emergency key workers work rotas. They are not forced to work 7days a week 24hours a day.

Why are Scotland's supermarkets open on Easter Sunday, don't their staff count?

I work in a shop
I haven't had a day of in three weeks due to covid
I need easter Sunday, its my last one for at least another three weeks 😩 - my kids miss me and id like one day when im not at risk for minimum wage

but god supermarket staff need a day off - what they're dealing with is insane

So do all the other key workers out there keeping us safe. It is possible to give them a day off without shutting stores. This was exactly the argument they made when it was first proposed changing the trading laws in Scotland. Guess what, people still get days off.

And no i wasn't forced but its been made very clear that those who don't work will get the sack... politely put of course

I think shops should be closed for the whole weekend or even all 4 days but they can't because far too many idiots would have to rush to buy enough food for about a month.

I'm currently in a queue for M&S that is 4 or 5 times longer than this time last week. Definite knock on effect.

Given that many shopworkers ATM, are working flat out and risking their health every hour they are in store, I think they deserve a day off TBH! I have been shopping today (South Coast) and our local Sainsburys had eggs and flour.Not too long a wait to get in either .Turned up about 8.30 expecting a long queue ,as I thought they were opening at 9.00 am! (Is it me or do shops keep changing their opening times ATM?)

I think it is rather nice workers often get Easter Sunday off (other than priests and doctors etc). My son who delivers groceries for a living has Easter Sunday off. Even though a lot of people will not be celebrating Easter Sunday as a religious holiday it is good we can have some shared experiences - same bank holidays etc

You're son delivers groceries? I've never heard you say that before?

Glad I'm in Scotland where I have the option to work Sunday.

I think shops should be closed for the whole weekend or even all 4 days

because key workers don't need to eat do they?
Non-key workers are also at work and unable to shop during the week, but they need food even less.

If you cannot cope with the store being closed for one day then there is a serious problem.

... there IS a serious problem! That's the whole point!
There's already not enough capacity for everybody, shutting things down for a day at the moment is not going to improve that.

Our company is delivering on Easter Sunday for the first time ever, to support the need for more deliveries for the vulnerable (and the lazy buggers who have ordered a shit show of beer for their bbqs [hmn] ).
So people will also be working to pick their groceries for them, despite the actual store being closed.

'there IS a serious problem! That's the whole point!'

It's staggering isn't it. A pp reckons you can order online! Where?

In these trying times where the rule book has been chucked out the window some think NHS workers should just organise their shopping trips more efficiently.

If the government is stepping in and paying furloughed staff's wages I really think they could instruct that supermarkets open on Easter Sunday.

I work in retail. I find it amazing that people can possibly still need to shop given how frequently I see the same faces over and over again, day in, day out.

This is entirely correct @vanillandhoney, there are no extra days off.

It begs the question : Do we really need Sunday trading at all?
People used to manage without it.
I am not at all religious but everyone deserves a break.

'but everyone deserves a break.'

Of course they do, no one is suggesting anyone work every single day without a break.

Tell you what, after the lockdown let's have all pubs, restaurants cinema etc all closed on a Sunday. We could call it lockdown Sunday so all workers get a break. Or don't cinema and restaurant staff matter?

Alternatively we could accept people should be allowed to shop as well as go to restaurants and pubs.

@MamaBearOnLockdown

Nhs staff are not on furlough. There may not be enough of them to start with,that’s a different thread, but our skeleton staff is now cut down to the bone.....majority on furlough meaning we are worked in to the ground

Not sure how food retail workers are.

@clareOclareO why do you think on Christmas Day shops should be closed but not Easter Sunday?

I need to shop later today-shops are closed tomorrow, Sun & Mon, so like a lot of people I don't want to shop again Saturday but to get enough until Tues.

Might be tricky atm though!

@Tunnocksmallow it's a shame they don't ask first, let the ones who want to work go in, but I guess the logistics would be a nightmare.

Thank you for being part of the 'other essential suppliers still opening. I know lots if people will be ordering somewhat frivolous things, but it's good to know you're there for any plumbing or other type of emergencies that might happen!!

I'm sorry you have to work when you'd rather be home with your family x

I bet there will be a significant minority of people who don’t even realise that it’s Easter this Sunday. The date shifts each year and I have spoken to some vulnerable parents this week who didn’t even realise that the school holidays had started.

I think these are exceptional times. Lots of people are saying that supermarket staff deserve the day off, but supermarket workers will have other days off in the week - they would be losing an additional day off which they could be given in lieu down the line.

With regards to Sunday trading laws in general, they are an absolute joke. The government have tried to change them in England, but this has been blocked by Scottish MPs.

When I was a teenager I worked in a supermarket at the weekend, the only time I could. I could’ve done with more hours on a Sunday but the option wasn’t there. I am baffled by people romanticising the inconvenience of the shops being open only a few hours on Sundays - changing the laws would boost the economy, provide jobs and allow people more flexibility. If you’d prefer not to use the shops on Sundays that’s entirely your prerogative, but I don’t understand why you’d deny other people the right to.

Strange that Germany one of the strongest economies in Europe manages just fine with almost all shops shut every single sunday; there is little culture of presenteeism in business and working hours are on average 2 hours shorter but week but 14% more productive
shops are not allowed to be open later than 10pm or open really early,
maybe it is just better for everyone's mental and physical health to be able to shut off work, staying late at work in Germany is frowned on as it is in Scandanvia it it seen to mean you are not efficient or the management have overloaded you not that you are a super keen employee, on the other hand you are not expected to chat, facebook browse the web etc during working hours

It begs the question: Do we really need Sunday trading at all?
People used to manage without it

I totally agree with this. There was no weekend trading at all when I was a kid. Before you all rush in with your arguments as to why we need shops to be open at the weekend, I actually think the whole work culture needs to be looked at. People work stupid hours now and there is precious little time to spend with family & friends - often because they are working equally stupid hours. Sport has suffered because people are working at weekends etc. - the whole thing is nuts. I agree with @TeacupDrama

I have not had a sunday off in a long time and I'm looking forward to have a nice sunday off to spend with my family. Stop being selfish. Shops only close 2 days of the year.....