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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that when this is all over, we should restrict Sunday trading again.

161 replies

TheoriginalLEM · 13/04/2020 09:00

Just that really. Sunday's used to be special because all but the corner shop was closed and it encouraged an actual break. Now the weekends are gone in a flash and we're back on the treadmill.

This situation is making me reflective and wanting to slow down.

OP posts:
Lipz · 13/04/2020 11:51

Gosh no. Dh depends on working Sunday's, it brings his wages up and without it we would be stuck. I have friends too who work Saturday's and Sunday's, only, after been home all week, while their Dh works Mon to Fri and they really look forward to having that time with other adults. If you don't like Sunday trading you can always just stay home and not go out.

MorrisZapp · 13/04/2020 11:51

I remember once talking to a friend about a colleague of mine who doesn't have a telly (pre internet days). I was saying god how weird etc and my friend said 'no, I think that would be lovely! I'd love to not have a telly!'.

I said well that's easy, give your telly away?

Silence.

Parker231 · 13/04/2020 11:51

Why should Sunday be treated any different from any other day of the week?

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 13/04/2020 11:54

When I moved to Germany I thought I would hate the Sunday closing laws, in practice it is fine. Cafes, restaurants, galleries, museums, cinemas are all open, also bakeries, petrol stations, shops at railway stations/airports. Just normal retail outlets are shut. The only time it is really a pain is if a public holiday falls on a Saturday because then everything is shut over two weekend days.

nellythenarwhal · 13/04/2020 11:59

I suspect that even if stores closed on a Sunday, they'd have workers come in to clean, restock etc

It's the only day that some people can shop so yabu Some people like working at weekends (eg teens with part-time jobs) and it's antiquated and unfair to deny them that chance.

I would be in favour of more "no shopping days" like Boxing Day, New Years Day and maybe August Bank Holiday but I'd want this to be all shops except pharmacies so you can get emergency medicine.

I am concerned about hospitality staff too- they are usually open when shops aren't but I don't know how this could be managed when some areas have tourists with no cooking facilities.

Astoatora54 · 13/04/2020 12:00

personally I like being able to go to the library

I'm surprised you have a library that opens on a Sunday. Ours is barely open during the week.

MintyMabel · 13/04/2020 12:09

No but they make retail workers work.

Oh boo hoo. Millions of people not in retail work on a Sunday. If you don’t want to work Sundays, do a different job.

We’ve had Sunday trading in Scotland for years. We had all these whining opinions about it before the laws were relaxed and yet the world hasn’t come to an end and nor have retail worked dropped down with exhaustion.

If you want to not shop on a Sunday, then don’t. Not you place to insist others do what you do.

Rosebel · 13/04/2020 12:17

Yes they absolutely should be shut on Sunday. Most of the large supermarkets are open 24 hours a day in the week. If you can't make it in those times it should be tough.
Everyone I know hates working Sunday.

MintyMabel · 13/04/2020 12:19

DH can't get another job after 30+ years in retail, so gets his weekend when the rest of the family is at work/school. But just so long as you lot don't have to be bored on Sunday that's ok angry

Why are your husband’s life choices any one else’s problem? Sunday trading laws were introduced in 1994. He’s had plenty of time to make the switch if he wanted to.

Tonemeth · 13/04/2020 12:19

I'm so glad I live in scotland. I hate going down to Durham or Newcastle on a weekend and not being able to go into a supermarket on the sunday. I'd take our alcohol laws over sunday trading any day.

BigChocFrenzy · 13/04/2020 12:29

YABU

Many businesses are on the verge of going broke
Some of them will gain from extra custom on Sundays and should be allowed this choice

Rosebel · 13/04/2020 12:30

Since when was not being able to get another job a life choice?

Saladaysior · 13/04/2020 12:32

The main thing coming across here is that people are not all the same. For every person who hates the idea of working Sundays there’s someone else who prefers to work then. People have already mentioned students with weekend jobs, and I also know some couples who prefer to work around each other - eg one person working a couple of evenings and a Sunday - to avoid paying for childcare. There are so many permutations to life

dontdisturbmenow · 13/04/2020 12:38

Many people are actually happy to work Sunday. DS works 9h on Sunday in a supermarket whilst doing his A levels so that he can save for a car, holiday with mates etc... Most people working on Sundays there are college students.

TexanBlueNeck · 13/04/2020 15:35

Most of the large supermarkets are open 24 hours a day in the week. If you can't make it in those times it should be tough.

So other hard working employees who don't work Mon-Fri (and provide many of the amenities and services you consume) not being able to shop easily on their day off is... Tough luck?

How about I start a campaign to Keep Daytime Special, because the time I want to shop most is after a night shift ends at 2am? So, let's say any big shop can't open between 9am and 7pm.

Wouldn't bother me, logistically, those restrictions. You can shop with me at 3am, and if you don't like it, tough.

But,hmmm... Maybe, just maybe,my own preference shouldn't be forced on others legally..? There's a novel idea.

FlamingoAndJohn · 13/04/2020 17:01

You’d have to close MN too then on a Sunday, because obviously it’s not fair if their staff have to work on Sunday.

You start to get towards the Jewish Sabbath.
No turning on the lights because that means the people at the electricity stations have to work etc.

When I moved to Germany I thought I would hate the Sunday closing laws, in practice it is fine. Cafes, restaurants, galleries, museums, cinemas are all open, also bakeries, petrol stations, shops at railway stations/airports. Just normal retail outlets are shut.

So very few extra people getting the day off then.

If it was suddenly decided to stop regular retail stores opening on Sunday then it would result in the loss of a lot of jobs.

cologne4711 · 13/04/2020 17:04

We’ve had Sunday trading in Scotland for years. We had all these whining opinions about it before the laws were relaxed and yet the world hasn’t come to an end and nor have retail worked dropped down with exhaustion

I suppose this isn't a good time to point out that it was the SNP who kyboshed a relaxing of the rules in England?

cologne4711 · 13/04/2020 17:05

I'm so glad I live in scotland. I hate going down to Durham or Newcastle on a weekend and not being able to go into a supermarket on the sunday. I'd take our alcohol laws over sunday trading any day

Supermarkets ARE open in Durham and Newcastle on a Sunday! Just not yesterday as it was Easter Sunday.

LonelyFromCorona · 13/04/2020 17:14

No just no.

Have a lazy Sunday if you wish.

Retail staff often get extra pay for Sundays although that has eroded a lot over the last couple of decades. And often it's teens or people who are happy to work then as it suits their lifestyle. In worst case there usually rotas so even those who hate working Sundays won't have to work everyone. And if they do I suggest they look at other retail jobs and find one that doesn't specify working every Sunday.

When I was a teen I worked John Lewis alternating Saturday and Sundays. There were other part time staff who had willingly contracted to work every Sunday. The more general full time staff were on rota and unless they wanted to weren't expected to work more than half of the Sundays of the year.

Rosebel · 13/04/2020 17:18

You can shop before or after work because the shop is open 24 hours. It's not essential to go on your day off. They are open 24 hours to cater for shift workers so no need to be open Sunday too.

Parker231 · 13/04/2020 17:20

Why does anyone think shops should be closed on a Sunday? There is nothing different from a Sunday to a Tuesday or Thursday.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 13/04/2020 17:22

It’s not compulsory to shop. Be as lazy as you like- aiming to hinder the economy and people’s freedom even further is a frankly crap idea!

maggiecate · 13/04/2020 17:24

I much preferred working weekends - means you don’t have to take time off for routine appointments, can get your shopping done when it’s quiet etc. I’m M-F now and have to use much more annual leave for stuff that I used to be able to schedule for my days off.

BelfastNonBlonde · 13/04/2020 17:27

No. YABU.
We have somewhat restricted Sunday trading in NI and it’s a dose.

If you don’t want to go shopping on a Sunday, don’t..

but sometimes you need to and can’t. Pain in the hole.

PicsInRed · 13/04/2020 17:29

No but they make retail workers work.

Which, as a student, meant I had income. 🤷‍♀️