To hope that the shops closed on Boxing Day continue this in future years

[Hollyoakswatcher]

I think it’s great that some shops have decided to close on Boxing Day. It’s definitely been getting worse over the years with many shops opening at 6am for Boxing Day sales and I’ve always thought it’s unfair on the staff.

I worked in retail for a couple of years and it’s the hardest job I’ve ever done in terms of the physical nature of the work and then the customers. I think they deserve a lot more than just one day off over the Xmas period.

AIBU to hope that this doesn’t just happen for this one year and that other shops may follow suit.

(I do think that it’s unlikely)

I agree! Wont happen, and no, I never shop on Boxing Day (online or high street or supermarket).

I see these threads every year, but still enough people go to make it worth the shops opening...

Ignore the 25% of selfish arseholes who can't manage without shops for 2 days.

We really don't need any shops to be open on Boxing Day.

Yes, well, some people never get time off over Christmas and new year, thinking here of the emergency services and many other workers who keep the lights on, the water running, etc etc. Boxing day sales are a source of huge revenue for hard hit shops. Good luck to them, and I hope they make lots of money in this totally shit year. People who don't want to work on bank holidays should chose jobs that don't require them to. Over my working life I worked nearly every bank holiday. I usually got paid extra, so was quite happy to work. I think you sound a bit naive tbh.

Aren’t shop workers paid by their shifts, so aren’t you just limiting their earning potential?
Boxing Day sales aren’t even a thing anymore, Black Friday is far more hellish

@Reedwarbler there is a massive difference between emergency services/care workers and retail staff. If care is not provided there is a risk of death. I’ve never heard of anyone dying because they couldn’t get to the Boxing Day sales. People’s money and the stock will still be there on the 27th.

I think you are the naive one to think that people can just choose not to work in retail. Has this year taught you nothing of how valuable these people are?

Agreed!

Where I live, sales don't start until January which is far more relaxing so lots of shops don't open. It is really depressing to buy Christmas presents and see them discounted a day later.

It depends on ahop workers. I know some 2ould like taht shift, but in general, I am with you.

However, I am now so not looking forward to my last "fresh stuff" shop🙄 People shop every year like shops should be closed for a week. Now they will double panic!

@Hollyoakswatcher of course people can chose not to work in retail, and what has that got to do with their so called value?

Ignore the 25% of selfish arseholes who can't manage without shops for 2 days.

Bloody hell, talk about over the top.

Agreed - shops open late and 7 days a week - those who work in them deserve a proper Christmas break.

I haven't chosen to work in retail but to feed my children and help keep a roof over their heads. There aren't many jobs around unfortunately so take what you can get.
There's no need for shops to open on Boxing day, I don't know anyone who goes shopping on Boxing day
Retail staff might be happier working if they got paid extra by certainly in all supermarkets it's normal pay for Boxing day which is shocking really.
I'd love the shops to be shut for a week like they used to be. My mum remembers shops being shut for a week and that was before people had freezers so no excuse for it now.

Yes please keep them closed! Let people have longer off at Christmas.

As long as everybody else not involved in an essential job gets to have boxing day off as well then fair enough.

YANBU. I’ve never shopped then- or in the days afterwards- it’s family time!

I used to work in retail. Hours on my feet- agony. Having had a bad episiotomy that is still painful years later I would now be physically incapable of standing for work for many hours. As the majority of retail workers are women, I wonder how many others suffer with this.

YANBU I hope it continues

Completely false comparison to emergency services/nhs/care workers. You can’t just close hospitals, care homes etc or hope that nobody needs to call 999. Whereas everyone will be absolutely fine not being able to go shopping for two days.

As long as everybody else not involved in an essential job gets to have boxing day off as well then fair enough

It’s not essential to shop. It’s essential to have urgent medical treatment, keep prisoners in jail, get fired put out and get the police if needed. Retail shopping and ‘essential’ work are not comparable. The shops are open long enough already

Where I work they shut Easter Sunday and Christmas Day (shut Boxing day this year). They open at 6am and shut at midnight 5 days a week, Saturday shut at 10pm and then Sunday hours. No one has a reason to have to shop on Boxing day when they are open so long the rest of the year.
It's pretty selfish to make others work just because you can't live without the shops for 2 days.
Obviously essential workers do work rubbish hours and over Christmas but retail is not essential in the way other jobs are.

@StoneofDestiny

As long as everybody else not involved in an essential job gets to have boxing day off as well then fair enough

It’s not essential to shop. It’s essential to have urgent medical treatment, keep prisoners in jail, get fired put out and get the police if needed. Retail shopping and ‘essential’ work are not comparable. The shops are open long enough already

Hence the words "Not involved in an essential job". It's not essential to go to the cinema, NT properties and all the other places some like to go to on Boxing day (not just shops), yet nobody is demanding that those places stay shut are they?

The National Trust properties are only open part of the year anyway and mainly staffed by volunteers. But yes, not essential.
Cinemas - agreed, not essential.

It's about time we allowed workers free time with their family - getting more essential given the retirement age is set to rise again.
Shops used to be shut every single Sunday and we coped. It was unheard of to have supermarkets open 6 am to midnight - and we coped.

agree OP. relative worked in retail. She.got finished late on christmas.Eve.and.had.to be.up at.the crack.of.dawn on Boxing day. How can you really enjoy your Christmas if you're.up at 5am on boxing day?

Yanbu but they will be open boxing day next year. Short memories and the ring of the till .

To be honest I’d rather work for Morrison’s, who are offering double pay for working on Boxing Day, than Asda, who are getting all the praise for closing on Boxing Day but who are forcing staff to use a day of their Annual leave entitlement. That could completely fuck with your childcare schedule.

Other than food shops on limited hours, I would like everything else shut on Boxing Day. Those who want shops open longer or all hours are often people who never work weekends or even evenings.