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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

63 replies

Hollyoakswatcher · 11/12/2020 18:36

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)

OP posts:
Insertfunnyname · 12/12/2020 08:32

Loads of careers work unsocial hours. Doctors, nurses, bus drivers, anyone working in an airport etc etc.

We can’t run the world and business decisions around the fact that people who have chosen a career involving antisocial hours not wanting to work antisocial hours!!

Dyrne · 12/12/2020 08:33

@nosswith

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.
Ridiculous. Often the people you see shopping in the middle of the night at the 24 hour stores are people just coming off shift work.
myusernamewastakenbyme · 12/12/2020 08:34

Next is one of the worst offenders....who in their right mind goes clothes shopping on Boxing Day.

HoboSexualOnslow · 12/12/2020 08:36

I used to love working boxing day, I got double time and we only had to work for 4 hours.

SweetFelicityArkright · 12/12/2020 08:46

I'm kind of on the fence about this, essential work obviously has to continue, people don't stop being ill or vulnerable or needing care, and we don't stop needing utilities etc, and honestly sometimes I'm working that much in the run up to Christmas that I need a shop Boxing Day for milk or bread or something because I haven't had enough time and mental energy to think that far ahead.
Hospitality is a very similar job in terms of work, pay and conditions and they often work harder and longer on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve, and in all but one place I worked, for no extra pay too. There'd be uproar if the pubs (tier 3 notwithstanding) closed Boxing Day, it's a huge drinking day at least around here. And they'd be shooting themselves in the foot business wise too after this year.
So while it's a nice idea, I don't think retail staff are a special case, it's nice the shops that have chosen to do it have, for this year.
Maybe everyone who traditionally works the Christmas period should have it off this year and everyone who traditionally doesn't should take their place? 😁 Joke

NailsNeedDoing · 12/12/2020 08:55

I like the shops being open on Boxing Day. Christmas Day is hard for a lot of people, I know I appreciated being able to shop and meet friends in town on Boxing Day a couple of times.

It’s not the shops being open that’s the problem, it’s the way they open. There’s no need for them to open early or open while advertising amazing sales to encourage extra people to turn up with bargain mentality.

I think it’s worth remembering that plenty of people don’t celebrate Christmas, and plenty of people have to work at times they’d prefer not to at times of the year other than Christmas. Retail staff usually have the benefit of being able to choose when they take their leave the rest of the year, I don’t see why Boxing Day is held up as being so important.

redkiteflying · 12/12/2020 09:06

I worked in retail over Xmas a couple of years and agree shoos should close.
No extra pay for us at all (not a supermarket), totally non-essential stuff in our shop!
I had to work til 11pm Xmas eve as we closed at 9.30 for lastminute shoppers and then up at 5am on Boxing Day to be in for 6.45 (and public transport on Boxing Day is not reliable so was always a panic) to prepare all the sales stuff before opening at 8.30.
Only ever had 20-30 customers each Boxing Day and vast majority didn't buy anything, so can't see that it was a big money-spinner for the business.
Every single customer said how awful it was that we had to work Boxing Day, was very hard to bite my tongue.
So arguments that it's extra pay or good for the business weren't true in my case

redkiteflying · 12/12/2020 09:08

Also, I couldn't choose my holidays - was in retail 5 years and never could

LuckyNumberThirteen · 12/12/2020 09:08

I'm too busy drinking to go shopping on Boxing Day.

DontStopThinkingAboutTomorrow · 12/12/2020 09:12

I think all shops and non essential places should shut on Boxing Day (as well as Easter Sunday and Monday). I have never been shopping on Boxing Day, but as long as people do, the shops will open.

WillSantaBeComingToTown · 12/12/2020 09:14

I dont think there is any doubt that less shop will be open next Boxing Day

whichwallywhere · 12/12/2020 09:17

I think shops should close then and on all bank holidays.

GlacindaTheTroll · 12/12/2020 09:18

The Boxing Day sales used to be the January Sales.

I think people deserve a proper break - especially as the covid Christmas concession is over a specified few days (so the usual swaps of 'you do Christmas, I'll have NY and we'll swap next year' don't work.

Much appreciation to the key workers who have to work or are on call, because their services have to be there.

But retail isn't one of them. Having 2 days completely closed isn't going remove a vital service.

MrsKJones · 12/12/2020 09:20

I would happily see all shops shut on boxing day - but i would like to see an end to the 'archaic' Sunday trading hours. No reason shops have to close by 4/5pm. The world isn't 9-5 anymore and Sunday is not a national day of rest any longer

Scarby9 · 12/12/2020 09:21

I am old enough to remember when all the big shops were closed Christmas day and Boxing day. Then more and more started opening on Boxing day until only John Lewis was shut.
That went on for a few years and people used to say it was because JL was owned by its staff and they looked after the staff and so it would never open on Boxing day.
And then it did.

CoronaIsWatching · 12/12/2020 09:23

Why is everyone bothered about boxing day, I'd prefer xmas eve off

CoronaIsWatching · 12/12/2020 09:23

Back in the olden days you were lucky if you got xmas day off nevermind boxing day

Kpo58 · 12/12/2020 09:28

I wonder if those who were forced to have Christmas day on their own, not through choice are thinking "Oh goody another day stuck on my own" if everything is closed on boxing Day.

notimagain · 12/12/2020 09:28

Hence the words "Not involved in an essential job"

..and that begs the question what in reality constitutes "an essential job?,

For life in general to carry on and things like travel to continue over the festive period the list of "essential jobs" extends way way beyond the emergency services and the utilities......

LakieLady · 12/12/2020 09:29

@whichwallywhere

I think shops should close then and on all bank holidays.
I agree. I don't think any non-essential staff should have to work on public holidays. The clue's in the name - it's a holiday, for the public.

Mind you, I wouldn't care if shops were only open from 9-6, Mon-Sat, like they used to be. And they could have a half-day on a Wednesday, too, like they did when I was a kid!

When I moved from London to a small rural town in the early 90s, a few of the independent shops still had half-day closing in the middle of the week. It was like stepping back in time ...

NoPointInWednesdays · 12/12/2020 09:29

If that is the case then the call centres for these places should close too but can guarantee that’s not going to happen because although you could wait 1 day to call them, 9/10 people either try the call centre numbers on Xmas day or first thing on Boxing Day. Those people deserve it too. And for those saying “ you chose a career in retail “ I’m glad you have been so lucky in life that you have never had to take what ever job you can get to pay your mortgage and put food in your children’s mouth. HTH! Xmas Angry

emilybrontescorsett · 12/12/2020 09:32

I agree op.

Bajalaluna · 12/12/2020 09:44

I work in retail, and not only are we open Boxing Day, it's just been sprung on us that our opening hours are changing to 24hrs from Monday... Staff are feeling bullied into working overnight, and then expected to work those shifts on top of their normal hours in the day if they can't get them covered! Which leaves others who are unable to work the nights, then feeling guilty and again being bullied into picking up extra day shifts that really don't fit in with their family commitments. All of us being praised for "coming together as a team" as if we have a bloody choice... I will barely see my young children in the run up to Xmas because of this, it's completely unfair and unnecessary, especially after the hell that has been working in a supermarket this year. Opening for 24hrs the week before Xmas, should really warrant us being shut Boxing Day, not having to work, for no extra pay! As usual... Profits before people though. Glad OP and others on here can see how unnecessary and unfair this is. If supermarkets/retail choose to open Boxing Day, there should at least be an incentive for the staff, such as double pay, and it should be entirely optional.

Rosebel · 12/12/2020 10:34

Most of the staff where I work haven't had a holiday since April unless they can get someone to cover. And lots of people get to choose when they go on holidays, why can't retail staff?
The only exception is we can't book holiday between 12th of December and 12th January. So we really do need a break.
If people want to work Christmas day they can choose a job where they work Christmas day

StoneofDestiny · 12/12/2020 10:55

On line shopping means shops are never really shut anyway - no need to force people to work Boxing Day.

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