AIBU to not want shops open boxing day

[Moomoo75]

So basically I work in retail and have to work the sale on boxing day. AIBU to not want to work on this day to want to spend spend it with my family. With the surge in covid no.s etc is a sale the day after Christmas really necessary? 😪

I agree - no reason for shops to be open on Boxing Day. We already have extremely long hours where shops are open and we have on line shopping. Retail workers should have a break.

@ThatNameAgainItsMrPlow

I thought shops were only open for a couple of hours in England on Sundays anyway.

No. Sunday Trading only applies to stores over a certain size - mainly superstores. It doesn't apply to the vast majority of other retail shops, nor does it apply to places like Tesco Express or small corner shops like Spar.

Besides, I used to work for ASDA and did the Sunday shift. The store may not have opened until 9.30am (for browsing - tills opened at 10) but I still had to be there at 6am the same as normal, in order to replenish shelves, get the ovens on to cook the hot food, start setting up for the day etc.

Lots of people on this thread seem to think that because a shop is closed to the public, staff aren't working and that's just not the case at all.

@Glitteryone

YANBU

I work in an office based role and I get 2 weeks off every year. I feel so bad for retail staff who get hammered throughout December and who don’t get a proper break over Christmas!

Anyone who doesn’t feel the same is heartless in my opinion.

Yes so do I especially when they get no extra money or time off

DD works for Ikea and they close both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It works wonderfully as it means DD can travel to is the night before and we get to spend Christmas Eve together too.
Her manager was lovely this year and also gave her Boxing Day off as she knew she was coming back up north to family.

I only ever shopped on Boxing Day once and that was when DS had Christmas money to pick something up from the Apple store at the Trafford centre. Never again. It was the seventh circle of hell.

I agree but especially this year as it's a Sunday.
People should be able to last two days without shopping.
I've never worked Boxing day but can imagine how shit it is.

Absolutely agree with you. I feel so bad for the retail and dining staff.
Shops should be closed all Christmas! I mean do people really feel the need to go ahoppping on Boxing Day! Why?? You have the whole year to go shopping. Christmas is about family, spending time at home, relaxing,watching movies, having hot cup of tea, reading books, talking a nice walk! Honestly 2 or 3 days when people can’t go to a shop wouldn’t hurt anyone! If you’re dying to shop over Christmas then go online!

The vast majority of people who want the shops open as much as possible see shopping as a leisure activity. They could, instead, stay at home on Boxing Day and watch some films on TV, play cards with the family, read a book, make cocktails, cook a nice meal (as long as they'd bought in all the ingredients already), shag - or any combination of the above.

I agree.

I think it is awful for retail workers and I certainly wouldn't dream of going shopping on Boxing day.

I particularly think the early opening sales are an abomination.