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Original poster

To think it is time to extend Sunday opening hours?

635 replies

Sundayopeningplease · 19/02/2023 09:32

It really is time for the restrictive Sunday trading hours to be lifted. The archaic laws have not kept up with modern society.

Sunday may traditionally have been a family day but there have been a lot of changes since then. People are in increasingly different family set ups. The working hours have changed for a lot of people and being able to shop on a Sunday morning would improve things greatly. It would help trade for businesses too.

Sunday is now a major shopping day and the hours need to reflect this.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 12:11

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts I have switched to getting my supermarket shop online. Of course this means someone has to work as a delivery driver. I usually go for a week day daytime slot because I am at home but if I was still in my old job I would need it to be delivered during 'unsociable' hours like after 7pm or...... on a Sunday 🤣
Should delivery drivers get Sunday off too?

Clingfilm · 19/02/2023 12:12

Yanbu. It's the fact everything is shut at 4 on Sundays, not just supermarkets but museums, soft play etc. There's f all to do outside the home. Except go to the pub I suppose...

Shop workers complaining - it's the nature of the job, it's shift work!
Nurses, police etc aren't on a 9-5 either.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/02/2023 12:15

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 12:11

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts I have switched to getting my supermarket shop online. Of course this means someone has to work as a delivery driver. I usually go for a week day daytime slot because I am at home but if I was still in my old job I would need it to be delivered during 'unsociable' hours like after 7pm or...... on a Sunday 🤣
Should delivery drivers get Sunday off too?

Why shouldn't they get the day off? There are a still six days a week to get your shopping delivered and they already offer slots from 6am to midnight.

Nobody needs to get their food shopping delivered on a Sunday. It might be more convenient but it's hardly an essential.

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 12:23

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts but if someone works Monday - Saturday (lots of people do) when are they meant to get their food delivery if it's not on a Sunday or during 'unsociable' hours like in the evening?
I don't see what the issue is. Some people are happy to work Sundays some people aren't.

melj1213 · 19/02/2023 12:23

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 12:02

@melj1213

Why do you think it's an inconvenience to work on a Sunday?

Because I work in retail and can be scheduled at any time Monday- Sunday between the hours of 6am -11pm M-F, 6am-10pm Saturday and 11-5pm Sunday

Sunday is the only day where, even if I work a whole shift for the entire time the store is open, I am still guaranteed to be able to spend the evening with my DD.

If the Sunday trading laws are changed then I am not guaranteed a single day in the week where I can be home before midnight. Yes I will get at least one day off in the week but there's no guarantee which one or when it will be. Currently I can rely on having this one single evening a week to do things with family and friends ... Why is that a bad thing?

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/02/2023 12:30

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 12:23

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts but if someone works Monday - Saturday (lots of people do) when are they meant to get their food delivery if it's not on a Sunday or during 'unsociable' hours like in the evening?
I don't see what the issue is. Some people are happy to work Sundays some people aren't.

They can get it delivered in the evenings like you suggest, or in the morning before work, or they can go to the supermarket themselves during those times.

I'm sure some people are happy to work Sundays but I suspect the vast majority of retail staff don't fall into that category.

Personally I find it's the people who never work Sundays who say that other people are more than happy to do so Wink

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 12:31

@melj1213

Because that's the life of shift work?

Surely you get your rota in advance so you know when you'll be working?

And if youre working a Sunday you'll be off another day so will have that evening with your dd?

I honestly don't get the obsession with Sundays

GoodChat · 19/02/2023 12:32

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 12:31

@melj1213

Because that's the life of shift work?

Surely you get your rota in advance so you know when you'll be working?

And if youre working a Sunday you'll be off another day so will have that evening with your dd?

I honestly don't get the obsession with Sundays

Not necessarily. She could be given crap patterns of lates and earlies. There's no guarantee of anything other than her and her daughter being shafted.

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 12:35

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts so people shouldn't have to work Sundays but it's perfectly fine for them to work unsociable hours so someone can have a delivery at 6am or 9pm?
By the way..... I worked plenty of Sundays (and unsociable weekday hours) in my time in retail.

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 12:35

@GoodChat

Thats a load of rubbish.

I doubt she works 7 days a week.

Even a 7 day a week rota of lates and earlies includes (obviously) earlies. Meaning evenings off

Why the need for hyperbole?

GoodChat · 19/02/2023 12:36

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 12:35

@GoodChat

Thats a load of rubbish.

I doubt she works 7 days a week.

Even a 7 day a week rota of lates and earlies includes (obviously) earlies. Meaning evenings off

Why the need for hyperbole?

It's not hyperbole. She's telling you exactly how it'll affect her personally and you're telling her she's wrong.

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 12:40

@GoodChat

Because what she (and you) are saying doesn't make sense

There are 7 days in a week

Working 1 of them isn't the disaster it's being made out to be.

And if it really is a disaster then get a different job.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/02/2023 12:45

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 12:35

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts so people shouldn't have to work Sundays but it's perfectly fine for them to work unsociable hours so someone can have a delivery at 6am or 9pm?
By the way..... I worked plenty of Sundays (and unsociable weekday hours) in my time in retail.

So did I. I'd much preferred working evenings and early mornings as we got paid extra for anti-social hours, whereas Sundays were just normal pay.

I appreciate that's not the case for everyone but in an ideal world I do think evenings, early mornings, nights and weekends should be paid extra.

eighteenthirteen1 · 19/02/2023 12:51

GoldilockMom · 19/02/2023 10:01

11 is far too late when you have small children but that's my problem

And shop workers who have small children?

You sound utterly selfish - dragging kids round the shops must be costing you a fortune, and giving them bad habits for life. Think about that.

What are you on about?!

Even in the quote you've carefully selected I said ITS MY PROBLEM.

I don't drag my children around shopping either. You sound really angry - so odd.

GoodChat · 19/02/2023 12:54

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 12:40

@GoodChat

Because what she (and you) are saying doesn't make sense

There are 7 days in a week

Working 1 of them isn't the disaster it's being made out to be.

And if it really is a disaster then get a different job.

But she's already got a job that suits her lifestyle.

melj1213 · 19/02/2023 12:54

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 12:40

@GoodChat

Because what she (and you) are saying doesn't make sense

There are 7 days in a week

Working 1 of them isn't the disaster it's being made out to be.

And if it really is a disaster then get a different job.

There are 7 days on a week yet M-F workers only work 5 of them so not being able to shop for more than 1.5 days over the weekend isnt the disaster some people are making it out to be either ...

Yet you want me to lose the protection I have of having one set, guaranteed night every week where I can spend time with my child (or alone or with friends or whatever I want to do) because people want more flexibility to shop?

I can be scheduled at any time, on any day and yes I get my rotas in advance but unless I book a holiday I am not guaranteed any specific day or time off of my choosing. However I can always guarantee, regardless of what hours I am scheduled, that I will be available after 5pm on a Sunday, 52 weeks of the year. It is the one guarantee I have in shift work, so why should I have to give it up because people can't shop the other 6.5 days a week (and if you need essentials like bread and milk to get you through till Monday there are plenty of smaller, convenience shops to buy from)?

O took the job knowing I could be scheduled at any time 6 days a week, but that I was guaranteed Sunday evenings off due to the Sunday trading laws. Why should I have to find a new job because people want to change the terms of the contract I agreed to (hence why I work in a large store and not a smaller one that isn't subject to the laws) rather than just accepting that Sunday and 5pm is not the time to earmark for the big weekly shop of you intend to use Asda/Tesco/Morrisons as opposed to your corner shop

stopringingme · 19/02/2023 12:58

@Sundayopeningplease

YABVU

Shops should shut on Sunday, if you cannot organise yourself in the preceeding 6 days where shops are open long hours you need to rethink your timekeeping.

Have you ever worked in retail, it is a thankless task where nearly everyone thinks they can be rude to you, as you are "just a shop assistant".

Let them have some family time.

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 12:58

@melj1213

I don't think not bring able to shop on a Sunday is a disaster but what you want isn't more important than what other people or your employer wants. Neither is more valid

You don't work 7 days a week so it's not true you only get 1 night off.

I don't get the weird obsession for Sundays or for a set day off.

So if the legislation is changed then you'd just have to deal with it

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 13:00

@stopringingme not all retail workers have family to spend 'family time' with though.

Original poster
Sundayopeningplease · 19/02/2023 13:09

itsjustnotok · 19/02/2023 09:34

@Sundayopeningplease totally disagree. I don’t understand how people can’t organise themselves over 6 days. The 7th gives an opportunity to pick up bits but I guess it depends on what it is you want open? There aren’t necessarily the staff to make this happen. It sounds like people just want 24/7 convenience. I study, work and have kids and can manage.

So because you can manage everybody else should too?

it is not just a case of getting organised. Life is not predictable for me and a lot of others. I have caring responsibilities for someone with mental health difficulties and also for an 88 year old. Their needs don’t work around current opening hours.

OP posts:
itsjustnotok · 19/02/2023 13:14

@Sundayopeningplease tbh i guess I’m just fed up of hearing how life is an inconvenience for everyone. So because something is an inconvenience it should be changed and people get used to working a Sunday. Life is so fast and I believe that Sunday is one of those few things left that feels a little slower paced. I would get you if nothing at all was open on a Sunday but there’s plenty unless you’re talking about something specific. Otherwise you have from 11-4 to shop etc.

Socrateswasrightaboutvoting · 19/02/2023 13:15

Sundayopeningplease · 19/02/2023 13:09

So because you can manage everybody else should too?

it is not just a case of getting organised. Life is not predictable for me and a lot of others. I have caring responsibilities for someone with mental health difficulties and also for an 88 year old. Their needs don’t work around current opening hours.

Show quote history

Many of the supermarkets are open until at least midnight. What about the workers. They have at least some chance of being at home on day when other family members are even if for a few hours. Everyone has commitment.

Original poster
Sundayopeningplease · 19/02/2023 13:16

stopringingme · 19/02/2023 12:58

@Sundayopeningplease

YABVU

Shops should shut on Sunday, if you cannot organise yourself in the preceeding 6 days where shops are open long hours you need to rethink your timekeeping.

Have you ever worked in retail, it is a thankless task where nearly everyone thinks they can be rude to you, as you are "just a shop assistant".

Let them have some family time.

Nothing to do with my timekeeping. I have caring responsibilities which means I have very limited flexibility.

I have worked in retail for over 20 years actually.

Not everyone has a traditional family set up. There are lots of international students who are available on Sundays to work.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sundayopeningplease · 19/02/2023 13:19

Socrateswasrightaboutvoting · 19/02/2023 13:15

Many of the supermarkets are open until at least midnight. What about the workers. They have at least some chance of being at home on day when other family members are even if for a few hours. Everyone has commitment.

Show quote history

Nobody takes a job in a supermarket being unaware of the hours. If family time is very important, then retail is not suitable.

OP posts:
StrawberryWater · 19/02/2023 13:20

I wish things were open more on a Sunday, especially things like museums etc.