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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:
unicornsinspace · 19/02/2023 10:22

As a retail worker I certainly do not want the shop open longer on Sundays! I have my own family that I miss because I'm working weekends. People should organise their life better.

Hoowhoowho · 19/02/2023 10:22

Should rotate. Sick of people who think weekends matter more. Normal people work every day. So one week shut Monday, next Tuesday etc. Should be same for childcare. Spread the inconvenience rather than placing an unfair burden on weekend workers.

Solves the issue of people who want a slower pace of life too. Always a day shut and sometimes that’s when you’re working and sometimes not.

Of course in reality, Sunday trading laws should be abolished, I may want to dictate a lot about how other people live their lives. Mandated curfews at midnight, compulsory family meals at 1700, prayer fives times a day but I don’t get to because that’s not how a diverse, democratic society works. Restrictions on trade on Sundays don’t achieve anything useful and people who want a slower pace of life don’t get to choose for those who don’t.

laundryschmaundry · 19/02/2023 10:23

I'm another who would welcome full Sunday closures and half day closures on Wednesdays. I don't need the shops to be open 7 days a week.

Chevyimpala67 · 19/02/2023 10:23

Bearing in mind the Col crisis:
Some shops local to me now no longer open on a Monday.
Some are operating on reduced hours too.
I can't see big supermarkets opening more amd having the associated costs...it just won't be profitable.
In our local biggest supermarket there are usually now more staff than customers!
The 2 x 24 hour supermarkets in the next town stopped a few years ago...both now open 8-10.

DancingDaughter50 · 19/02/2023 10:23

I cannot bear it.

Those that don't want to work don't.

People should be given the choice, I hate it and even now we forget everything shuts early.

Swiftswatch · 19/02/2023 10:24

@toodlesofoodles I see no need for a large Tesco extra to spend £££ to be open longer than 6 hours to accommodate a very small demographic of people.

You say this, but why is it reasonable for an archaic religious reason to dictate a businesses opening hours? If it’s not viable they won’t open. Problem solved.
Why are you so concerned with how economical it is for a large corporation to open on a Sunday?
It just all comes off a bit faux concern really.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/02/2023 10:24

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 09:54

People talking about 'quieter' Sundays - unless you live next door to a supermarket/shopping mall (or are a staff member) why does it actually make any difference to you if they are open or not? I live 5 minutes from my local High Street but the shops being open make no difference to me because I won't be going to them today.

You can't enjoy a quiet Sunday with your family when they're all at work, though.

There's no need for supermarkets or retail shops to be open seven days a week - it's just greed.

Yes, some sectors need to be open 24/7 but retail isn't one of them!

Chevyimpala67 · 19/02/2023 10:25

Swiftswatch · 19/02/2023 10:22

@calimali I cannot believe that people lack the ability to manage for one day a week without going shopping.

Why can’t you believe it though?
What I can’t believe is how many people struggle to understand that other people’s week looks different.
Monday to Friday I’m out of the house at 7am for work, by 5 I’m doing nursery pick up. I don’t drive and I have my work bag, child’s nursery bag so it’s too difficult to buy more than a handful of items plus child is ready for tea and bath so I need to go straight home. Can’t go later because child is in bed, can’t exactly shop earlier than 7am in the morning.
So already 5 days are taken out of the equation.

Shop online?
I've done it for years.
🤷‍♀️

Bairnsmum05 · 19/02/2023 10:26

You should be clear that you mean in England as other countries are different. Not every person on this site lives in England.

calimali · 19/02/2023 10:26

Shop online? Shop on Saturday?

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/02/2023 10:27

DancingDaughter50 · 19/02/2023 10:23

I cannot bear it.

Those that don't want to work don't.

People should be given the choice, I hate it and even now we forget everything shuts early.

The point is that retail workers aren't given the choice.

I worked retail for a over a decade and if you worked full-time then you had to work weekends - it wasn't optional.

Endlesssummer2022 · 19/02/2023 10:28

Disagree. I think everything apart from little convenience shops, restaurants and pubs should be open on a Sunday to encourage a day for mingling with family and friends.

I work FT, have kids and study and can still find time to get what I need during existing opening hours. If I’ve planned poorly, I just wait until they are open or buy online. No need to have more open hours at all.

GooseberryCinnamonYogurt · 19/02/2023 10:29

I'd like to see one day a week, Sunday, all shops close. It's so unnecessary.

Beezknees · 19/02/2023 10:30

I really can't say it bothers me and I'm a full time working single parent.

Nobody works 7 days a week, if you can't find the time to go to the shops on your days off then you need to learn to manage your time better.

Swiftswatch · 19/02/2023 10:30

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/02/2023 10:27

The point is that retail workers aren't given the choice.

I worked retail for a over a decade and if you worked full-time then you had to work weekends - it wasn't optional.

Show quote history

They are given a choice though, you can’t be made to work on a Sunday if you don’t want to.
Been that way for almost 2 decades.

Daleksatemyshed · 19/02/2023 10:30

@GoodChat I think we're on the same side with this one. Why should shop workers have to change contracts and be available every day and for no more money? Half the shops are going onto self service tills so they have no job security anyway so why turn your life upside down for an employer who doesn't value you.

AngelinaFibres · 19/02/2023 10:31

We have half day closing on a Tuesday afternoon. Shops shut at 3 on a Saturday and only the supermarket is open on a Sunday. We all cope.

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 10:33

I had no idea this was even a thing.

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 19/02/2023 10:34

most of France Germany and Begium Norway Poland greece and many others have restricted shopping at weekends in fact in many places they shut around 4pm on Saturday some like belgium allow 9 sundays a year

toodlesofoodles · 19/02/2023 10:36

Swiftswatch · 19/02/2023 10:24

@toodlesofoodles I see no need for a large Tesco extra to spend £££ to be open longer than 6 hours to accommodate a very small demographic of people.

You say this, but why is it reasonable for an archaic religious reason to dictate a businesses opening hours? If it’s not viable they won’t open. Problem solved.
Why are you so concerned with how economical it is for a large corporation to open on a Sunday?
It just all comes off a bit faux concern really.

Faux concern? If something costs more but there is no return in profit then you'll either see a cut in jobs, store closures (or both) as well as products on the shelves costing more.

Also it doesn't matter to me why Sunday trading hours are as they are, I'd welcome a change to the law to remove any religious connotation but I would not welcome an increase in hours.

Vloader23 · 19/02/2023 10:36

Couldn't agree more.

The argument that gets trotted out is about 'forcing' workers to work Sundays when they are entitled to time off. This doesn't add up because a) plenty of people want to work more/ different hours and b) just like all other shop opening hours, the rosters can be agreed

There is no valid argument against this.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/02/2023 10:37

@Swiftswatch theoretically that's true but the reality is you'll just be let go or not given the job in the first place.

You can object to Sunday working and opt-out of it but that doesn't mean you'll keep your job afterwards!

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/02/2023 10:38

Vloader23 · 19/02/2023 10:36

Couldn't agree more.

The argument that gets trotted out is about 'forcing' workers to work Sundays when they are entitled to time off. This doesn't add up because a) plenty of people want to work more/ different hours and b) just like all other shop opening hours, the rosters can be agreed

There is no valid argument against this.

As I said to PP - while you may theoretically be able to opt out of Sunday working, the reality is that you just won't keep your job if you refuse to work 🤷🏻‍♀️

Needmorelego · 19/02/2023 10:39

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts well yes if you have family members who work on Sundays you obviously can't have a 'family' day. But there is a 1001 million other jobs where people are working Sundays so having shops closed wouldn't make the slightest difference unless every single member of that family worked retail.

Botw1 · 19/02/2023 10:39

There's loads of shift work jobs.

Im not sure why supermarkets should be exempt