Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why people are so protective of retail workers but not those who work in hospitality?

77 replies

PaperTape · 19/02/2023 19:27

A lot of people are horrified at the thought of weekend working for retail workers but they don’t care about the people who work in hospitality. So they don’t want shops open on Sundays because of family time and so much consumerism yet they will quite happily go out to cafes, amusement parks, historical places and the like ignoring the fact that all these places have to be be staffed and the workers are also being pulled away from their ‘family’

OP posts:
IconicKitty · 19/02/2023 19:35

I find it's the opposite when it comes to tips. Retail workers are on the same wage range as hospitality workers, but it's not the norm to tip people who work in shops - and if you did they would be banned from accepting it as per their contract.

However, many restaurants actually add a service charge to the bill, and if not, you are pressured into tipping when you pay by card. So it's swings and roundabouts...

Keyansier · 19/02/2023 19:53

I didn't even know there was such a thing of a movement of keeping retail workers from working Sunday's? Personally, I would not support this as I like 24/7 shopping, and also I think it provides employment for those that need or want it. They should just keep it open, if you want to work Sunday's work, if you don't then don't, and everyone is happy, surely?

Overthebow · 19/02/2023 19:55

Isn’t weekend working good for some people like those who are trying to avoid large childcare bills working opposite to their partners? Not sure why it’s a bad thing.

AllOfThemWitches · 19/02/2023 19:58

Keyansier · 19/02/2023 19:53

I didn't even know there was such a thing of a movement of keeping retail workers from working Sunday's? Personally, I would not support this as I like 24/7 shopping, and also I think it provides employment for those that need or want it. They should just keep it open, if you want to work Sunday's work, if you don't then don't, and everyone is happy, surely?

Erm retail workers aren't generally in a position to pick and choose when they work...

Sparklingbrook · 19/02/2023 20:00

They should just keep it open, if you want to work Sunday's work, if you don't then don't, and everyone is happy, surely?

It doesn't really work like that in retail.

Sparklingbrook · 19/02/2023 20:02

@AllOfThemWitches x post. Exactly-the more available they are at the recruitment stage the more chance of getting employed!

EilonwyWithRedGoldHair · 19/02/2023 20:03

Keyansier · 19/02/2023 19:53

I didn't even know there was such a thing of a movement of keeping retail workers from working Sunday's? Personally, I would not support this as I like 24/7 shopping, and also I think it provides employment for those that need or want it. They should just keep it open, if you want to work Sunday's work, if you don't then don't, and everyone is happy, surely?

How much choice do you think some employers give staff? I worked in retail, was told Sunday was a normal working day as far as they were concerned. By the time I left they'd even stopped paying time and a third.

There was no opting out.

I said in the other thread, DH worked retail as well, he worked 14 days in a row once, at least the two Sundays were shorter (longest I did was 12.)

IntentionalError · 19/02/2023 20:07

YANBU. It’s just the usual MN double standards. 🙄
It’s fine to virtue-signal about concerns for retail workers & disapprove of ghastly retail consumerism and shops trading on Sundays, but the theme parks, water parks, play centres, hotels, cafes, restaurants & pubs which cater for the weekend leisure activities of the middle classes and their children are deemed to be a completely different matter.

Original poster
PaperTape · 19/02/2023 20:14

IntentionalError · 19/02/2023 20:07

YANBU. It’s just the usual MN double standards. 🙄
It’s fine to virtue-signal about concerns for retail workers & disapprove of ghastly retail consumerism and shops trading on Sundays, but the theme parks, water parks, play centres, hotels, cafes, restaurants & pubs which cater for the weekend leisure activities of the middle classes and their children are deemed to be a completely different matter.

Yes I noticed the double standards too. People forget the staff in soft play etc.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 19/02/2023 20:14

weekend leisure activities

Well the clue is in the name TBF.

Justanotherlurker · 19/02/2023 20:45

Why don't you care about factory workers, haulage/delivery drivers or any of the multitude of professions that work weekends?

IMO, A lot of the reason why there is some concern from some people is more around sunday trading and they are displaying faux concern for the workers as a safe reason to articulate their objection, they still want little shops/hospitality to be open, they still want next day delivery, expect essential services are still running, it;s from a perspective of privilege where they want and use the 24/7 economy but don't want to visual representation.

Justanotherlurker · 19/02/2023 20:48

IntentionalError · 19/02/2023 20:07

YANBU. It’s just the usual MN double standards. 🙄
It’s fine to virtue-signal about concerns for retail workers & disapprove of ghastly retail consumerism and shops trading on Sundays, but the theme parks, water parks, play centres, hotels, cafes, restaurants & pubs which cater for the weekend leisure activities of the middle classes and their children are deemed to be a completely different matter.

Yeah that put it in a better way than I did, specifically for MN and it's double standard.

ssd · 19/02/2023 20:49

I'm in retail. I've yet to see any protection for us??

AncientQuercus · 19/02/2023 20:52

Well traditionally hospitality jobs tend to be done by students, teens, or "mums" who can't work Monday to Friday, or don't want to. Retail jobs tend to be full time as well as students etc. In our case DH was working in retail long before Sunday opening so it was a change in conditions. If you honestly think people have a choice you are very naive.

When Sunday trading first came in the Government could have introduced legislation to say that anyone already employed could not be forced to work Sundays, but they didn't bother. You can opt out but they don't have to give you the hours on another day so you just end up losing the money.

Sparklingbrook · 19/02/2023 20:53

ssd · 19/02/2023 20:49

I'm in retail. I've yet to see any protection for us??

I think this thread might relate to another started earlier today where people wanted Sunday opening to be extended (in England anyway).

MissTrip82 · 19/02/2023 20:58

A apparently large number of people on mumsnet are unaware anyone works beyond 9-5 zoom calls from the living room.

The fact that many industries rely on workers doing antisocial hours and that many families depend on at least one member working those hours is beyond them.

SemperIdem · 19/02/2023 20:59

I think the people who insist that continuing Sunday trading hours means retail works get to jolly off early whilst poor hospitality staff have to work on are just demonstrating their lack of understanding of the supermarket industry.

Staff (even on checkouts) work on after the shop has closed - rests, relays, stock counts, cleaning etc

SemperIdem · 19/02/2023 20:59

^resets

Ragwort · 19/02/2023 21:05

Totally agree MissTrip. ...and the endless assumption that everyone has ten days or so off at Christmas and so many fun plans to fill the days Hmm ... can't seem to imagine that many of us work Christmas Eve ... it is a normal working day and not a Bank Holiday !

Sparklingbrook · 19/02/2023 21:07

SemperIdem · 19/02/2023 20:59

I think the people who insist that continuing Sunday trading hours means retail works get to jolly off early whilst poor hospitality staff have to work on are just demonstrating their lack of understanding of the supermarket industry.

Staff (even on checkouts) work on after the shop has closed - rests, relays, stock counts, cleaning etc

That's true-the shelves don't magically refill themselves overnight. My friend works nights 9-7 ready for the supermarket opening. Pickers for online orders go in at 4am.

ColdHandsHotHead · 19/02/2023 21:08

MissTrip82 · 19/02/2023 20:58

A apparently large number of people on mumsnet are unaware anyone works beyond 9-5 zoom calls from the living room.

The fact that many industries rely on workers doing antisocial hours and that many families depend on at least one member working those hours is beyond them.

I ordered something online one Saturday evening and it was delivered on the Monday. I regretted having ordered it then, because it meant someone had to work on a Sunday to pack it up and arrange the courier. I actually wasn't expecting that (small company). The person who said she liked to be able to shop seven days a week is unbelievably selfish.

Justanotherlurker · 19/02/2023 21:13

MissTrip82 · 19/02/2023 20:58

A apparently large number of people on mumsnet are unaware anyone works beyond 9-5 zoom calls from the living room.

The fact that many industries rely on workers doing antisocial hours and that many families depend on at least one member working those hours is beyond them.

Whilst happily shopping online and ordering from the nice takeaway and being irked because next day delivery is late...

I do most of my work at home and via slack/zoom but I have 10 members of my team who work all weekend until it rolls over to US timezone, admittedly they get paid far above retail staff, but it isn't a job where they can go to soft play with their children and be available for a quick phone call

Sparklingbrook · 19/02/2023 21:17

During Covid the demand for online grocery deliveries was huge, slots were scarce. I wonder if much thought was given to the people that transported the goods to the store, put the food on the shelves, picked them and the delivery drivers. They worked through all of it.

FlashDash · 19/02/2023 21:17

MissTrip82 · 19/02/2023 20:58

A apparently large number of people on mumsnet are unaware anyone works beyond 9-5 zoom calls from the living room.

The fact that many industries rely on workers doing antisocial hours and that many families depend on at least one member working those hours is beyond them.

Exactly this.

GlassBunion · 19/02/2023 21:22

Given that most people shop online , particularly now that the majority of high street shops have closed, then I don't understand why shops need to open on a Sunday.

Trouble is, people expect a National Trust /English Heritage/theme park /petting zoo/cafes to be open to them on a Sunday , as well as the whole of a seaside town.

I'm not sure that people actually know what they want.

In my humble opinion, I'd be happy to see Sunday as a day of complete rest for everybody.