To think that Sunday trading hours need to be abolished?

[HFJ]

I remember the hullabaloo about Sunday trading back in the late 80s

Whenever I talk to people about this, many usually give the following reasons why Sunday trading restrictions are a good thing:

1. Everyone can have Sunday lunch/family time together
2. Retail workers can have some weekend time off

However, I can’t be the only person who thinks the above is BALONEY

On the family time thing, I object for feminist reasons because it usually means a hard-working woman somewhere has to peel potatoes and rustle up a Sunday lunch for everyone else. Then, when she has done all that, can she treat herself to an emergency handbag, pair of shoes, just get away and meet a friend for coffee, or perhaps get the family shopping in on before the working week starts? Can she heck. Why? Because of some Bishops in the house of lords decree that the world should shut and therefore her indoors should remain indoors.

On the weekend time off thing, I really don’t see what the issue is. There are plenty of students who would like to and need to work. Also, there’s nothing to stop religious workers asking their employer to prioritise time off on Sunday for them (just as Muslims, Jews, people with caring responsibilites can make requests).

Am I the only one who feels this way?

saturdays were great for reductions

@sparkellie ok then it's more that Sunday hours are at a daft time. Slap bang in the middle of the day. If they are going to do just 6 hours then do 8 - 2 rather than waiting until 11 to open.

@WillowTit on what? I've never shopped anywhere that the shops randomly reduce stuff because it's Saturday.

This I agree with! I'm pretty sure most workers and shoppers would find that helpful.
It's not extending sunday hours though.

Supermarkets reduce fresh food with the next days date. The reductions would be higher if the shop was closed as there is less time to sell things through. Christmas eve is the same.

i remember when pubs used to close in the afternoon!

@randomsabreuse agree with you that there is an argument for different hours for larger shops, especially with the persistence of putting the clocks back in winter, and decline in newspaper sales.

I am sure its been said many times on the thread but there are no Sunday restrictions in Scotland and haven't been for as far back as I can remember.

Sunday is just another day with some shops (e.g. supermarkets) open 24 hours a day every day.

People still eat Sunday lunch in Scotland.

@sparkellie supermarkets reduce food daily. Sometimes twice a day.
Yep...not extending beyond the 6 hours as a "compromise" because apparently it's all important to have this mysterious "family time" on a Sunday which apparently no one can do on the other 6 days of the week.

Well exactly.

The way people are banging on about mums being chained to Tesco tills until midnight on a Sunday, children being abandoned at home, never having family time etc etc etc - it's not happening. Seriously people, take a wee trip north of the border and broaden your horizons. And enjoy being able to pop into Tesco when you get here at 6pm on a Sunday evening for a pint of milk.

Sorry, I'm not good at this!
What I suppose I meant to say is that it would be no bad thing if Sunday shopping disappeared althogether. And yes, I know working parents/ time hungry etc, but I think we often feel compelled to shop, when we really don't need to, simply because the shop is open.
Stupid example.... I was making a beef casserole last weekend. I popped into Tesco on Sunday early afternoon to buy Guiness to cook beef in. While there, I bought a few other bits and pieces.
Had Tesco been closed, I'd have used some wine, or simple beef stock to cook with.
We use the facilities because they are there, not because we NEED them ( well, not all the time) 😁
Crap at explaining myself, but hope you get the gist!

We won't go back now, so no point worrying. Lots of shops take money on a Sunday.
Why Sunday anyway?
Why not Tuesday or Friday.

Sundays was probably linked to going to church, how many people do that now?

@Needmorelego because I ran the shop!!

@justanothernamechangemonday but did you work 7 days a week?
Even if you were the owner/manager you shouldn't have been working 7 days week.

No; but when shops are open for 14/15/24 hours a day, there is an awful lot to do. When shops close early there is still lots to do but once customers have gone things are much easier.

i remember going on a sunday morning and it was heaving, it is my local Tesco's busiest day!

Seriously, I used to work in retail. Please let retail workers catch a break they already work all the shitty hours over Christmas and get dogs abuse. Some people have family too and it's nice to have a meal together with kids. When shopping is accessible 24/7 online I think that shops can hold fire on opening a longer day.

That's just my opinion of course

@chickensheep or employ more retail workers who are happy to work those shifts.

(Yes I agree retail workers are treated like crap - I was one for 20 years. Almost gave me a nervous breakdown)

@justanothernamechangemonday but surely if the shop is yours and you are the boss you make the decisions to adapt your trading hours so they are relevant to your customer base.
If a vast majority of your customers are likely to be weekend shoppers then wouldn't you want the freedom to be able to open for more than 6 hours on a Sunday (and close on a day when your trade will be low).

But that never seems to work out. It's difficult to get a retail job that doesn't require Sunday work unfortunately but at least (for the workers) it's a shorter day.

Sunday trading rules in England are utter crap. We’ve managed to have longer opening hours in Scotland without it causing the destruction of family life and society. I never got why retail was somehow “special” when other places were open long hours on Sundays too. This is now a secular society so no need to “keep Sunday special “

not sure if already mentioned but people mainly get extra pay on sundays,
get rid of these trading hours, make it normal, there will no longer be extra pay

Also I remember Sundays when I was a kid and everything was shut and they were as boring as shit.

@chickensheep that is unfortunately true. So many retailers do what is pretty much a zero hour contract. They get away with it by it being a "4 hour" contract and will basically say "4 hours but you will be guaranteed 20 hours but they could be any time between Monday 8am - Sunday 6pm" or some such nonsense.
That is actually terrible and retailers need to return to set shift patterns like they used too.

What about the people who were working in the restaurants and cafes? Why do you think only retail staff deserve that day with their family? What’s special about them?