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?

I am with you but think shop workers should get the same shift allowances that workers in manufacturing industries get
so for nights it's up to 44% on top in my industry and weekends is 24% on top etc
plus extra days off and bank holiday pay etc

Does that apply to hospitality staff, warehousing staff, admin staff, food production operatives etc etc etc too? There are many many jobs beyond retail who work (arguably more) unsociable hours with no enhanced pay.

Those of you who think these places should be open all hours to accommodate your needs because you do the Mon-Fri 9-5 office hours. Would you all be happy to work late nights and weekends to accommodate people who can't get to the bank or post office or dentist because they're working?

@YeahIsaidit a lot of dentists and doctor surgeries open on Saturdays now.
Banks are pretty much running 24/7 but the staff are just at a call centre rather than in a branch.

Yes. I have often worked nights, late days and weekends.

It's really not the tragedy or inconvenience that some old-fashioned people seem to think.

@YeahIsaidit we also have things like 111 now so even if a GP surgery is closed people can still access medical treatment.
So much of life is actually 24/7 in one form or another.
The whole argument is that retail is pretty much the only industry that can't adapt because of an outdated law.

I'm really confused by this question.

Of course people that work 9-5 need shops to be open evenings and weekends - otherwise when would they be able to get food?

I'm sure plenty of 9-5ers would welcome the opportunity to do some different hours, so that they could be off to get to things like banks and the dentist themselves!

Nope. No one can come up with a rational explanation.

Exactly, @MrsSunshine2b

Just because we did the shopping rush on Saturday morning doesn't mean we liked it.

Arriving in England this evening.

Does this mean Tesco metros and shops like that are shut too?

Times have changed but nit fir the better in this one. High streets may be struggling but thats due to online competition.

I would vote shops closed on a Sunday. Time with your family is priceless. I work Sundays but I get double time and I usually finish at 3. Why should we work a Sunday for the same rate?

@MissBuffyAnneSummers don't worry - the little shops like Tesco Metro and convenience stores like Co-op/Londis/Spar etc will be open.

Phew. Need something for my dinner.

Not everyone has or wants "precious family time."

@LaurieStrode well maybe you don't. However there's a lot of kids dying, running around the streets and teens with anxiety. I personally think shops shut om a Sunday is a good idea.

@Thatswhy11 sorry - genuine question. What has children dying, running around the streets and having anxiety got to do with whether a shop is open or not?
I don't see the link.

@Needmorelego did you miss family time? Do keep up and read all my post not just the part that you choosing to cherry pick or don't bother responding back to me.

I totally agree. It’s ok for small shops/shops in an airport/train station to be open normal hours yet supermarkets can’t? Scotland doesn’t have Sunday trading laws!

I often have to work weekends (I work in finance) due to client demands and I accept that’s part of my role. I think everyone in retail should have a weekend off once in a while though (without having to use annual leave)

@Thatswhy11 why does "family time" only apply to Sunday though.
What difference does it make if a shop is open or not to how a family choses to spend their time.
You didn't answer my question at all.

I agree with you, OP, with greater employment protection for retail workers, like they can only be required to work one weekend day as part of their hours (although they can choose to do both).

DD1 (18) will be home about midnight tonight from her restaurant shift. I don't see why the shops couldn't be open 9-6, say.

My kid and his friends work in retail, they all applied for jobs which have a fixed shift pattern so their jobs every week are say Tue eve, Thur eve, Sunday all day etc (they are students so need to be in uni certain times and are not just “available”). These are all big supermarkets- is that not how it works? i.e you are applying for a job that works for you, so to work a sunday cause you want to or need to for logistical reasons.

Live in scotland, so lots of people work Sundays and will be off through the week instead. I used to love working in a shop five days a week (incl sat and sun) and having my “weekend” on a mon/tue. It was amazing!

What???!

This is becoming bonkers.

100%!
they should all get it
you can get paid a fortune to pack boxes at a pharma company with no qualifications and background needed because the hours are hard so why can't someone in a bar get that too!
mid you can't pay a decent wage to your staff you don't have a viable enough business in the first place!

Much as I love my parents “precious family time” on a Sunday when I was a kid and nowt was open was as boring as shit. No desire to return to that again. You enjoy your “precious family time” as you wish and let me go shopping if I want. Incidentally, “precious family time” at weekends for us (ie me, husband, kids) has been a rarity as H works in hospitality, but that’s ok as it’s only shop staff who can’t be expected to work a Sunday.