To say ‘well done’ to the bosses of M&S, Waitrose, Lidl & Aldi

[MargaritaThyme]

For deciding not to open their stores on Boxing Day, thereby giving their staff, who have been working very hard through December, a proper break with their loved ones?

Do you work in a store?
my Dd does and wants to work on the 24th and 26th to get the cash in (and because it is part of their contracted hours)

like a very middle class call without understanding what actual workers want ?

Do you work in a supermarket OP?

Only the very privileged could assume that not working on the 26th is what retail workers want

Only problem is there will be no sales in-store - and what does that mean? The big bosses will say less need for staff as online is taking over.

in the long run the more often shops are shut, the more shops will shut. The more shops close down, the more people will lose their jobs, the more we’ll all shop online, meaning even more shops will shut.

community is being eroded in front of our very eyes…and I’d love a more old fashioned approach to things - unfortunately I don’t think this is what this is. I think it’s an indicator of what’s to come.

The Range is also shut Boxing Day, for the first time ever.

Believe it or not, my child, this happened within living memory (speaking as a 47 year old who remembers sales starting on Jan 1st)

The shops that are shut for boxing day aren't suddenly become benevolent towards staff it will be because its not financially viable to be open that day. Asda are unfortunately open and my Dw would have loved to have been off.

The Entertainer toy shop has always been closed on Sundays, and will be closed this Sunday, Christmas Eve. Good for them.

https://www.thetoyshop.com/childhood-adventures/why-the-entertainer-stores-close-on-sundays

Glad lots of other big names are closing on Boxing Day, I’ve never understood the need to stand outside shops at silly o’clock waiting to hit the sales.

It's all well and good saying to close them on Boxing Day to give workers a break but not every worker in these shops can afford to lose a days wage

Have you ever been employed in a low paid retail job and reliant on that wage?

So middle class privilege shit to say that stores should close

Check your privilege

Totally agree
So much Mumsnet middle class wankery on this thread

I remember the last time a few of them closed boxing day, the day off had to be covered by annual leave it wasn't a gratis day off.

Seriously? Yes I have, back in the day when shops were shut on Sundays; full timers worked across six days.

Don’t make assumptions and check your rudeness.

I was actually part of the team that brought in Sunday working nationally. I was the lead for the largest supermarket in the Uk at the time and we endlessly badgered politicians in both houses .

Not sure how it relates to my post? What rudeness I am checking?

I’m always bewildered by all the pre-Christmas ‘big shop’ excitement nowadays …

In the 70s I remember my parents stocking up with a huge amount of festive groceries because all but the odd corner shop and petrol station would be closed for a full week over Christmas.

Can’t get my head around people doing the same when every supermarket will be open again within hours of Christmas Day.

Boxing Day sales have always seemed a bit obscene …

Not sure what the introduction of Sunday working in 1994 has to do with this post?

In my first job in the 80s an American colleague told me he found it strange that shops here had sales at specific times of year, whereas in the US there were perpetual sales. I remember thinking that was nuts and I was glad it wasn’t like that here.

Now it’s 100% like that and it’s rubbish.

Shame that again, all the major supermarkets give Boxing day as a day off except Co-Op.

The did do it the other year but only after being shamed on Twitter. This year....nothing.

I’m not privileged, I work retail and honestly don’t want to work BD. Why would I? I want to spend time with my family, there are many more hours/days to work during the year.

Asda aren’t giving their staff the day off.

So you may be able to afford that ?
Not everyone in retail can afford not to work over Christmas.

And that is fine
But lots of people do want to work the 26th and be paid

I used to work in retail as a student and absolutely loved the buzz of working the Boxing Day sales. Remember that the festive season is a good opportunity for seasonal workers and students to earn a relatively large sum quickly and in my case I needed the extra cash to support my studies. Not all staff want Boxing Day off. For me, one day of family fun is enough.