To think Sunday trading hours is silly

[iguano88]

Everyone waiting at the self service and normal checkouts from 10:45, with full baskets and trolleys (shop was open for browsing but Sunday hours 11-5). Staff then opened all the tills at exactly 11 but not a minute before.

Why do we still only open large shops for 6 hours on a Sunday? 11 seems really late to open. There’s a blend of religions in society and more people need hours at work, Sunday evenings would suit students or parents who need to work opposing hours to their other half for childcare reasons. The more I think about it the sillier it is. I also think it adds to the ‘Sunday scaries’ people experience.

AIBU to think it should just be abolished and business as usual?

I agree it is archaic. And I also don’t fall for the argument that retail staff etc want a day off, I work hospitality and Sundays are our busiest day. There’s rotas so you don’t need to do it every week and there’s enough people who want flexible jobs to fill the shifts.

I quite like it. It's quaint.

Most countries in Europe do not allow opening on Sunday to protect workers' rights and families.

Agree. They would just have a different day of the week off, like Saturday. No reason the shop building can’t open for longer and just employ more staff. With supermarket profits they can easily afford it. It’s so inconvenient forgetting something then going to Tesco express as it is the only out of hours option, and paying 50% more for the same thing because it’s a convenience store.

We don't have that where I am. Normal hours for most shops on Sundays and supermarkets are 24hrs anyway here. Sounds like it would be a pain! Though I suppose it's good for the staff that they have a shorter shift on Sundays wherever you are.

Also it’s not like having a shorter shift on Sunday is even useful as everywhere else is shut so you can’t even DO anything after work!

It's a pain in the arse. People will say Sunday is a day for 'faaamily' but the definition of family and the roles within has changed. People's lives are often very different to how they were so it seems obvious change is needed.

I’m Scottish and when I moved to England I found it so annoying! When you realise you need something at 7pm on Sunday and you can’t get it. Drove me mad. Delighted to now be back in Scotland with my 24 hour ASDA.

My parents are Scottish - you can’t buy booze after 10pm am I right? Funny how different countries have quirky little rules

Totally agree . I also think everything being shut on Easter Sunday is ridiculous .

@DoYouSmokePaul Is your user name from a certain dance track by any chance?

That’s true! And also you can’t buy before 10am which has caught me out a few times trying to buy wine for cooking a lasagna. Having to hang around by the booze section until they lift the barriers makes me feel judged 😂

Haha, yes, love that you recognised it!

I think it's archaic too. I don't see how it has any protection of a day of rest for the population, especially given that almost every other leisure activity is open on a Sunday. I can go to a restaurant, theatre, cinema, bowling, ice skating, gym, pub, zoo ,online shop, request a Sunday delivery ad nauseam, all of which are non-essential, take away from quiet family time, and require non-essential workers to work on the 'day of rest'. I really don't see why shopping is different.

Yeh because supermarkets aren’t open long enough throughout the week.

You can't buy booze before 10am which is annoying if you do an early shop.

It needs to change really.
My local Waitrose is 10 Sainsbury's 1030.
I get up before 5 everyday for work and can't do lie ins so waiting until 10 seems ages.
I do try to shop sat eve but sometimes need bits.
Times and families have changed so let's keep shut Xmas day and bank hols and crack on the rest of the time like we do in hospitality.
People always want to eat morning noon and night.

I agree. Absolutely stupid out-dared law that should be changed!

What on earth does this have to do with the Sunday scaries?

*outdated. Obviously. 🙄

I imagine this is easy to write if you don't work in retail. I am happy with it and rather it was shut completely.

Do you think everything being shut on Christmas Day is ridiculous too? Not that it is, for hospitality workers at least.

It'snot just about trading hours though is it, I'm sure supermarkets would love to be open longer but it's also a chance for the Supermarkets to do big promo changes, deep clean the store without doing it at silly o'clock in the morning to avoid customers.

Tell me your English without telling me your English 😂😂😂

Why? It is an important religious day and we are still in name a Christian country.