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?

We have 5 days a week and Saturdays 7 am /10pm and Tesco till 12am weekdays! Why do we need Sundays as well ? When I grew up ,there were no shops open on Sunday .We all survived and Mum managed to get stuff during the week with no extra hours and working as well! Staff will be pressured and often have no choice ,many are parents and want to see DC if they have been to School during the week .

Well I guess it's because we are a Christian country and on Sunday you're not supposed to work.

Leaving aside how many people are actually actively practicing Christians, it’s either fine to work on a Sunday or it isn’t according to that argument. There’s nothing in the Bible that says working on Sunday is fine if it’s short days!

A good question. Probably because pubs and restaurants have always been opened traditionally in the evenings and weekends- it is the nature of that business.

Yeah let’s flog everyone to death. Get people working 24/6 365 days a year and have nothing sacred ever, with no value at all given to the concept of rest and quality of life.

It’s called “I Don’t Smoke”

I only found out recently the sample is Marcus Brigstocke!

Easter Sunday should remain as is, regarding shops closure , ditto Christmas Day, reflecting UK Christian heritage and UK Christian traditions.
The UK managed just fine before Sunday shopping hours became a thing in 1994; it doesn't need to change any further.

We holidayed in Austria and Germany last summer and struggled to find restaurants open on the Sundays, even in big cities and very touristy areas, and there were no food shops open. A lot of mainland Europe, even in places like France which is a secular country, take Sunday as a day off for family very seriously. If that's the way that it has always been, you don't expect anything different.

@iguano88

sunday trading is an utter mistake and the shops should close again on Sunday.

not about religion rather a day to be different.

all Sunday trading did in the long run was spread 6 days trade over seven and hence increased costs for shops leading to the run down of Physical retail.

if also led to very day being like others and well it would appear the UK has being getting. Worse and worse over the last three decades.

this is just one part of that.

So no I think you are utterly wrong

Agreed- for some jobs, there is no choice. Hospital doctors, nurses, care workers, etc. And for pubs and restaurants, leisure industries.

But no-one needs to go shopping on a Sunday, especially now that weekday and Saturday hours include late evenings, etc.

all Sunday trading did in the long run was spread 6 days trade over seven and hence increased costs for shops leading to the run down of Physical retail.

Right, so nothing else that’s happened over the last 30 years has led to the run down of physical retail (like, I don’t know, Internet shopping)? Just Sunday trading?

True. But if we're saying that people deserve a day to spend time with their family, why shouldn't that apply to hospitality or leisure workers? Just because it's always been one way doesn't mean it can't/shouldn't change

I work for a supermarket on Sundays. We struggle with staff that willingly work Sundays. Other retailers seem to make their staff work 1 in 3-4 Sundays and then get Friday or Saturday off.

Remember that next Sunday (Easter Sunday) the large supermarkets and shops will be closed.

The Tesco Expresses, Sainsbury’s Locals, Spars etc will be open. Always a queue for the small car parks as people can’t cope with supermarkets closed!

If you think Sunday trading hours are rubbish- go to Scotland. No laws.

I tried to buy loads of booze in Aldi one Sunday morning in Scotland . I didn’t even know there was a 10am start and I’m Scottish. The checkout person looked very unimpressed and lined up all my forbidden booze on the side. It was coming up to Christmas and was about 18 bottles of Prosecco, wine and port. I don’t really get the point of it, I can’t imagine alchoholics are all waiting till ten for a drink.

I remember before we had Sunday opening, when all shops were closed every Sunday. Sunday had a special feel about it. It was, for a lot of people, a day of rest.

It catches me out too every time I visit England. Here in north Italy they are open on Sundays from 8am-8pm.

When the store closes it only stops trading, staff are still working late into the night. B&m staff are in to midnight on Sunday.....so plenty time for people who wish to work longer hours. Also staff start at 6am on Sundays.....again, there's alot of jobs getting done even if the store isn't open.

I hate it too, and I don't understand why it's still a thing.

As other posters have said, you can do everything else on a Sunday like go to the cinema/for food so their staff go to work, the "staff need time off" argument doesn't wash anymore. Besides, there are plenty of people who'd be happy to work on Sundays. The whole idea is outdated.

This exactly- and nothing for most to do with being a Christian. It meant a day when all family could get together, or friends, or families. Of course this didn't apply to the nursing and medical profession, care, police- because of the nature of the job.

Inititally, when supermarkets decided to open much longer hours- it was meant to be entirely voluntary. But I remember when Tesco sent all cashiers and workers a letter saying it would not longer be so- and that all would have to work 'unsocial' hours, irrespective of family needs, etc.

I like it- we live in a 24/7 society as it is. If we can’t survive losing a few hours of trading a week, god help us. Down time is good.

But we’re not losing a few hours of trading, as those hours don’t exist yet. And of course we can survive - we already are doing. But that doesn’t mean “managing” or “surviving” should be the only goal in life. What’s wrong with wanting a bit more convenience?

The people who get all bleeding heart about the staff having to work longer hours never seem that bothered about the staff in pubs, restaurants, bowling alleys, cinemas, leisure centres etc. - all the places they’ll want to go on their “special family Sunday”.

I will always stand by the fact the majority of society is still timed to be on a housewife's schedule. I am not a housewife. If I want to pop to the shop at 6 on a Sunday why shouldn't I be able to?

Most supermarkets open Mon to Sat from 7am till 9/10/11pm..plenty of time for folk to get their shopping. Nobody works 24 hours a day seven days a week.
7pm Sunday and you've forgotten something. Just pop out to the ruddy convenience storr!!

I think just a couple of extra hours would be sensible.

The thing I hate is them being open for browsing. Either open or don't.