To be annoyed at non essential shops who are keeping their doors open?

[Mlou32]

Big stores such as Penneys (Primark), Brown Thomas and loads of other businesses big and small have all shut up shop for now in an attempt to help with social distancing. However the likes of Debenhams and other non essential types of shop are happily still trading. Of course I know folk have personal responsibility and we should be (and I certainly am) only going to the shops once a week on my own to do the groceries. Then coming straight home. And everyone should be adhering to this level of essential contact only. However the likes of department stores and other non essential shops continuing to trade is to me, the height of social irresponsibility. As I say, there is a level of personal responsibility that people should be taking however there is always going to be those who don't give a damn and do what they like. These shops being open just seem to be encouraging those who have no intention of adhering to government advice to come out and mingle in public. They are open so people will come.

Its actually really irking me. It's like they're putting profit above peoples health and safety.

I do understand the stark financial situation that many businesses are finding themselves under at present. I also know that the government hasn't explicitly ordered them to close. But can't they use common sense and regard for public health and just shut their doors?

Am I being unreasonable at being annoyed at these stores?

YANBU at all. They need to shut. I think they need to be forced to shut.

A lot are closing this weekend around where I live. We have a huge outlet near where I live and a lot of the stores there are closing tomorrow for a month.

Depends on how you look at it. The staff working there are probably relying on the money because they know a shutdown is imminent and they won't get paid. The people shopping at these stores are just as irresponsible in my opinion.

Without customers they have no business. Maybe direct your ire to the cause rather than the consequence.

The high street is on its arse. A lot of retailers will be fighting for survival, Debenhams was on its last legs before Christmas. Laura Ashley went to the wall this week.

Staying open means at least the workers are getting paid for a little while longer.

@G3m81 oh yes, I completely agree, it must be such a worry for employees. I'm finding myself in a situation where I'm concerned about where my next pay cheque is coming from.

It's not the employees that I blame, it's the stores (those who are responsible for making the decision to keep trading) and the people who are continuing to visit the stores.

I will certainly have a long memory in regards to those who are being socially responsible and those who aren't. And the latter won't be getting my business in future.

If only they could afford to.....

businesses can’t claim on their insurance unless forced to close by the government.

Whilst it’s one thing for big companies to close temporarily, without income many small businesses will not survive. They have no choice to continue trading until the government actually mandates it - many of them would welcome that.

@penelopepeachstone "without customers, they have no business"

Yes, true. However without companies and people being socially irresponsible, some people will end up with no lives.

It really is that serious.

Possibly the staff are on zero-hour contacts. No work = no pay. It's a shitty situation.

People are equally selfish and stupid.

The government need to take stronger action, force everything to close and try to minimise the duration of this mess. No one will benefit from an extended isolation period, no one.

Ikea's closing this week, as is Ecco. Still trading online.

@JustInCaseCakeHappens oh I completely agree, the government needs to take decisive action and order closures across the country. You'll find no arguments from me there. However I just think that companies should be acting responsibly and helping to stem the transmission of this virus and that includes encouraging no non essential contact by closing their doors.

As I said in my initial post, I totally understand and have great empathy for the financial situation that businesses are finding themselves in. However surely with the knowledge that they, by continuing to trade, are encouraging people to mingle, to the great detriment of the health of our society (regardless of an individuals obvious personal responsibility which I am very firm on) they would think twice?

What do you expect shops to do? They will be unable to claim on their business insurance unless forced to close. People are still going to work and still need an income, who is going to support the thousands of people who work in retail?
In an ideal world these shops would shut, but what happens in a months time when the staff have no job to return too?
I agree the situation is extremely serious

Sorry, that should have read without companies and people being socially responsible, some people will end up with no lives.

I'm a store manager for a fairly big non essential retailer. We are still trading. I can see both sides of the argument to be honest. Our MD has been very transparent about the repercussions when we inevitably do close. I am torn between wanting us to close and also the worry that we may not have jobs to go back to once this eventually blows over. It's really tough.

Mainly shocked at the amount of people still happily out shopping to be honest!

@Glitterb I expect the companies to act with some regard for public health. As I've said in my initial thread (and numerous times afterwards), I do have a great deal of empathy for business owners and workers' financial situations. Not having a job to come back to would be awful. I'm falling on hard times myself due to this. But surely allowing this virus to spread like wildfire and people losing their lives - 144 or thereabouts I believe in the UK and over 10,000 worldwide, is even more awful.

Without social responsibility, which comes with tough consequences at times, the death rate will rise exponentially.

Yanbu. What is it that people don't understand about social distancing? I despair of my fellow citizens sometimes.

I work in Primark. We are still trading even though the store is extremely empty. Reduced opening times not no signs of closure as of yet.

I wonder about big call centres too, and how they will manage things? I worked in one that only closed on Christmas Day. It was a retail company, so non essential, but still very busy.

*but.. Not not.

It's just a shitty situation all round really, it's so so difficult for everybody. But surely there needs to come a time where you have to make one really difficult decision over another really difficult decision for the overall greater good?

I work in a charity shop. We are still open. No plans to close. Fuck knows why because we are taking next to nothing but are being overwhelmed with donations that we don’t have the volunteers to process.

Apparently from Saturday they are reducing our opening hours but will still be open 7 days a week with emails asking how we are planning to increase sales etc.

All office based staff are now working from home and have been for a couple of weeks now. Way to make us feel valued 😢

@HaveeeeYouMetTed really? Penneys (which is the name that Primark trades under in Ireland) has announced the decision to close their doors as of today I believe. I wonder if the UK branches will follow suit...

For small shops and businesses it's not just locking the door. They will likely go out of business in weeks and then thats your life savings, livelihood and maybe last 10 or 20 years gone. If they can carry on with suitable distance and hygiene precautions... It's a really hard caĺl.