Should Sunday trading restrictions be lifted?

BigStevie1973

Why does religion dictate when shops can or cannot open? I appreciate that many people need to take time off but if a business wishes to trade 24 hours a day, seven days a week, then it should be allowed to so long as they adhere to employment laws regarding breaks, holidays, etc. To restrict Sunday trading on the grounds that it is the Christian holy day is in my view religious discrimination against non-christians and atheists. I think it's time that all restrictions were lifted on all trades (including bars for that matter) and then perhaps we might get ourselves out of this economic mess we're in. Give people the choice to decide for themselves and stop forcing them to accept the views of others!!

Dudley_1066

I don't see the difference between trading on a Sunday and any other employment on a Sunday. e.g. There doesn't seem to be any issue with the leisure industry working on a Sunday

Lithian

Why does the poll separate based on religion?

Religion isn't relevant to the question surely?

DaybreakGirl

I am sick to death of this, Sunday Trading should be stopped everywhere, including the garages and small corner shops. There is plenty of time to go shopping Monday to Saturday. Family time should be Sunday and this forcing of people to have to work Sundays should stop it is unacceptable. I am not religious so it is not down to that.

stayhomedad

The trading laws are fine as they stand . If you live in a rural location as I do it's good the the village shop gets the chance to make a few quid while the supermarkets are close. It is about 12 mile to the nearest supermarket from here and I like the fact that I can 'pop to the shop' to get those few items I forgot. With the cost of fuel being what it is.....!

elvis86

Sundays should be like any other day. The religious views of a few shouldn't influence the law like this. It's ridiculous.

Employment law should ensure that people aren't overworked and have adequate rest days, not antiquated Sunday trading laws. I can't see how reduced opening hours on a Sunday help in this respect anyway? Everyone I know who works full time in retail works an 8 hour shift when they are required to work on a Sunday, just as they do on any other day of the week?

I'd go as far as to say that anyone who believes that working on a Sunday goes against their faith should get a Monday - Friday 9-5 job. I don't think it's reasonable to choose to work in retail and then demand one of the busiest trading days off on the grounds of religion.

Lithian

DaybreakGirl wrote: »

There is plenty of time to go shopping Monday to Saturday. Family time should be Sunday and this forcing of people to have to work Sundays should stop it is unacceptable.

What? … What??? … WHAT?????

I don't even know how someone can write such foolishness in so few words

custardy

DaybreakGirl wrote: »

I am sick to death of this, Sunday Trading should be stopped everywhere, including the garages and small corner shops. There is plenty of time to go shopping Monday to Saturday. Family time should be Sunday and this forcing of people to have to work Sundays should stop it is unacceptable.

cool. so no emergency services etc on a Sunday?
no going out for Sunday lunch?

MSE_Martin

Lithian wrote: »

Why does the poll separate based on religion?

Religion isn't relevant to the question surely?

Religion is what the discussion is about. Sunday Trading rules originate from protecting the Christian sabbath - the two are linked.

The poll indicates very effectively that views are different whether you are a member of a faith or not.

My personal view is that Sunday trading should be the same, but we should have protected employment rights for those practising members of faiths that they should not be disenfrachised or suffer any work or promotion deterioration from not working on their holy days.

elvis86

DaybreakGirl wrote: »

I am sick to death of this, Sunday Trading should be stopped everywhere, including the garages and small corner shops. There is plenty of time to go shopping Monday to Saturday. Family time should be Sunday and this forcing of people to have to work Sundays should stop it is unacceptable.

I'd rather like to choose when I shop and when I spend my "family time", rather than being told that this has to be on a Sunday. If you want to spend time with your family on Sunday then find a job that allows for that and do it. It's your choice, it doesn't require legislation forcing everyone to live as you want to.

For those of us that work Monday - Friday, it would be rather inconvenient not to be able to shop on one of our two days off. And following your logic, that everyone should be free for "family time" on Sundays, everywhere else would be closed too. Sundays at home doing nothing? No thanks.

It's a joke that in a recession, we've stupid laws like this, based on religious clap-trap, preventing businesses from opening and trading.