Should all shops be closed on Boxing Day?

Person_one

kathrynha wrote: »

I don't necessarily think there should be a ban, but I think there should be a limit on opening times.


For a 5am Next sale opening time the employees would have to be there at 4.30am at the latest, so to be there sober, that probably means no drinking Christmas day evening, as well as an early night. Then if they don't drive, there would be no public transport, and a taxi would cost a fortune.


10-4 or 11-5 Sunday opening would more reasonable for employees, whilst still allowing those that can't cope with shops being closed 2 days in a row a chance to shop.

That sounds like a reasonable compromise, so clearly it won't happen!

As for online, I don't see why websites can't be up and running but not offering same or next day delivery etc. That's what used to happen on Bank Holidays, Sundays, Christmas and so on isn't it? You could place your order and pay as that was all automated but your order wouldn't be dealt with until the next working day.

Proxima_Centauri

UKParliament wrote: »

Do you work in retail? Are you a shopper who enjoys the Boxing Day sales?

On Monday 12 December at 4.30pm, MPs will debate a petition calling for all retail to be closed on boxing day. The petition reads:

“Close all retail on boxing day, retail isn't needed on boxing day!

Christmas is a family time, the one day is not enough time to see two sides of families, retail workers work extremely hard during the Christmas run up and only get the one day. If only everywhere could be closed boxing day! Some things are needed over the festive period, retail isn't one of them.”

The Petitions Committee wants to hear your views to help inform the debate. In particular, they would like to know:

• If Parliament banned retail stores from opening on Boxing Day, what effect would that have on you? no effect whatsoever
• How important are Boxing Day sales to you? not at all - I hate crowds! :rotfl:
• If you were an MP, what questions would you ask the Government during the debate in Parliament? I would ask why non-essential services shoud be open over the holiday period. My local chemist is shut on Xmas and Boxing Day (arguably much more important than going to Next to look for bargains) and we all manage..

Sadly they are never, ever going to win this. People's 'right' to spend money they haven't got trumps workers rights to a day off, should they wish to have one. This has been the case for some time now in this country. Our want (need?) to go shopping 24-7 is bordering on the absurd!

clairesilverspar

I don't work in retail, I don't take part in the sales mania, and I like the idea that I'd get to spend more time with my family members who do work in retail, without them being stressed about upcoming sales and having to be up ridiculously early.


However, I also have friends who work in retail who are absolutely relying on the extra pay from working on Boxing Day, not to pay for Christmas, but for general living expenses. I know if I told one that she would have lost not just one, but two days pay in that week, she'd have to go hungry to cover the bills - she simply can't afford to make a big deal about Christmas.


I don't like the idea of imposing one version of what Christmas "should be" on others who maybe don't celebrate or rely on that extra income. I'm also not sure I agree with the limited Sunday opening hours either, but that's not currently up for debate.


I think people should be given the choice though. While the friend I mention above would take all the hours she could, I know some family members would happily give up their hours to others over Christmas, but they simply don't have a choice - it's forced on them.

motorguy

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

If you (general you) think shops should be closed on Boxing Day, are we talking just high street etc or online too?

High Street Shops should be closed. Websites shouldn't be shut down, but people should have no expectation of an order being processed, even though they should be able to place an order if they wish.

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

If not online we have to remember there are people also working hard to keep websites running, customer service teams, picking and packing etc...

I think there should be no processing on Boxing Day. Any orders placed on Christmas and Boxing Day should be processed on the 27th.


I don't believe there is a requirement at all for high street shops to be open on boxing day or Christmas day. All they are doing is moving trade forward, not necessarily generating any new trade.

PasturesNew

Ignoring "the obvious", let's take them out of the equation as they HAVE to work else we'd all die. Medical staff, police, energy, phone companies, armed forces, kitchen staff at hospitals, porters etc.

Lots of people work on Boxing Day - not just shop workers. Would this just be for shop workers?

What about National Trust property staff, cinema staff, bus drivers, train drivers, pilots? Tourist attractions in general, tea shop staff.

So, would we be asking for "only essential workers" to work, or "essential workers and workers who let us go out for the day and have a cream tea"?

tooldle

I am in my mid 40's. I remember shops closing late afternoon on xmas eve, and reopening on 27th dec. Boxing day opening is a relatively recent thing. I do think those in retail get a rough deal over christmas. My employer closes completely

Former_MSE_Andrea

tooldle wrote: »

I am in my mid 40's. I remember shops closing late afternoon on xmas eve, and reopening on 27th dec. Boxing day opening is a relatively recent thing. I do think those in retail get a rough deal over christmas. My employer closes completely

Me too! I was young but it felt quite groundbreaking at the time that shops were going to be open over Christmas!

Are there any shop workers reading this who were working those few years and remember it changing? How did you feel about it?

If you worked for a big retailer over those years it would be great to hear what you thought

clint_S

When I was young I worked the xmas period and there was always a fight about who got to work these days. The extra money you got meant most people wanted to work them and a long list of people on standby.


Lets be honest if you're going to ban them then ban for all non essential roles. So no boxing day TV or radio, Cinema, bowling, restaurants, petrol stations, trains, planes, etc.


Why have we become a country of telling people what they can and can't do? When you took the job you knew there was a large chance you'd have to work the xmas period. Surely people would have taken this in to consideration.

PasturesNew

I remember in the 1960s the local newspapers having full page adverts for the larger shops/department stores to be holding their sales on Boxing Day. Furniture shops too and telly shops .... but supermarkets didn't open.

I also remember the news reporting people who'd queued since about 5am on Boxing Day morning.

I never went shopping on Boxing Day, nor did I ever know anybody who thought this was the thing to do. Having said that, as a family, Boxing Day was the day all the uncles/aunts/cousins went to granny's house for the whole day. Turn up, exchange gifts, have lunch, parents would chat and play cards all afternoon, then it was tea-time, then home by about 7pm.

GlasweJen

I remember being taken Boxing Day shopping when I was 4 or 5 years old. I'm 30 so it's being going on for at least quarter of a century. I got a new pair of pyjamas and some toys with my Christmas money from my uncles.