Should all shops be closed on Boxing Day?

AubreyMac

I use to work at a major tourist attraction and I was in the retail part. Around xmas period and new year was one of the most busiest times. Tourists who come here over xmas will want to explore the retail district of regent and oxford street (instead of staying in their hotels all day with nothing to see/do). My current work place closes on boxing day but if I could, I would choose to come into work and save my annual leave for a day off that I actually want.

Xmas time is one where most employers will want holiday requests in advance to rota staff in, there are many who will prefer to work on boxing day and cover for those who wish to be off so employers and staff should have the right to do this if it suits them. If being off on boxing day means so much to someone they will request it as annual leave or come to a compromise.

About the issue of staff getting to work earlier/later on boxing day – I want to point out that the public transport needs to improve for this. Service is limited and all cab/taxi’s I’ve ever taken during this time double their fares as they know some people have little choice. An option could be that if retailers open on boxing day then the employer should arrange for transport there and back.

DomRavioli

Christmas hours can and have paid for a lot of people's christmas spending. This proposal will take away this choice for the many.

I also would like to point out that there is a seperation of religion and state in the UK - this is in direct conflict with this; as someone who celebrates christmas purely in a commercial (and not religious) way, and who isn't of a faith associated with Christmas as a religious holiday, this is absolutely against the millions of other faiths or of no faith. Why should they be forced to take a day's pay cut because someone wants a religious holiday off? Surely they should do as those of other faiths do and use their holiday allowance if it means so much to them?

This is completely unjust.

divadee

I would like all retail shops to close on Boxing Day and it just be essential services that are open.

I may be old fashioned for my age (40) but I don't go shopping on Boxing Day. I refuse too. I have worked in retail and have family who still work in retail and the pressure they are put under to work Boxing Day is extreme. People say that they are queuing up for the overtime I have never seen. I have seen it go to names in a hat as no one wanted to work Boxing Day but they needed staff and that was the only fair way of doing it.

One year they said staff members with children wouldn't have to work but everyone else would and all hell broke loose. Why should people with children take priority of family time over a couple or a single person spending time with their family.

It's for 2 days. That's all. The world won't end if the shops are shut for 3 days.

At a push I think a compromise of 11-4 opening hours. But I personally would like a full ban on opening on Boxing Day. And before people say 'what if people don't celebrate Christmas'. If I go to another country and a special or religious occasion is on and there shops are closed I don't kick off saying 'but I don't celebrate xyz so why aren't they shops open'. In this country we predominantly celebrate Christmas so we should have family time just for 2 days.

AubreyMac

If people only bother to make the effort for family (or someone special) just on one or two days per year, I think they need to re-assess their family values.

PasturesNew

AubreyMac wrote: »

If people only bother to make the effort for family (or someone special) just on one or two days per year, I think they need to re-assess their family values.

I think it's more the case of more people being guaranteed the time off from work in order to be able to get together.

That's what I see as a good thing about Christmas: a collective ability for more people to know they've got the day off, so plans can be made and traditions built. There's also the feeling of jollity around those few days, with TV entertainment being in keeping with the mood etc.

dolly84

divadee wrote: »

I would like all retail shops to close on Boxing Day and it just be essential services that are open.

I may be old fashioned for my age (40) but I don't go shopping on Boxing Day. I refuse too. I have worked in retail and have family who still work in retail and the pressure they are put under to work Boxing Day is extreme. People say that they are queuing up for the overtime I have never seen. I have seen it go to names in a hat as no one wanted to work Boxing Day but they needed staff and that was the only fair way of doing it.

One year they said staff members with children wouldn't have to work but everyone else would and all hell broke loose. Why should people with children take priority of family time over a couple or a single person spending time with their family.

It's for 2 days. That's all. The world won't end if the shops are shut for 3 days.

At a push I think a compromise of 11-4 opening hours. But I personally would like a full ban on opening on Boxing Day. And before people say 'what if people don't celebrate Christmas'. If I go to another country and a special or religious occasion is on and there shops are closed I don't kick off saying 'but I don't celebrate xyz so why aren't they shops open'. In this country we predominantly celebrate Christmas so we should have family time just for 2 days.

I totally agree with your last point about not celebrating - if you don't celebrate Christmas - so what.

We should never, ever have got into this crazy 24 hour, shop without thinking, constant stream of junk going from the shops into our houses and back out to landfill position in the first place. People need to show some self control. This craziness cannot go on forever.

Person_one

DomRavioli wrote: »

I also would like to point out that there is a seperation of religion and state in the UK

I wish this were true but it isn't.

jackieblack

Does the fact that I remember when the shops were closed for several days at Christmas and the 'January Sales' actually started in January make me officially old?

Rosemary7391

I think we need to calm down on the 24/7 switched on thing. Shops are a part of that. Also mindless buying and throwing away of things. If it's needed, or wanted, it can be bought another day. If shops would actually lose money from not opening 1 day collectively, then people are buying things they don't need and don't really want, so why are we doing it? Whether it's boxing day or not is immaterial to that point, that's just a convenient convention we have due to the cultural heritage of this country. That's relevant even if you don't celebrate Christmas.

Kim_kim

Yes!!!
Retail staff have worked their socks off in the run up to Christmas - they deserve a break with their family.