Should all shops be closed on Boxing Day?

catkins

clint_S wrote: »

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.

If there are not many vacancies or you only want to work part time there may not be much choice as to where you work.

DomRavioli wrote: »

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.

Well clearly you have never worked in retail. I don't know anyone who can take holiday over the Christmas period so NO there is no choice whatsoever

cazs

I used to work for a well-known retailer (no longer in existence) and would choose whether to work Boxing Day or not. As it's a public holiday I don't think you could be or can be forced to work that day. I sometimes chose to as I got time and a half which was a 'big thing' for me then.
I love going Boxing Day shopping. If people are willing to work it, I'm willing to go shopping.

provista_2

I work in retail and there is no extra money or 'overtime' it's that same rate whenever you work, only difference, the customers are rude and aggressive.
One side of our business is a pharmacy but when the only customers that come to your counter what normal bubble bath, I'm sure it could have waited a day.

maman

I'm sure we'd manage and the world wouldn't grind to a halt if the shops were closed on Boxing Day but it isn't going to happen.

Since the 80s shopping has become a hobby for so many people we won't turn the clock back now.

I won't be going shopping. That's my choice but as long as it's popular with the general public then the shops will open.

onlyroz

Shop opening hours should be a purely commercial decision, and nothing to do with politics or religion or whatever.

mcduff16

Yes I think shops should be closed on Boxing Day. I know several people who work in retail who have to work on Boxing Day as they are now allowed to take it as annual leave. They would rather be at home with their family than working.

POPPYOSCAR

Yes I would like to see them closed.

Many who work in retail do not get a choice they are told they "are expected" to work that day.

I am not a religious person myself but shopping does seem to have become the new religion for some.

lucyhope

Yes, I would like to see them closed, I can't see why people can't wait another day to go sales shopping.

thorsoak

cliffsgirl wrote: »

I work in a small spar shop and the only day we are closed is Christmas Day. I would love to have Boxing Day off but can't see it happening as we are open the normal hours 6am - 12pm and government guidelines like opening Easter Sunday don't apply to us as we are a petrol station as well. we don't get extra money for working it either.

The Spar where I work will open from 10-4 on Christmas Day - but it has been decided this year that the kitchen will not be open, so fortunately I shan't have to work (especially as it would be my "weekend on". And we're not allowed to take ANY holiday in the month of December.

When my children were students and working at the nearest large shopping centre, they were all expected to work on Boxing Day as part of their contracts - and Next would insist on a 4am start - as soon as DD realised that (way back 1 week after starting in October) she left.

It seemed then as if the full-time staff were allowed some leeway, but the seasonal staff had to suck it all up.

DS3's job at Woolworths (remember them) was to take all the unsold christmas chocolate off the shelves and pack up for return to Cadburys where they would be melted down for easter eggs, so they were told.

catkins

cazs wrote: »

I used to work for a well-known retailer (no longer in existence) and would choose whether to work Boxing Day or not. As it's a public holiday I don't think you could be or can be forced to work that day. I sometimes chose to as I got time and a half which was a 'big thing' for me then.
I love going Boxing Day shopping. If people are willing to work it, I'm willing to go shopping.

I makes no difference that it is a public holiday, you are forced to work. The same applies to all the bank holidays.

Why do you love going shopping on Boxing Day? Surely you could wait until the following day? Personally I find it sad that anyone would want to go shopping when there are so many other things they could be doing.

As I and others have said lots of people are NOT willing to work it but are made to