Should Shops Be Shut Boxing Day?

suki1964

Tallaght wrote: »

I can remember when things such as football matches were banned on a sunday.

Come live here, its not that long ago that kiddies play parks were locked on a Sunday

Even now, in 2018, I get evil looks because I dare have my washing on the line on a Sunday ( or as its known here The Sabbath or Lords Day) and don't even mention the uproar when I dare mow my lawn on a Sunday

Marisco

suki1964 wrote: »

Come live here, its not that long ago that kiddies play parks were locked on a Sunday

Even now, in 2018, I get evil looks because I dare have my washing on the line on a Sunday ( or as its known here The Sabbath or Lords Day) and don't even mention the uproar when I dare mow my lawn on a Sunday

And *shock horror* I suppose you wash the car as well? Disgusting

suki1964

Marisco wrote: »

And *shock horror* I suppose you wash the car as well? Disgusting

Not only that, but one farmer, who let me walk the dog on his land, and always stopped for a chat when we met, totally blanked me after he found I worked behind a bar on a Sunday. :rotfl::rotfl:

tastyhog

I bet the ones moaning about shops opening are the ones more than happy to go to a pub / restaurant over Christmas, or get a Chinese or Indian takeaway over Christmas, or get a taxi home after going on the pi$$

But oh no, someone can't possibly go shopping on one of the few days they might actually have off work.

K9sandFelines

charlotte1994 wrote: »

My local Home Bargains shop is closed Boxing Day, they say so the staff can have a break and be with their families. I love this idea, I don't see why people need to go shopping (that isn't for food) on Boxing day, the staff need a break too!!

I remember my mum telling me about a customer who came into her shop and asked if they were open Christmas Day, she said of course not and he replied "well what if I need more wine?" :eek:

Do you think all shops should follow suit? Or do you think they should open for Boxing Day? :j

I think it should be like it was before Sunday opening was approved. Its supply and demand though in unfortunately. I work in a shop and we are even open Christmas day. Its consumerism gone mad.

AJS321

No. It should be up to individual shops to decide whether the anticipated revenue will cover the overhead costs of opening for the day.

The more important issue regards shops being forced to close on Christmas Day and the Sunday trading restrictions.


The laws that restrict Sunday opening hours and ban almost all shops from opening Christmas Day were originally intended to make sure shop workers had time to go to church and are a hangover from a bygone era. The fact that we now live in a multi- faith and multi-cultural society means that these laws can no longer be justified. Admittedly, if these laws were repealed I imagine very few shops would open on Christmas Day, but it shouldn’t be something that’s forced upon them by law.


There is the argument that staff want time to spend with their families, but there’s two sides to this argument. Last year was the first year the call centre at the company I work for closed on Boxing Day instead of opening reduced hours, and this year its only opening reduced hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and not opening at all on New Year’s Day. Some of the staff are greatful for this, but others are moaning that they’re losing an opportunity to earn overtime pay. And some of these people are parents with young children.

girlybags

I go shopping on Boxing Day every year because it’s when the sales start. I would be equally happy to wait and go shopping on the 27th if shops decided to stay closed on Boxing Day, it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.

StumpyPumpy

AJS321 wrote: »

The more important issue regards shops being forced to close on Christmas Day and the Sunday trading restrictions.

The Sunday trading laws were suspended for the 2012 London Olympics and the Government of the time held consultations with representatives of the big supermarkets about making the suspension permanent. The stores came to a consensus which was that they didn't want the rules relaxed so after the Olympics the restrictions returned.

And the reason they didn't want them relaxed? A special form of religion: Mammon. The supermarkets calculated that they get as much trade during the 6 hours they are open on a Sunday as they would if they were to be open all day. But if they were open all day they would have to pay staff for two shifts rather than the current one, heat and light the store for longer, etc., etc., Lots of extra expense for no extra sales. And they also figured out that it would only take one store group to break a self-imposed embargo to ruin all that and force them all to open, thereby incurring all the additional costs. So they backed the status quo and to have it enforced by law.

SP

Moonlustie

I think as many people as possible should have Boxing Day off - people buy enough crap for two days anyway - so why do they need shops?

mjm3346

Although I wouldn't be shopping in store anyway, shops should be able to open everyday of the year providing the very small minority of people who actually attend church are allowed time off to do so if need be.