Wow, Target is closed today

[TLSnell1981]

As a retail employee, I'm so glad that stores/malls are closed on Easter. I rarely get a holiday off with my husband (the next one will be Thanksgiving) so it's nice to spend the day together. I feel sorry for employees of stores that were open. I know eventually every place will be open, but I'll cherish it while it lasts.

Most stores were closed here, but some restaurants were open (including, where DGD works)

I wish stores, would go back to closing on Sunday. It would be nice, for families to have one day a week together. I grew up with Sunday dinners at Grandma's... Families have too little time together, but sadly, that bell will never be unrung.

 

[KristaTX]

So who decides which holidays businesses should be closed on? Should they be closed on Good Friday? What about Rosh Hashanah? Yom Kippur? Ramadan?

Of course it's up to each business to decide whether to be open. Then it's up to consumers to decide whether to patronize those businesses.

Keep in mind for some people Easter is "just another Sunday".

Whoever is in charge of the store/company decides. They can do what they want. If people don't like it, they can not go to Target from now on. Target has been closed for years on Easter, and they know how it affects their business or their employees. This is no skin off their back, or they'd change their policy and be open on Easter.

For many people retail is a second job, meaning they can work only on the weekend. If a store is closed for the entire day, they don't have the opportunity to work and get paid. Not to mention the many families that have to do their shopping and other errands on a Sunday.

Understand that there are millions of people in the United States for whom Easter is just another Sunday.

I'm sure all those Target employees were never told when they were hired that there were a couple of holidays (two whole days I think? - Christmas and Easter). I picture them spending their day off at home yesterday complaining about being off. There was no fun and no joy involved whatsoever, I'm sure. Those poor, unfortunate souls just sat around all day lamenting that Target was closed.
I bet that no one who works at Target was upset when they decided to open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. They all wanted to go to work instead of be off with their families. In fact, I bet most employees wished that Target would open at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving instead of 8 p.m. The employees should sue Target so that they have to be open on Easter, too.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Of course the store did what they thought was best. No one is saying "Stores should be open." We're just questioning why people are happy the stores are closed, or wishing more stores were closed.

On a religious - not legal - holiday. Anybody who wants a countrywide regroup might want to focus on getting retail businesses to close on the legal holidays. All of them, not just Christmas and (usually) Thanksgiving

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I stopped in at Walmart yesterday mid-afternoon to pick up some cold medicine. I felt guilty for doing it. The cashier told me with a sigh that she had been working since early morning, had missed church and family Easter dinner and would be sadly eating cold leftovers alone in her apartment after work.

Those of us who would really prefer that retail be closed on holidays (religious or not) need to put our money where our mouth is.

 

[Disneychix]

We called Lowes to see if they were open and ran there in the morning. Then went next door to Wegmans. After that we tried to go next door to Target and saw they were closed (no sign up anywhere) and looked across the poarking lot at Kohls and saw they were closed too. So I did run half my errands for the day!

 

[pigletgirl]

I stopped in at Walmart yesterday mid-afternoon to pick up some cold medicine. I felt guilty for doing it. The cashier told me with a sigh that she had been working since early morning, had missed church and family Easter dinner and would be sadly eating cold leftovers alone in her apartment after work.

Those of us who would really prefer that retail be closed on holidays (religious or not) need to put our money where our mouth is.

Exactly. People can wait a day to buy paper towels. I feel for anyone who had to work yesterday (other than healthcare). Easter is a family day.

 

[TinkerBelled]

On a religious - not legal - holiday. Anybody who wants a countrywide regroup might want to focus on getting retail businesses to close on the legal holidays. All of them, not just Christmas and (usually) Thanksgiving

Oh, I absolutely agree. That's what Labor Day was invented for, after all! And I'd have no problem with stores staying open that day if they wanted to give another day off in lieu.

As for the religious angle, I've watched lots of people try to deal with taking time off for their religious holidays while others don't have to. (It doesn't help that the HHH are often just when school is ramping back up.) It's probably not a topic for the boards, but wouldn't it be made so much easier if there was a minimum amount of paid leave required? (There I am getting all Euro again...)

 

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

The true beauty of all of this is that a store, not the government, decides when to be open and closed on holidays. My opinion does not really matter, but I can exercise my opinion (i.e., the store should have/have not been open) by either continuing to or discontinuing shopping at said store. If my religious beliefs/practices precluded me from working on certain holidays, I need to find an employer with which my beliefs/practices allow me to be off on those holidays. Every company I’ve ever worked for has always told me which holidays I would have off (either paid or unpaid) before I accepted employment.

 

[dawnhaze]

I just feel bad for the employees who don't receive holiday pay, which is probably most of them. A day off with family is nice, but if you're living paycheck to paycheck, it's not always worth it. I've been there and done that, unfortunately.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Exactly. People can wait a day to buy paper towels. I feel for anyone who had to work yesterday (other than healthcare). Easter is a family day.

It's only a family day for those who celebrate Easter...

For the rest of us, it's just another Sunday.

 

[Hrhpd]

Most stores had it posted if they were going to be closed. People should just rearrange their errands and grocery store trips, I did, really no big deal.

I am sure that missing one day of work didn't kill anyone, in fact if this is a second job they probably needed a little time off with the family.

There are millions for whom Easter is a MAJOR holiday. The store obviously did what they thought was best.

First of all, I firmly believe a store should decide whether it should be open or not.

Now for the bolded: what a ridiculous thing to say. Try telling people that are already reeling from the economy that missing a day of unpaid work won't kill them. If that is true, why is everybody worried about furloughs - either through impending sequestration or with private companies? (DH's private company just instituted furloughs that have nothing to do with sequestration.) It is very obvious that people are very worried about those unpaid days off across the economy.

If somebody is working a second job, they probably need the money from that second job. I can't understand the attitude written here.

Now, people probably have planned for not being paid, but a lost day of income is a hit to a budget no matter what.

 

[mhsjax]

First of all, I firmly believe a store should decide whether it should be open or not.

Now for the bolded: what a ridiculous thing to say. Try telling people that are already reeling from the economy that missing a day of unpaid work won't kill them. If that is true, why is everybody worried about furloughs - either through impending sequestration or with private companies? (DH's private company just instituted furloughs that have nothing to do with sequestration.) It is very obvious that people are very worried about those unpaid days off across the economy.

If somebody is working a second job, they probably need the money from that second job. I can't understand the attitude written here.

Now, people probably have planned for not being paid, but a lost day of income is a hit to a budget no matter what.

I am sorry you don't understand my thoughts and attitude. I simple said that if is was a second job that one day off probably wasn't a bad thing. Most likely they are working 7 days a week.

I don't understand a lot of attitudes here on the Dis, it is frustrating isn't it?

I don't see where anyone here is worried about a day off, in fact one poster said the person wasn't happy about working.

Furloughs are being worried about because these jobs pay way more than the minimum wage that Target and places like that pay. Seriously, I can't believe that you can compare the 2. That is REALLY the ridiculous thing.

My DH worked for the Govt and one day lost income can't be compared to losing a day at work with Target or any other store.

 

[Mkrop]

Exactly. People can wait a day to buy paper towels. I feel for anyone who had to work yesterday (other than healthcare). Easter is a family day.

But who gets to decide what stores/businesses are open...for some having that CVS open was absolutely essential bc they needed something for an illness or an injury...

what about the gas station, should everyone just fill up the day before, and too bad for the people traveling further than a tank of gas. What about certain places like a McDs or a rest stop, maybe they need to stop somewhere to eat while traveling, those people are not healthcare related.

Than I guess all restaurants and country clubs need to be closed bc they are not essential, so nobody should go out for that Easter brunch or dinner?


What about all the people who do not celebrate Easter, they cant go get a cup of coffee at Starbuck bc those employees want to be with their families?

How about the tow truck operator who comes and helps your relative who came to your home and now got a flat after dinner, should he say sorry too bad I am spending time with my family?


There are tons of businesses that are open bc they need to be or some bc they want to be...that should be up to the business owners and corporations, if you dont like it dont shop, eat or gas up there. And also check with these employers before taking a job with them.

 

[Mkrop]

I am sorry you don't understand my thoughts and attitude. I simple said that if is was a second job that one day off probably wasn't a bad thing. Most likely they are working 7 days a week.

I don't understand a lot of attitudes here on the Dis, it is frustrating isn't it?

I don't see where anyone here is worried about a day off, in fact one poster said the person wasn't happy about working.

Furloughs are being worried about because these jobs pay way more than the minimum wage that Target and places like that pay. Seriously, I can't believe that you can compare the 2. That is REALLY the ridiculous thing.

My DH worked for the Govt and one day lost income can't be compared to losing a day at work with Target or any other store.

Are you kidding me???? It is all relative to what that person usually survives on...so yes losing a day's work could mean a lot for some people. I know a dad who is working at Best Buy, entry level, the only job he could get, and is paying child support to his child, while living at home with his parents and his soon to be ex spouse claims she cant work....so yes him missing one day of work makes a difference for all of them.

 

[sam_gordon]

My DH worked for the Govt and one day lost income can't be compared to losing a day at work with Target or any other store.

That has got to be one of the most egotistical things I've read. A day off (assuming a F/T employee) is a 20% paycut for the week, REGARDLESS of what the rate is. Just because someone is making minimum wage doesn't make the impact any better. Whether you're relying on that money for mortgage, rent, utilities, gas, food, or whatever, it IS important to most people, regardless of how much money it actually is.

 

[mhsjax]

I think these threads are really becoming old. People can't believe that some think stores should be closed and others can't believe that some think they should be open. It is a no win situation. It just gets so nasty, as does most things here on the Dis.

I know I worked retail in high school, HATED working holidays but that was all that was available for a high school kid. Sure I knew it going in, but I didn't like it. And it doesn't bother me now if a store decides to close, because I remember hating working holidays when most others were off.

So everyone go ahead and yell about how you know going in that the stores are open. Go ahead and rant about how we still go to WDW and don't care, go ahead and compare it to a hospital, police, emergency worker, (although that is laughable) I don't care. I hated working holidays and it doesn't bother me a bit if a store closes. NOthing anyone says will change my mind.

 

[mhsjax]

That has got to be one of the most egotistical things I've read. A day off (assuming a F/T employee) is a 20% paycut for the week, REGARDLESS of what the rate is. Just because someone is making minimum wage doesn't make the impact any better. Whether you're relying on that money for mortgage, rent, utilities, gas, food, or whatever, it IS important to most people, regardless of how much money it actually is.

It isn't egotistical. The poster was asking why people were worried about furloughs. She also made that comment when I was talking about it being a 2nd part time job, never a full time job. Read before you accuse me of something. YOu can't compare the 2. Just stating the facts. Lets put it this way. If I was working in the govt but still had to have a part time job, which I am sure some do, I would be much more concerned about a day a week furlough over a missed holiday. Sorry you dont get that. Minimum wage here is under $8.00 an hour. Are yo trying to tell me that someone with a full time job is more worried about losing $8.00 for 8 hours one time, over a day a week with their regular job? 8x8+64 last time I checked, and don't forget to take out taxes. That was my ONLY point.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Most stores were closed here, but some restaurants were open (including, where DGD works)

I wish stores, would go back to closing on Sunday. It would be nice, for families to have one day a week together. I grew up with Sunday dinners at Grandma's... Families have too little time together, but sadly, that bell will never be unrung.

If stores, all stores, closed on all Sundays, it would kill me. My husband and I both work M-F 8 am to about 7pm. We're exhausted at the end of the day and move all of our errands to the weekends. Sundays are shopping days for us. There is no way I can fit everything I need to do into one Saturday.

 

[TinkerBelled]

The true beauty of all of this is that a store, not the government, decides when to be open and closed on holidays. My opinion does not really matter, but I can exercise my opinion (i.e., the store should have/have not been open) by either continuing to or discontinuing shopping at said store. If my religious beliefs/practices precluded me from working on certain holidays, I need to find an employer with which my beliefs/practices allow me to be off on those holidays. Every company I’ve ever worked for has always told me which holidays I would have off (either paid or unpaid) before I accepted employment.

I guess I would say that would work quite well if you were in the majority or if you had skills that were much-needed, and not so well if your beliefs were in the minority or if you had easily-replaceable skills.

Most people don't have the financial freedom to turn down a job, nor do they have much bargaining power in relation to their employer. If I am a world-famous cardiologist, the hospital will bend over backwards to keep me; if I'm working two part-time service jobs, it's no skin off their back to fire me. As for majority/minority positions, if I'm a Christian in South Dakota, it'll be a lot easier to find a job that gives Christmas off without using personal days than one that lets me take off Yom Kippur. (Did you know the Jewish population of South Dakota is 395? Fun facts.)

Whether you think this situation is good/right/bad/unfair is a matter of your beliefs, as is what we and the government can and should do about the situation. But I think we can all recognize that this is the reality for a lot of people. Basically, I agree that we all have choices to make. But I also believe that a lot of these choices are heavily circumscribed by circumstance and often incredibly difficult.

 

[mhsjax]

Are you kidding me???? It is all relative to what that person usually survives on...so yes losing a day's work could mean a lot for some people. I know a dad who is working at Best Buy, entry level, the only job he could get, and is paying child support to his child, while living at home with his parents and his soon to be ex spouse claims she cant work....so yes him missing one day of work makes a difference for all of them.

Again, I was talking about it being a 2nd job. READ PEOPLE, READ. I never siad that a person working there full time wouldn't feel it. I was responding to someone that said they would feel it because for a lot of people it was a 2nd job, not a FIRST or ONLY job. Man I wish people would learn to read.