Open on Thanksgiving Day

[disney1990]

The public has spoken with their wallets. They want businesses open on Thanksgiving Day. People are saying, "if you don't want to work on Thanksgiving Day, find another job." They are saying, "be thankful you have a job." I guess I am in the minority, but I refuse to shop on Thanksgiving Day. Yes, there are things that have to be open, hospitals, pharmacies, and I totally understand that -- my daughter is an RN.

If your boss, no matter where you work, retail or not, said you had to work on Thanksgiving Day (and you are not in one of those places that have to be open such as a hospital), would you work; would you refuse to work; would you be looking for another job? My personal feeling is, that in the next 10 years, Thanksgiving (and even Christmas) will be just another work day or even school day. And I find that sad.

[fitgirl36]

I have been reading these open thanksgiving day and Black Friday posts and I completely agree with you. I fortunately have a job that gets 11 paid holidays per year and I have 4 weeks of vacation so I will never work on thanksgiving or Christmas. I will NEVER shop on one of those holidays either. I believe holidays are to be with family and not about material things. Don't get me wrong, I like nice things and like to shop but I have different priorities than the people who want to get the deals.

I think it is very sad that this is what is important in our society, but the way I deal with it is to ignore it. I don't watch commercials on the holidays because I can't stand the ads for the sales. Don't read the flyers in the newspaper either.

To each their own, but I would much rather spend the holiday with family all cozy in my house, enjoying good company and food and no one will ever change my mind, not even for a 99 cent tv!

[carrie1626]

I agree w/ both of you OP's.

Now, if you accept a retail job such as at Walmart, shouldn't you accept that Thanksgiving day will be a work day and you could be scheduled.::yes

I live in a very urban area. Our Walmart's are open 24 hrs and would not have closed and opened at Midnight anyway so not sure what the "real complaint was". ( there was a peaceful demonstration).

Do I believe the worker's have a valid complaint? probably
Unfortunately, as more people disrespect the holidays, 24/7 will become the absolute expectation EVERWHERE

No thank you.

And I should feel like a heel because I've been to WDW twice over T-day and everyone there was required to "work".

[disney1990]

Originally Posted by carrie1626

I agree w/ both of you OP's.

Now, if you accept a retail job such as at Walmart, shouldn't you accept that Thanksgiving day will be a work day and you could be scheduled.::yes

I live in a very urban area. Our Walmart's are open 24 hrs and would not have closed and opened at Midnight anyway so not sure what the "real complaint was". ( there was a peaceful demonstration).

Do I believe the worker's have a valid complaint? probably
Unfortunately, as more people disrespect the holidays, 24/7 will become the absolute expectation EVERWHERE

No thank you.

And I should feel like a heel because I've been to WDW twice over T-day and everyone there was required to "work".

Because of the high unemployment rate, so many people have accepted retail jobs because they have no other choice. I am a good example. I am 61 years old and have worked my entire life. In July I was laid off from my job with a builder and have been unable to find another full time job. In the meantime, I have taken a part time retail job (not at Walmart). I would have been devastated to find out that I had to work on Thanksgiving Day.

[topolino]

I wonder if any of these people complaining (not the posters in the thread, per se) about businesses being open on Thanksgiving or Christmas have ever planned a trip to Walt Disney World over those holidays?

[kwelch10377]

If I was scheduled to work Thanksgiving day it wouldn't be a big deal. My mother is a nurse and growing up we always just adapted to her schedule for whatever holiday it was. I think most people just adapt to their working situation and it isn't a big deal for them. For some reason it seems like most of the people complaining about stores being open and people having to work on Thanksgiving are people who don't even have to work themselves.

[amg35]

I give thanks every year that Dunkin Donuts is open on Thanksgiving!

[RitaE]

No shopping last night but our family went to a movie. This isn't anything new either, we've been going to movies on Thanksgiving and Christmas night for decades.

It's kind of ironic to me that movie theatre employees have worked major holidays for so long without any of this fuss but as soon as Walmart tries it all heck breaks loose.

[Albort]

Originally Posted by topolino

I wonder if any of these people complaining (not the posters in the thread, per se) about businesses being open on Thanksgiving or Christmas have ever planned a trip to Walt Disney World over those holidays?

not only disney, what about fire fighters, cops, doctors, public transportation operators and so on...

[tvguy]

33 consecutive Thanksgivings and Day after Thanksgivings worked for me. At least that many for DW since she worked in a movie theater in high school and college, which Thanksgiving and the day after also were work days.
Certainly not life or death jobs for us, but just comes with the territory. Our kids grew up with the Thanksgiving feast being on the Saturday after, no big deal. Shouldn't be a big deal for retail workers IMHO. Since we are at work when all the big bargains are offered, we can't go shopping even if we want to.

[monarchsfan16]

Originally Posted by Albort

not only disney, what about fire fighters, cops, doctors, public transportation operators and so on...

Firefighters, cops, doctors, etc are providing essential services. Walmart, Target, Macy's, etc are NOT.

I've seen a lot of people making comments the last few days about not being upset about working a holiday if you accept a job known for working on a holiday. I agree with that, but here's the catch: All those stores (pharmacies are excluded here) have only recently started opening on Thanksgiving. This was not the norm when many people who are in these jobs began there.

I worked retail for 6 years while going through school. Today was the first day in years where I did not have to go near a store on Black Friday. And I didn't. I slept in, did some online shopping, and went out to lunch. Having worked Black Friday, I hate retail on that day. It's pure insanity and truly brings out the worst in people. The only time I was ever threatened while working was on Black Friday. There is NO reason to make that hell even earlier in the evening, and cut into holidays. Retail employees get very few holidays off; let them have the traditional ones off.

Since it seems like people think shopping in the middle of the night is fun, I think retailers open up the night between Black Friday and Saturday. Then there's no holiday interference, and people get their night of no sleep.

[LilyWDW]

Originally Posted by monarchsfan16

Firefighters, cops, doctors, etc are providing essential services. Walmart, Target, Macy's, etc are NOT.

How about movie theaters, Disney, restaurants, and grocery stores? Radio and TV stations? The people who work in the football stadiums? None of those are essential services but have been open on Thanksgiving and Christmas for YEARS and it was never an issue. But as soon as Walmart does it it becomes a problem? It's simply because Walmart makes a good target with it's past and because it is a huge corporation.

A corporation who is giving the customer what THEY want. Nothing more.

Does it stink being the one tapped to work a holiday? Yep. I have done it as an employee AND a manager. I have also done the over night set up shifts to prep for Black Friday. So I know what it is like. Guess what? You should expect crazy hours this time of the year if you work retail. Period. If you expected anything but then you didn't do your homework.

[kwelch10377]

[QUOTE=LilyWDW;46773929]How about movie theaters, Disney, restaurants, and grocery stores? Radio and TV stations? The people who work in the football stadiums? None of those are essential services but have been open on Thanksgiving and Christmas for YEARS and it was never an issue. [QUOTE]

Don't forget in some states liquor stores! (although for some families that may be considered essential)

[kirstenb1]

I worked retail all through high school and college. I fill up my car 2 days before Thanksgiving, and hit the grocery store same day. I do not go to any place on Thanksgiving (or the day after). I'm grateful for people who work in law enforcement/hospitals that if I need help they're there.

However, for non essential personnel, I refuse to participate.

[Styx Fan]

I worked in a movie theatre from 1981-1989. During that time we were 365 days per year. The concession made for holidays was the weekend midnight shows were cancelled when Christmas Eve fell on a Friday or Saturday.

During those years I worked every Christmas Day and most of the other major holidays. And this was all for minimum wage of $3.35 per hour. I kept the job because it worked with my college schedule. After college I only worked a day or 2 a week (and many holidays) to keep my free movie passes!

It wasn't a biggie being open on the less major holidays....but I still think it was/is ridiculous to be open on the major ones. It's just taking advantage of the cheap labor. You can bet, just like in retail, the ones making these decisions are not working those days. I will not shop on major holidays, or go the the movies, or do any business that is not vitally important. Things like a medical emergency.

BIL used to work at BlockBuster Video....same thing....365 days per year, pretty much all day. REally? People can't rent a movie the day before.

And remember it's not just the employees affected on these days, but whole families. Everyone planning holidays around the worker....and often around a teenager making peanuts. Crazy.