RIP Thanksgiving .

[luvsJack]

The TRU employees can still celebrate Turkey day!! I don't understand why this is such a hard concept for people to understand. You don't always have to have the meal ON the day of. You just make it work, like every other family that has a family member working on the holiday.

Oh, I know, believe me. I was just pointing out that Walmart is not the only store nor is it the first store to open on Thanksgiving.

With son who is on an oil rig 21 days at the time, we have learned to rearrange a LOT of holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be 12/22 this year with a huge turkey and trimmings dinner at noon, some down time of movies and games and family time, then finger foods and gifts that night. You do whatever is necessary and the time together is just as meaningful and just as special. He leaves before Christmas and we will have another family gathering when he gets back. You know, just so he will have two holidays.

 

[scrapquitler]

Why can't the travelling people plan ahead and get gas the day before? Those gas station employees deserve to be with their families too!

Some people travel far enough round trip that they NEED to fill up along the way.

 

[scrapquitler]

This is what I do not get. Everyone is making such a big deal about this being a family day. I do not need a random day on a calendar to tell me to spend time with my family.

And lets also remember: Not everyone HAS family nearby to spend the holiday with, and even if they do, not everyone WANTS to hang with their family all day. The happy family playing board games all afternoon scenario is NOT reality for everyone.

 

[sam_gordon]

Some people travel far enough round trip that they NEED to fill up along the way.

So they should leave earlier so they can make the trip without getting gas on Thanksgiving.

Gas station attendants DESERVE to be with their family!

 

[tasha99]

I feel like it's not only RIP Thanksgiving for retail workers, but it's RIP Black Friday. I have to work on Thanksgiving since healthcare jobs don't stop for holidays. We moved our Thanksgiving to Thursday night, but that's when all the doorbusters will be going on. I had hoped to shop early on Friday and then go in to work, but why bother? The big stuff will be gone. So this year will be my first that I skip Black Friday completely.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I'm sure it's probably been mentioned already, but many military personnel never spend holidays with their families. Neither do cab drivers, restaurant workers, postal employees (at the big facilities they work 24-7, 365), police, firemen, hotel employees, workers at chemical/gas/oil terminals, gas station attendants, supermarkets.... There are plenty of people working on holidays. While it's inconvenient, it's a reality of a 24-7 world and economy.

 

[kinntj]

I was a Wal-Mart employee in college. It was my first job. I no longer shop there at all. No good deal is worth your selling your soul to that company. I saw them treat people horribly, use illegal labor practices, and purposely hold benefits back from people when they deserved them. They post large profits while most of their workers have to reach out for food stamps and WIC because Wal-Mart hires lots of part time employees and makes them work short shifts (I was asked to work 5 four hour shifts for 20 hours) so they can withhold paid breaks and lunch. This means that at the end of the week, those employees have less than 32 hours worked most at near minimum wage. Take home pay of less than $200 a week or $800 a month. Roughly the cost of most 1 bedroom apartments without food, water, electricity, diapers, formula, not to mention any of the "wants". That is also considering that the person is part time and not eligible for health insurance. So who is paying for the difference between Wal-mart wages and the poverty line for this company that, again posts huge profits? The American tax payers. The next time that people want to get down on people who take welfare, think about the companies that you support that depend on you paying for their employees benefits without compromising their profits. We pay through food stamps, we pay through WIC, we pay through Section 8 housing. What could Wal-Mart do differently to be a good citizen company? They could hire use full time employment, grant benefits, abide by fair labor practices as a practice, not just a façade, and pay a fair wage. And let your employees spend Thanksgiving with their families.

I'm in economics this semester and I've learned plenty about them. Their ethics are questionable.

 

[LilyWDW]

Because most people travel and need gas 365 days a year.

Pay at the pump. No reason for the employees to have to be there.

I have to laugh at these threads. People get so up in arms about Walmart or Target being open when there is no need. But they never stand up for servers or cooks in the restaurants, the CMs at Disney, the camera crews and other staff at the Football games, or so many other people who already work on Thanksgiving that are not "necessary". No one complains on behalf of them but as soon as Walmart wants people to work... look out!

I just love how people pick and choose what is "horrible" and what isn't in these cases.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Pay at the pump. No reason for the employees to have to be there.

I have to laugh at these threads. People get so up in arms about Walmart or Target being open when there is no need. But they never stand up for servers or cooks in the restaurants, the CMs at Disney, the camera crews and other staff at the Football games, or so many other people who already work on Thanksgiving that are not "necessary". No one complains on behalf of them but as soon as Walmart wants people to work... look out!

I just love how people pick and choose what is "horrible" and what isn't in these cases.

While I agree with everything you said, I do have to disagree on one point. In NJ it is illegal to pump your own gas. We're special that way.

 

[usnuzuloose]

So they should leave earlier so they can make the trip without getting gas on Thanksgiving.

Gas station attendants DESERVE to be with their family!

I worked as a manager of a gas station, even I had to work the holidays when we were short staffed. They used to pay us salary and we got no overtime, until the company got sued and found out that we had to be paid hourly. So I have worked all holidays. I even came in when someone did not show up and had no choice. I could not leave one person working alone. As it did get really busy.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Originally Posted by Missy1961
I don't think I've seen anyone here complaining that some Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic stores will be opening at 9AM on Thanksgiving.

Does anyone actually still shop there any more?

Too easy to take a swipe at the Walmart Bogey Man.

You must have missed all the swipes taken at K-mart over the years and Toys R Us two years ago and everyone that did a midnight madness last year. So don't think for a minute, Walmart is alone at having swipes taken at them.

 

[robinb]

I personally think that sucks for low paid retail workers and all the other folks (like hotel staff, gas station attendants, health care employees, etc) who are required to work on Thanksgiving day. If you do so voluntarily like chicagodisneyfan's DH I think that's totally fine. BUT ... now that that retail camel's nose is in the Thanksgiving Day tent don't be surprised if your additional pay will go away sometime soon as Thanksgiving Day becomes just another working day as far as your boss is concerned.

I think a bigger issue with retail stores opening on Thanksgiving Day is that the whole Black Friday retail pre-Christmas FEEDING FRENZY has been moved to a day that is traditionally a quiet full. stop. for most folks. You know, I get that some folks don't celebrate Thanksgiving on the day itself so you don't see how it's a big deal but you are an anomaly. Just because it doesn't effect you personally doesn't mean it's a good idea to open the Big Box stores on Thanksgiving. I am an anomaly here in the US since I don't celebrate Christmas but I would not be happy if Wal*Mart, Target, TRU & Old Navy opened up on Christmas morning for last-minute gifters.

Are we Americans so addicted to retail therapy that really need to shop every day of the year?

 

[LilyWDW]

While I agree with everything you said, I do have to disagree on one point. In NJ it is illegal to pump your own gas. We're special that way.

Okay... point taken. Never been to NJ!

Still, the IDEA is the same. In any other state it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Okay... point taken. Never been to NJ!

Still, the IDEA is the same. In any other state it wouldn't be an issue.

There are other issues with just pay at the pump with the station closed.

 

[kwelch10377]

I personally think that sucks for low paid retail workers and all the other folks (like hotel staff, gas station attendants, health care employees, etc) who are required to work on Thanksgiving day. If you do so voluntarily like chicagodisneyfan's DH I think that's totally fine. BUT ... now that that retail camel's nose is in the Thanksgiving Day tent don't be surprised if your additional pay will go away sometime soon as Thanksgiving Day becomes just another working day as far as your boss is concerned.
I think a bigger issue with retail stores opening on Thanksgiving Day is that the whole Black Friday retail pre-Christmas FEEDING FRENZY has been moved to a day that is traditionally a quiet full. stop. for most folks. You know, I get that some folks don't celebrate Thanksgiving on the day itself so you don't see how it's a big deal but you are an anomaly. Just because it doesn't effect you personally doesn't mean it's a good idea to open the Big Box stores on Thanksgiving. I am an anomaly here in the US since I don't celebrate Christmas but I would not be happy if Wal*Mart, Target, TRU & Old Navy opened up on Christmas morning for last-minute gifters.

Are we Americans so addicted to retail therapy that really need to shop every day of the year?

Generally the additional pay is mandated by the state, not the company/boss.

 

[wvjules]

Does anyone actually still shop there any more?

You must have missed all the swipes taken at K-mart over the years and Toys R Us two years ago and everyone that did a midnight madness last year. So don't think for a minute, Walmart is alone at having swipes taken at them.

YES! I love Banana Republic!

 

[robinb]

Generally the additional pay is mandated by the state, not the company/boss.

Really? I thought union contracts covered additional pay but I didn't think that state law had anything to do with it. Do you have a link of states that mandate time and a half and double time for holidays?

 

[disneychrista]

Really? I thought union contracts covered additional pay but I didn't think that state law had anything to do with it. Do you have a link of states that mandate time and a half and double time for holidays?

I know Federal law does not require anyone to be paid anything but minimum wage. Even employee friendly California does require OT for holiday work.

 

[kwelch10377]

Really? I thought union contracts covered additional pay but I didn't think that state law had anything to do with it. Do you have a link of states that mandate time and a half and double time for holidays?

I don't have the full list of states that mandate it.

Here are the laws for MA:

http://www.mass.gov/ago/doing-busin...age-and-hour/sunday-and-holiday-openings.html

I also know that NJ and PA manadate it.

I have never dealt with unions so I have no idea what part they play in it.

 

[LilyWDW]

There are other issues with just pay at the pump with the station closed.

Most of our stations are closed during specific times. Never had an issue. Even if there was an issue (pump won't take card for example), there is always another gas station. Still doesn't require an employee to be there.