RIP Thanksgiving .

[Tinkerdreams]

Well instead of having a wonderful FAMILY day on Thanksgiving, my son will be having Thanksgiving dinner with his employer and his co-workers – Walmart!!!

Is it just me or is this the final nail in the coffin of family time? Really Walmart??? Providing a Thanksgiving dinner to it’s employees. How wonderful of you! After all, his family couldn’t possibly provide a dinner for him to enjoy with his loved ones. Instead, he now gets to spend time with strangers and acquantinces.

Is it remotely possible for the American public to not shop for a day? Does family mean less than the almightly dollar? I really believe that this society needs to take a look at their priorities. And, if the polls are true, then 80% of this country does not support these businesses imposing on their holiday!!

Vent over. Thanks for listening - Ugh!!

 

[kirstenb1]

Former retail employee here. That sucks, I'm sorry. You couldn't pay me to go shopping on Thanksgiving or Black Friday for that matter. Although I'm Christian, the one thing I like about Thanksgiving is it's such an all American inclusive holiday. Something everyone can celebrate. Except, apparently big box employees.

 

[wiigirl]

That stinks

 

[kkandaj]

I'm sorry your son is in a job that has to work holidays. My DH works for the State with juvenile delinquents in a residential treatment facility and is rarely home for a holiday so I understand your feelings. He has now (after 10 years) gotten a new position where he will have holidays off!

My only thought regarding Walmart and Thanksgiving--the Walmarts here have NEVER closed on Thanksgiving, so they have always had their workers working then. They only close on Christmas.

 

[JanaDee]

Well instead of having a wonderful FAMILY day on Thanksgiving, my son will be having Thanksgiving dinner with his employer and his co-workers – Walmart!!!

Is it just me or is this the final nail in the coffin of family time? Really Walmart??? Providing a Thanksgiving dinner to it’s employees. How wonderful of you! After all, his family couldn’t possibly provide a dinner for him to enjoy with his loved ones. Instead, he now gets to spend time with strangers and acquantinces.

Is it remotely possible for the American public to not shop for a day? Does family mean less than the almightly dollar? I really believe that this society needs to take a look at their priorities. And, if the polls are true, then 80% of this country does not support these businesses imposing on their holiday!!

Vent over. Thanks for listening - Ugh!!

I completely agree with you. I'm sorry your son has to work on Thanksgiving. That stinks.

Brace yourself for all the people that will be along shortly to tell you he should be grateful he has a job, at least he gets a meal, blah blah blah.

 

[castleview]

Is he working the entire day? We've changed our dinner times over the years to accommodate people if we could. I have several nurses and a few doctors in the family so missing relatives is nothing new. Sometimes people have to work and no one is forcing them to take any particular job.

 

[skatalite]

Has he considered finding employment elsewhere?

 

[luvsJack]

I feel your pain and I agree that the stores should take the holiday into consideration. Are they not closed at all that day? I thought they were closed until the time for the big sale to start?


OTOH, my oldest will be missing his first Thanksgiving and Christmas with his brand new baby dd and the rest of his family as he will be in the Gulf on an oil rig., So, we re-plan. Thanksgiving dinner for him will come in December. Christmas with his children will be early. Its still hard but its part of the job. When you are used to it, you plan around it. We would love for him to be at home for even part of the day.

 

[scrapquitler]

Well instead of having a wonderful FAMILY day on Thanksgiving, my son will be having Thanksgiving dinner with his employer and his co-workers – Walmart!!!

Is it just me or is this the final nail in the coffin of family time? Really Walmart??? Providing a Thanksgiving dinner to it’s employees. How wonderful of you! After all, his family couldn’t possibly provide a dinner for him to enjoy with his loved ones. Instead, he now gets to spend time with strangers and acquantinces.

Is it remotely possible for the American public to not shop for a day? Does family mean less than the almightly dollar? I really believe that this society needs to take a look at their priorities. And, if the polls are true, then 80% of this country does not support these businesses imposing on their holiday!!

Vent over. Thanks for listening - Ugh!!

I have had family members that worked, played in football games, been travelling, had obligations with the 'other' side of the family, etc. on Thanksgiving for years and many many times my family celebrates Thanksgiving on the Sunday before or the Sunday AFTER the holiday when we can all get together at once and have our dinner then. Perhaps you can try doing that as well. You can still have your big family celebration even if it is on another day, the DAY isn't important, the being together is.

 

[mickeyboat]

Can you celebrate Thanksgiving another day when he is free? Once we kids grew up, left the nest and undertook other responsibilities such as spouses, jobs and families of our own, we had to make adjustments to our holiday celebrations. It doesn't make it any less special to celebrate Thanksgiving on the Saturday afterwards.

There are lots of employers who require their employees to work on holidays. It's part of their job, and they knew what those requirements would be when they took the job. Retail employers often impose on times that their employees would rather be with their families. If it bothers your son so much to have to work on Thanksgiving, I would suggest he find another line of work.

Will I be shopping on Thanksgiving? I seriously doubt it. But plenty of people will. I don't really blame Wal-Mart for opening when there is such great demand for them to be open by all the people who want to shop on Thanksgiving. That does not make them evil. It makes them successful.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

Thanks for the sympathy. I'm just frustrated. Our Walmarts are open on Thanksgiving but usually just have bare bones staff. Due to the fact everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to move black Friday to now be black Thursday, it's gonna be all hands on deck for the "doorbusters" at 8:00.

I am adjusting the time we will have our meal due to the fact that my daughter is coming from out of town for the day.

I guess this is the new normal.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

So he is working the entire 24 hours? MY DH always works holidays and we just work around his schedule. This year we are celebrating Thanksgiving the weekend before. Christmas will be celebrated on the 26.

Maybe you can do a huge fancy breakfast before he goes to work that day.

 

[barkley]

Is he working the entire day? We've changed our dinner times over the years to accommodate people if we could. I have several nurses and a few doctors in the family so missing relatives is nothing new. Sometimes people have to work and no one is forcing them to take any particular job.

yup same here.

a friend was laughing the other day b/c her newly retired dh casually asked her what day she was planning on cooking thanksgiving dinner on. she replied 'um, thanksgiving'. he looked kind of confused, and then it hit her-with his work schedule they hadn't had thanksgiving dinner on thanksgiving in at least 15 years.

 

[castleview]

Thanks for the sympathy. I'm just frustrated. Our Walmarts are open on Thanksgiving but usually just have bare bones staff. Due to the fact everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to move black Friday to now be black Thursday, it's gonna be all hands on deck for the "doorbusters" at 8:00.

I am adjusting the time we will have our meal due to the fact that my daughter is coming from out of town for the day.

I guess this is the new normal.

The kids are adults, so yes it is. I don't know how old they are, but are any of them married yet? My SIL is a type A, my way or highway type of person who doesn't want to change how she does Thanksgiving and boy is she getting it handed to her now that her kids have significant others and job obligations.

 

[luvmy3]

I completely agree with you. I'm sorry your son has to work on Thanksgiving. That stinks.

Brace yourself for all the people that will be along shortly to tell you he should be grateful he has a job, at least he gets a meal, blah blah blah.

I read that they will receive holiday pay and a 25% discount on their purchases that day. At least they are giving them some perk for having to work that day.

I do feel bad for employees that are made to work, however there have been many families who have had to adjust their Thanksgiving celebrating to accommodate a family member's work schedule in the past. Is it possible to eat early this year so that he can be there?

 

[Tinkerdreams]

I do understand that many people work on holidays - police officers, hospital personnel, firefighters, etc. These are necessary regardless if there is a holiday or not. We are talking about people shopping - they are not keeping us safe, tending to our illnesses or injuries, etc.

I also have no problem adjusting the time we have our meal and am going to but I cannot change the day. My daughter is flying in Wednesday night and I am going to Disney the day after (hurray for that one!! ). Not a lot of wiggle room this year.

I'm sure by next year this won't be an issue since he is looking for other employment.

 

[seals]

Well, I'm planning to be at WDW on Thanksgiving day and I'm truly thankful for all the people who will be working there that day without their families so that I can enjoy myself with my family. So I guess that's similar from the other side of the fence. It would be weird to think of WDW closing on Thansgiving so CMs could have a day with their families, but I guess it could happen as I'm not sure theme parking is any more of a necessity than shopping on that day. We are planning to eat our traditional Thanksgiving meal another day.

 

[barkley]

Thanks for the sympathy. I'm just frustrated. Our Walmarts are open on Thanksgiving but usually just have bare bones staff. Due to the fact everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to move black Friday to now be black Thursday, it's gonna be all hands on deck for the "doorbusters" at 8:00.

I am adjusting the time we will have our meal due to the fact that my daughter is coming from out of town for the day.

I guess this is the new normal.

these 'new normal' situations can unexpectedly lead to some things that may become cherished traditions for your family in years to come. we have one that came about this way-

all my sibs were older and worked or went away to school. Christmas eve they all were rolling 'home' all times of the evening. mom tried for years to figure out how to keep her long held traditional meal of ham and fixings warm and tasty (days before microwaves). one year when she found out she would have a range of more than 6 hours of arrivals she threw her hands in the air and said she might as well just make sandwich fixings people could throw together when they arrived, but dad said if that was the case it better be some kind of hot sandwich. inspiration set in and mom did a roast which she sliced. she did up a huge pot of au juice and put the meat in which was kept warm in the oven.


dads been gone 32 years (this past monday), mom left us 3 years ago, but this 'new normal' became a hard fast tradition that was incorporated in all 'us kids' homes, and I suspect will continue on with my ds and dd.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm sorry your plans aren't coming together the way you want. But families have been dealing with "missing members" because of work for DECADES.

Does anyone in your family watch the parade in the morning or the football games in the afternoon? Anyone travelling and potentially need to stop for gas/snacks? Anyone staying in hotel rooms?

PLENTY of "non necessary" (the only 'necessary' folks IMO are first responders and maybe security depending on the business) people have worked on holidays missing time with their family.

While I understand your frustration your DS needs to work, be happy he has a job.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I do understand that many people work on holidays - police officers, hospital personnel, firefighters, etc. These are necessary regardless if there is a holiday or not. We are talking about people shopping - they are not keeping us safe, tending to our illnesses or injuries, etc.

I also have no problem adjusting the time we have our meal and am going to but I cannot change the day. My daughter is flying in Wednesday night and I am going to Disney the day after (hurray for that one!! ). Not a lot of wiggle room this year.

I'm sure by next year this won't be an issue since he is looking for other employment.

If you only have to adjust the time you do the meal, then technically you don't have a RIP Thanksgiving. I hope your family enjoys their meal on Thanksgiving Day.