Should stores be open on holidays?

[Papa Deuce]

Opinon?

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Honestly, as a former retail employee, I don't think so.

But then again, I'm probably one of the few who wish the gov't would do away with all 'federal' holidays except Thanksgiving,Christmas and New Year's Day.

Because I'm betting that if you went and asked 100 5,6 and 7th graders what Memorial Day is for, or why we celebrate Labor Day or Pearl Harbor day, most of them could probably not tell you.

IMO, most federal holidays aren't true holidays anymore that we even care to celebrate. They are just another reason for stores to have sales, for people to shop to excess. And in the case of Memorial and Labor Days, for people to barbecue and drink to excess.

But..that's JMO. YMMV.

TOV

 

[joshsmom]

IM(very)HO, I wish that EVERYONE was able to stay home with their families on Thanksgiving. I understand that some functions must continue (nurses, ER's, etc.) But stores don't HAVE to be open. If you don't celebrate the holiday and you want to open your family store, that's one thing. But big chains don't HAVE to be open. It would be so nice if those that want to be home with their families could be home. Of course, some people may go to work to escape their families!!!! That's a whole different thread!!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

As long as they have employees willing to work it, why not. Some of us prefer holidays to be a normal day. I would work it if I received holiday pay for it.

 

[Aurora63]

I agree that retail stores should not be open...very few in retail would be willing to work on Thanksgiving, I certainly would not have! Maybe gas stations, a drug store here and there, but that's it!

 

[joshsmom]

As long as they have employees willing to work it, why not.

I guess that's the key--if they WANT to be there. But I really wish that people wouldn't be FORCED into being there. I'm sure many people don't mind working holidays, but other people would really appreciate having the day with their families.

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

Essential stores only

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

WOw! I had posted something similar on the other thread - glad to see I am not totally alone!

 

[Cindy B]

Call me crazy, but I voted why not?

I'll be out on Kmart tomorrow. Why not? Back in high school I worked at a CVS. We were open every holiday, and most business was not the RX counter. It was cigarettes, prophalyactics, and candy.

And some business owners don't celebrate the holiday. Many businesses near my home are owned by Muslim owners or Hindu owners.

 

[Cindy B]

Also if the emplyees are willing to work it, why shouldn't they be open? If they are going to give OT or double time to the employee why the heck not?

 

[Michie]

Also if the emplyees are willing to work it, why shouldn't they be open? If they are going to give OT or double time to the employee why the heck not?

My great niece was at my home earlier this evening, She works for a discount store, she has to work Thanksgiving Day and she will be paid her regular pay since she is part time.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

My old boss at Sonic did that too,Michie. NOBODY..not even the mgrs or full time people, got paid time and a half or OT for working holidays. And it sucked.

So if they're not getting paid OT or time and a half,why on earth should they have to be there when they want to be at home with their families where they SHOULD be?

TOV

 

[Jamesbyr]

Well, if the "be with their families" thing is really the issue, then I am totally confused. There are many civil servants, police, firefighters, transit workers in big cities, Emergency medical workers anywhere, who have to work on holidays. Their contracts specify whether they get time-and-a half or overtime for this. But someone has to do their jobs. They usually say "We will have our Thanksgiving on Saturday" or something like that.

Retail is another issue. If all stores closed on Sunday, or any single day, people would make accommodations. Unhappy ones, maybe, but people would learn to buy ahead, cook on Saturday, etc.

The only issue here is, if people have to work on holidays, should they get time-and-a half or overtime pay? Isn't that all it is?

 

[Planogirl]

Retail people get treated badly enough paywise and by the public. I say let them have their holidays.

 

[Topper]

My old boss at Sonic did that too,Michie. NOBODY..not even the mgrs or full time people, got paid time and a half or OT for working holidays. And it sucked.

So if they're not getting paid OT or time and a half,why on earth should they have to be there when they want to be at home with their families where they SHOULD be?

TOV

Because they accepted a job knowing that they would have to work the holidays. If they did not know that, shame on them for not asking during the interview process.

 

[inaminute]

Since I just opened my "fresh" turkey only to find it's frozen solid in the middle, I offer a resounding "YES!" Stores should be open on holidays. Especially the one where I purchased this thing in the first place!

 

[Cindy B]

My great niece was at my home earlier this evening, She works for a discount store, she has to work Thanksgiving Day and she will be paid her regular pay since she is part time.

Back in high school, I worked in a nursing home. Once you posted this, I realized I was paid the same on Christmas, Thanskgiving and such like that. I guess it would be nice and thoughtful of the boss to do that.

Many places here give OT or double time.

 

[Virgo10]

I checked other. Growing up in the "Blue Laws" state of Massachusetts I lived most of my life without going to the Mall on a Sunday or Holiday and survived quite nicely. When we finally joined the rest of the world , sure I went on those days but I always thought about the people who HAD to work to serve those who wanted to shop.

My thought is that for unnecessary stores, employees should have the option of being able to keep their jobs but not working on Sundays and holidays. Ah, I stand corrected. Here's a great link about the MA Blue Laws and their current implications.

The Blue Laws

Still, on paper this looks good but I wonder how much pressure is put on the employees to agree that they'll work those days.

 

[mrsdon]

I worked at Shoneys and absplutely everyone was required to work on Thanksgiving or risk geting fired.
We never received any special pay.
One year my DH who was in the Navy was out at sea and my two boys were home alone, Didnt matter to management, I still had to work from 6am to 4pm.

 

[chyam]

I agree that retail stores should not be open...very few in retail would be willing to work on Thanksgiving, I certainly would not have! Maybe gas stations, a drug store here and there, but that's it!

I agree with you 100% this is exactly what has happend in the United States, it used to be that holidays and Sundays were family times and very little was opened, now we have become so desensitized to any of that that we continue to work everyday, long hours etc etc and the family units became less close. My job works 24/7 and we are not a support business like a hospital or a nursing home.......and everytime there is a holiday they ask for volunteers and you know what people sign up, although in all fairness I will say that most of the volunteers are foreigners who do not celebrate our same holidays, but IMO the company should not even ask for the volunteers! We are losing all of our traditional values and the time that was put aside many years ago to celebrate with our families and just to have some down time.Life is to short not to enjoy each day when it is available............and if you think that it's OK for stores to be open I think about the person who has to work it...........perhaps they volunteered but each time they do so they also make it appear that holidays really are not important thus giving the message that it is OK to be open............that is just my opinion but I would like to see some traditions stay, and holidays are for families.