Target employee starts online petition protesting Target's BF hours

[SaraJayne]

You feel bad for NFL players? Please, talk about greed! I refuse to contribute to that whole NFL franchise, or any sport for that matter. Why do these people deserve millions and millions of dollars because they can throw a ball? Because companies pay them, so we can watch them endorse products, and spend more money!

Let me clarify that. I feel bad for the workers at the stadiums (who make peanuts) who are forced to work the holidays and miss time with their families.

Regardless of the players income, they are still missing time with their families on the holidays. They are still sons, husbands and fathers.

 

[LauraR]

He needs to find a new job then... I worked retail for 10 years at Costco and we were not allowed any personal or vacation days between thanksgiving and jan 1. Deal with it!

Doesn't Costco close for a lot of holidays? I work at a Trader Joe's and we close for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, but all the other holidays we seem to have heavier traffic because the Costco across the way is closed. Which I think is great---that Costco cares about it's employees that way (although Trader Joe's cares about us in other ways...)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I understand where this guy is coming from. I worked in a hospital for years. Holidays, weekends, crazy night shifts. But when you enter the medical professions, you expect this. How many people who took jobs in retail actually expected to be going to work on Thanksgiving Day?

Are there really people who sign up to work retail who are that clueless to not realize that they may have to work a holiday? Really?

I worked in television and had to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. I don't see anyone here advocating a blackout on holidays?

We are a 24/7 culture now. That is problem #1. Problem #2 is that everyone celebrates differently. For years now (tracing wayyy back for me), Thanksgiving Day was Macy's Parade, BF ads, dinner.

The issue with calling for shut down on holidays is ignoring some facts.

#1, not everyone celebrates said holiday. Even such a fun and mostly secular holiday as Thanksgiving.

#2, not everyone celebrates said holiday in the same way.

The problem with calling for closures and shut downs so that people can be with their families is presuming that others celebrate just like you and that no one is entitled to do what they wish on those holidays.

It is noble when companies opt to not alter their hours to be open when they would otherwise be closed--but why should they just because some are of whatever opinion they hold.

I don't get the misplaced compassion towards folks who have to work. Did it ever occur to anyone that they may actually "like" doing it?

When I interviewed for retail positions in the early 90s, I can assure you that it wasn't elves who suddenly transitioned stock from pre-Thanksgiving to Black Friday madness. Anyone who believes that no one is working setting that up is out of their minds.

If the grocery store typically has stockroom folks working on Thursdays because that is when they restock shelves, they don't suddenly not schedule them because it is a holiday.

 

[SaraJayne]

Although I agree with CMs and sports there will always be some people that have to work. I don't think that is a huge problem. My family has rescheduled holidays a few times when we all couldn't be there for the real one.

Also some businesses its not really greed. Their is a DD near my sister that a few people got really loud and rude in (its attached to a gas station) about them being open on Christmas. However both employees that were working that day do not celebrate Christmas. It was the franchise owner and a friend that would work because alot of people would come in from traveling stop at the gas station and get coffee so he could make good money that day, and it wasn't a holiday to them because they were of a different religion. They didn't force anyone to work it.

In that situation, I have no problem with those that celebrate a different holiday working that day. It's when employees are forced to work that it becomes a problem (as shown by the Target petition).

 

[scrapquitler]

I would have absolutely NO problem with Disney being closed on Thanksgiving day or Christmas day so CM's can spend the holiday with their families...not thousands of strangers.

I always feel so bad for the NFL teams that play on holidays (Packers play Thanksgiving AND Christmas this year). They can't be with their families and what about all the workers that are missing out on family time?

We need to get away from greed and back to family.

Well you know, Thanksgiving is a Day of Giving Thanks. Celebrating it on the Fourth Thursday in November is an arbitrary thing. There's nothing to stop those families with people that work on that Fourth Thursday in November from celebrating the day on Saturday or Sunday of that weekend, or the one prior (we've done it that way in my family many times for various reasons, including work schedules, travel plans, high school football games, etc). And NOT EVERYONE celebrates Christmas, and again, you could hold your family celebration on a different day (my family mostly celebrates on Christmas Eve, not so much on Christmas Day).

And as for Disney being closed, wouldn't it be great for all those people traveling to Florida during school vacation week in December to go to Florida, get there and have WDW closed...no restaurant to eat in, no mousekeeping, no bus transportation, no park to go to. Sit in your room quietly with nothing to do so the employees can stay home. Never happen.

Businesses don't exist to create jobs. They don't exist to make consumers happy, they exist to MAKE PROFITS for their owners/shareholders/investors. If being closed on the holidays helped them make profits, then they would do it, but as long as the consumer demands that they be open, they will be open.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

In that situation, I have no problem with those that celebrate a different holiday working that day. It's when employees are forced to work that it becomes a problem (as shown by the Target petition).

No one anywhere is "forced" to work. They all have a choice.

The employee circulating the petition who is complaining about being scheduled was not scheduled to work neither Thursday or Friday of next week. He wasn't forced to work.

 

[Soon2B4]

I worked at a grocery store and I had to work EASTER, THANKSGIVING, THE 4TH OF JULY, MEMORIAL DAY, and ANY OTHER HOLIDAY BUT CHRISTMAS! Did we get any sympathy from all the people coming in b/c they forgot something for their dinner or picnic? NOPE! Sorry, you get no support from me. I missed many family meals and got paid a little more per hour to do it. Sorry, if you want your job, you will do it. There are plenty of other people who would love to have one!

 

[SaraJayne]

Well you know, Thanksgiving is a Day of Giving Thanks. Celebrating it on the Fourth Thursday in November is an arbitrary thing. There's nothing to stop those families with people that work on that Fourth Thursday in November from celebrating the day on Saturday or Sunday of that weekend, or the one prior (we've done it that way in my family many times for various reasons, including work schedules, travel plans, high school football games, etc). And NOT EVERYONE celebrates Christmas, and again, you could hold your family celebration on a different day (my family mostly celebrates on Christmas Eve, not so much on Christmas Day).

And as for Disney being closed, wouldn't it be great for all those people traveling to Florida during school vacation week in December to go to Florida, get there and have WDW closed...no restaurant to eat in, no mousekeeping, no bus transportation, no park to go to. Sit in your room quietly with nothing to do so the employees can stay home. Never happen.

Businesses don't exist to create jobs. They don't exist to make consumers happy, they exist to MAKE PROFITS for their owners/shareholders/investors. If being closed on the holidays helped them make profits, then they would do it, but as long as the consumer demands that they be open, they will be open.

I know Disney would never close on those days. Think about all the $$$ they'd lose. It would never happen.

But that wasn't what you asked.

 

[twinboysmom]

Let me clarify that. I feel bad for the workers at the stadiums (who make peanuts) who are forced to work the holidays and miss time with their families.

Regardless of the players income, they are still missing time with their families on the holidays. They are still sons, husbands and fathers.[/

You know, I understand where you are coming from but... What makes the people who have to work holidays such as your emergency workers (police, fire, ambulance, hospital, etc) any less sons and daughters, wives and husbands. Many of our ancillary people in the hospitals (nursing assistants, secretaries, cafeteria workers, housekeeping) also make peanuts and are there missing time with their families. What makes them different? Once again, there are jobs that require no work on holidays, even in retail (think hobby lobby). If it is at important for someone to be home with their family for a holiday, take one of those jobs.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes, he's salaried and agreed to his level of compensation when he was hired, blah, blah. And we expected not to be able to go home. But nobody told him until two weeks ago about this 72-hour week from hell that basically kills ANY chance of us being able to celebrate Thanksgiving, even just on our own at home with a small turkey breast and some potatoes.

1 year I could not take Thanksgiving off at a tv station. One of the anchors made everyone Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving can be celebrated anywhere.

I have known many families who just celebrate on an alternate day because that is just what life has thrown them. Be it distance, employment or something else that prohibits celebrating on the actual day.

I'm not a slave to the calendar. If we have to adjust--we adjust.

 

[SaraJayne]

No one anywhere is "forced" to work. They all have a choice.

The employee circulating the petition who is complaining about being scheduled was not scheduled to work neither Thursday or Friday of next week. He wasn't forced to work.

Did you see the post in this thread from a Target employee that is scheduled to work on Thanksgiving?

 

[twinboysmom]

1 year I could not take Thanksgiving off at a tv station. One of the anchors made everyone Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving can be celebrated anywhere.

I have known many families who just celebrate on an alternate day because that is just what life has thrown them. Be it distance, employment or something else that prohibits celebrating on the actual day.

I'm not a slave to the calendar. If we have to adjust--we adjust.

Very good point. My fil has not been home for thanksgiving in many, many years. He works for BP on the north slope in Alaska. He has enough senority that he was given the option to work every thanksgiving and is off every Christmas. My mil just plans thanksgiving for another day. At the hospitals, everyone just brings a dish and we celebrate the day with our work family.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Did you see the post in this thread from a Target employee that is scheduled to work on Thanksgiving?

She is welcome to do what she needs to do. But she isn't "forced". We have the right to not continue our employment.

Did you notice that the guy who wrote the petition isn't working at all?

Sorry--I simply have no sympathy nor am I misguided to presume that the entire nation celebrates as I do and should shut down when I deem it necessary in the spirit of family and holiday.

 

[Lewisc]

Are there really people who sign up to work retail who are that clueless to not realize that they may have to work a holiday? Really?

.................If the grocery store typically has stockroom folks working on Thursdays because that is when they restock shelves, they don't suddenly not schedule them because it is a holiday.

Opening Thanksgiving day is relatively new. So new that Target only told their employees 2 weeks ago.

Many stores stock shelves when they get deliveries. There are no deliveries on Thanksgiving. Grocery stores in many areas have limited, or no, hours on Thanksgiving.

 

[SaraJayne]

You know, I understand where you are coming from but... What makes the people who have to work holidays such as your emergency workers (police, fire, ambulance, hospital, etc) any less sons and daughters, wives and husbands. Many of our ancillary people in the hospitals (nursing assistants, secretaries, cafeteria workers, housekeeping) also make peanuts and are there missing time with their families. What makes them different? Once again, there are jobs that require no work on holidays, even in retail (think hobby lobby). If it is at important for someone to be home with their family for a holiday, take one of those jobs.

Nothing. And frankly, it sucks they have to work those days. It sucks for them, and it sucks for their families (my mother is a nurse that worked plenty of holidays). So, I've BTDT.

I wish police men and women didn't have to work those days. I wish people weren't so sick that they needed medical care on those days. I wish firemen didn't need to work on those days to protect life and property.

Unfortunately, that isn't how things work.

I understand the reality, but that doesn't mean I can't discuss it and wish it was different.

 

[SaraJayne]

She is welcome to do what she needs to do. But she isn't "forced". We have the right to not continue our employment.

Did you notice that the guy who wrote the petition isn't working at all?

Sorry--I simply have no sympathy nor am I misguided to presume that the entire nation celebrates as I do and should shut down when I deem it necessary in the spirit of family and holiday.

Yes, but he can still have sympathy for his co-workers that are scheduled that day, when they'd rather spend time with their families.

If someone volunteered to work that day, that's great and they should have been scheduled.

 

[bettymae1121]

As a former retail worker and as someone that is married to a man that has to work 100% of Thanksgivings and 9 out of 10 Christmas Eve/Christmas Days...I have no problem with the petition. In retail the two days you used to be guaranteed off no matter what was Thanksgiving and Christmas. No one with half a brain goes in to retail not thinking they won't be working crazy hours from late Nov. through New Years. The one thing we all counted on were those two breaks.

Now the retailers are pulling the rug out from employees by being open and/or stocking on Thanksgiving Day, in some cases (as with Target) only giving a few weeks notice. It's just not neccessary.

My husband knew he'd be working major holidays every year with no option for requesting time off when he choose his career. I knew he'd be gone working on major holidays when I married him. We signed up for this clearly knowing what to expect. Up until a few years ago, retail employees were guaranteed the two holidays off. Now they are down to one...and who knows how long Christmas will last before some marketing genius decides retailers need to open at noon on Christmas so people can go spend the gift cards they just got in their stockings?

 

[happygirl]

I might have the wrong thing in mnd, but the person who started this wasn't even schedule to work on Black Friday or Thanksgiving night.

 

[MarineVet]

1 year I could not take Thanksgiving off at a tv station. One of the anchors made everyone Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving can be celebrated anywhere.

I have known many families who just celebrate on an alternate day because that is just what life has thrown them. Be it distance, employment or something else that prohibits celebrating on the actual day.

I'm not a slave to the calendar. If we have to adjust--we adjust.

My DH is a retired Marine. Our son is active duty Navy. We have always worked around the calendar dates the best we could, and don't always hit the date on the nose, but the date is not that important to us.That being said, I also understand retail worker's frustration if their schedule has suddenly changed.

When I started shopping on BF about 15 years ago, nothing opened before 6 am and it was fun. Somewhere around 10 years ago I started seeing the pushing and fights, especially in Memphis. Two adult men came to blows over the last Easy Bake Oven at Toys R Us. People who had been in line in a cold rain for three hours at Best Buy were borderline violent when three pickup truck loads of big men pulled up at one minute before opening and they went straight to the door and started shouldering their way into the store. I don't go to those places anymore, instead I do go to places like Kohl's who have police there to keep people from rushing the lines. And while this is nice and it works, why do we NEED police to control people? This is retail STUFF, its not the line for ice and water after a hurricane! Yet people will push their way in like they will not be able to draw more breath unless they beat that little old lady to the last sale TV.

Our local Tanger Outlet Mall will open at 10 pm this year, rolled back from midnight last year.

 

[kkandaj]

DH will be working on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. He also works Memorial Day, 4th of July and usually Labor Day. This was the first time in 3 years that he was off on Labor Day. The three holidays in the summer are actually big holidays for us because we go camping with several other families. DH leaves the campground every holiday to go to work.

DH works for peanuts for the State in a residential treatment facility for juvenile delinquents. It is a thankless job, but once in awhile, there is hope in one of those boy's eyes that DH is making a difference. DH is a M-F employee, but because of the holidays and everyone having to share the responsibility, he will be working two Sundays (Christmas/New Year's). We are a family that attends church on Sundays, so not only will he miss the holidays with us, he will miss our weekly church service.

When I worked seasonal for Kohl's throughout college (10 yrs ago), seasonal workers were told before they were hired they wouldn't have days off during the season and they would be expected to work whatever hours they were given. My parents also worked there for extra money. Even then, we were coming in at 3 and 4 am to stock, etc.

If this was a perfect world, we would all be home with our families for the holidays. Instead, we have troops overseas that won't even TALK to their families for weeks around the holidays, fighting so that we can celebrate the holidays. No matter how much I wish DH was home with us on the holidays, I will be giving thanks that DH will be with us sometime over the weekend, even if it isn't at either of the huge family gatherings I will be attending with our small children.