Target employee starts online petition protesting Target's BF hours

[bpesch]

Having retired from a job that worked 24/7 all year round, and having to work many holidays, I understand, but honestly, that's just the way it is. In this economy, he should be happy he has a job. When you get hired, you know working on a holiday is a possibility. To complain about it after the fact is just plain silly.

 

[judomom2]

I work in a hospital, my hubby is a police officer and our son is ft army so we dont always have the option of celebrating holidays on the calendar date either but the date doesnt matter it is getting together with family and friends that does. Many years my family would make thanksgiving dinner and bring it to the hospital and we would all be together for a bit then and celebrate it my work buddies. I agree it sucks working holidays but not having a job would suck worse. I do agree we are pushing the line by opening earlier and earlier.

 

[secretpantssam]

I don't even work in retail and I agree with these people. My sister has to leave thanksgiving early and my brother and sister in law in law can't come to Thanksgiving dinner because they have to work retail. I would much rather have them at my house for dinner than get a good deal on Thankgiving day or midnight black Friday.

 

[lizabu]

I'm not sure how it works in the US but in Canada Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday. That means you get paid for it even if you don't work on that day. Everyone automatically gets that day off at my work. We're still open so they have sign ups for people who choose to work. They pay time and a half when you work on the holiday plus you still get the holiday pay everyone else is getting. We have no trouble getting enough people to sign up. I hardly ever work holidays anymore but there are plenty of people who don't have kids love making the extra money

 

[Zhoen]

I think what is interesting in the article is the stores saying "Consumers demand it!!!"

As a dedicated BF shopper, I go where the deals are, when they are... only because what I want won't be there 30 minutes after opening... but if they keep getting earlier and earlier, eventually I will have to stop participating. The TRU 9pm opening is really pushing my envelope, because the line will be forming by 6pm, whether the employees are there or not... so that's people with kids leaving those kids on a holiday to buy gifts for those kids at a more affordable price.

That's literally making people choose between "presents" and "presence".

As they go earlier and earlier, they will start getting BF (BT???) shoppers who aren't the traditional BF crowd, which might be good for the stores, because you're talking about a batch of folks who traditionally have wanted sleep more than a bargain, so maybe they'll come out at 6pm for a 30% deal, buying it all up when the 50% crowd wouldn't come... the store "saves" 20%... or they might do waves of merchandise like TRU is doing this year...

It's going to be a very interesting social experiment.

But, also for the article, the guy who started the petition is NOT scheduled to work those days, and is NOT being forced to. My husband, who serves the military, is serving 24-hour shifts both Thanksgiving day 6am Thurs-6am Fri AND Christmas Eve (6am the 24th-6am the 25th) And, honestly, we're both just happy that he's not deployed and we'll get to see him at all.

So, yes, this is starting to become an intrusion into traditional family values, but no, I don't feel too badly for the workers who can say "no" (at the risk of their jobs, but still, they CAN)

The petition is a good step, but what's going to make a difference is people voting with their dollars. If the stores make more this way, it will probably stay.

 

[luvmy3]

I think what is interesting in the article is the stores saying "Consumers demand it!!!"

As a dedicated BF shopper, I go where the deals are, when they are... only because what I want won't be there 30 minutes after opening... but if they keep getting earlier and earlier, eventually I will have to stop participating. The TRU 9pm opening is really pushing my envelope, because the line will be forming by 6pm, whether the employees are there or not... so that's people with kids leaving those kids on a holiday to buy gifts for those kids at a more affordable price.

That's literally making people choose between "presents" and "presence".

Is there an unwritten rule that you have to spend the entire 24 hours of a holiday with your kids? I could line up at 6PM and not really miss anything since I would have spent the previous 11 hours with my kids. I don't even spend that much time with them on a regular weekday when they are at school, so why does the fact that it is Thansgiving mean I can't leave them for a few hours?
People have a choice, they can choose to not work in a field that requires them to work Holidays, or they can choose to not participate in an event (like shopping) on those Holidays. There is really no wrong way in this situation.

 

[Zhoen]

Actually, in my family, I've always left them that night my husband and/or sister, and take my sister's daughters, who are teens, with me. What I meant was, if the stores start opening at 6pm, people will start lining up at 3, and dinner will have to be pushed earlier (or later) and it could go earlier and earlier.

The day it prevents me from enjoying the day with my children is the day I won't play anymore. That's where my line is, and it is something that everyone will have to choose for him/herself.

 

[sydneysmom]

Now, this is just my opinion, but when you work in retail, you KNOW that you have to probably work holidays / weekends / crazy sales, etc. In this economy, it's probably better to BE working than to boycott your company and stay home. Personally, I've worked retail and have done black friday sales.... and yes, while it stinks that you have to go, you can also go in w/ a good attitude and just have fun people watching and getting in the midst of the craziness.

If they want a change, they should quit retail. Because retail isn't going to stop opening their doors if a sale will come in the door. And again, in this economy, stores have to do what they can to bring people in. Black friday brings a sense of excitement to people. Retail might be those folk's wrong profession if they're going to complain about the hours.

 

[eliza61]

My 2cents.


1) I do not accept the "be grateful you have a job so I'm going to treat you like crap" mentality.
2) I think companies are using this "it's a tough economy" for a convenient excuse to do what they want and simply expect people to roll over and accept it. Bank of America and netflix found out that everyone has a breaking point.
3) I have no problem with the guy trying to make a change. I think most people here tend to accept any thing disney. I love it when people post that you should "be happy" that you got a dirty room because after all it's "disney" LOL
4) there is absolutely nothing I need that bad to make me leave my family on a major holiday to buy
5) I do miss the "good" ole days. Holidays are imo, now simply an excuse to purchase stuff we don't need. I predict that in 10 years the anniversary of 9/11 will be another day to shop.
6) retail is rarely anyone's "profession" the vast majority

 

[Disneefun]

I think the larger issue here is an interesting societal question. How far are we, as a society, willing to go to honor greed and the almighty dollar? And it's not just a question for the employers, but for the people who want to and will shop at any hour of any day. Is it really so hard to wait one more day to buy that piece of cheap Chinese crap? Is it worth making people leave their families so we can have a little more time to shop? At some point society is going to have to come to grips with which is more important: Spending money/making money, or spending time with family and friends and enjoying what blessings we already have.

I don't like what BF has become. The violence, riots, meanness, etc. all seem to be so far from what the holidays are supposed to be about, I can't get excited about it at all. Recent years have made me sick to my stomach because all I can think is, "For what? Some piece of plastic that will be broken or obsolete in a year? For something that you can find at the same price later on?" Really. It just all seems so wasteful and unnecessary. And, of course, the retailers are going to feed the monster so it's up to people to decide which is more important: Their humanity and safety, or acting like animals in the name of money. Unfortunately, too few people seem to have any sense and so it perpetuates itself.

Sorry, but I think the employees are right and I used to work retail (in a disney store, no less). It's one thing to go into retail knowing it's going to be crazy for two months, but it's another to have your one day off yanked out from under you on short notice.

 

[Lehuaann]

Actually, in my family, I've always left them that night my husband and/or sister, and take my sister's daughters, who are teens, with me. What I meant was, if the stores start opening at 6pm, people will start lining up at 3, and dinner will have to be pushed earlier (or later) and it could go earlier and earlier.

The day it prevents me from enjoying the day with my children is the day I won't play anymore. That's where my line is, and it is something that everyone will have to choose for him/herself.

Currently people line up (more like camp out w/ tents) at noon Thanksgiving Day for BB's 6 am opening.

At the pace we're going, next will be Christmas and seeing empty streets/businesses for sacred holidays will be a thing of the past.

And, Amen. Someone needs to take a stand for their families and children by not participating. Plain and simple.

 

[momxx5]

I have not read all the responses yet, however I have been working retail for the past 6+months. (used to work years ago before kids too, including service industry)

Due to the sucky economy our store hours have been cut back lately. In the summer I was getting 5 shifts easily. The past month I have gotten less than 15hrs per week.

Our schedule for next week was just posted an hour ago. I am so excited to be working 33+ hours.
Now I am a mom of 5 and I would love to stay home & cook a Thanksgiving feast.....this year things will be different and it will still be okay. We'll have a meal together and be extremely thankful, counting all our blessings.

I will be working 1-6pm on Thanksgiving.
Black Friday I have an eight hour shift and Saturday another 8 hours working until 12am.
I am so grateful to have the hours....especially right now, so I will have a decent paycheck before the holidays.

So, a petition to protest store hours??? Really??? Started by an employee???
Sorry, be thankfuly you have a job, suck it up and work. OR quit and let someone else who has been applying for jobs daily get a chance at your job.

Not everyone is a victim.

 

[jrmasm]

Meh, much ado about nothing in my opinion. If you don't want crazy hours during the holidays don't work retail. If the store hours for BF get in the way of your family time, don't go shopping. I think it's that simple.

BTW, I worked Thanksgivings during college when I was a waitress. NBD, that was part of the job.

 

[eliza61]

Meh, much ado about nothing in my opinion. If you don't want crazy hours during the holidays don't work retail. If the store hours for BF get in the way of your family time, don't go shopping. I think it's that simple.

BTW, I worked Thanksgivings during college when I was a waitress. NBD, that was part of the job.

I thought the hours he is protesting was Thanksgiving? Did I read it wrong?

You're right, black friday most people in retail expect to work. THANKSGIVING though is a major holiday even in retail I would not expect to work.

 

[SaraJayne]

My 2cents.


1) I do not accept the "be grateful you have a job so I'm going to treat you like crap" mentality.
2) I think companies are using this "it's a tough economy" for a convenient excuse to do what they want and simply expect people to roll over and accept it. Bank of America and netflix found out that everyone has a breaking point.
3) I have no problem with the guy trying to make a change. I think most people here tend to accept any thing disney. I love it when people post that you should "be happy" that you got a dirty room because after all it's "disney" LOL
4) there is absolutely nothing I need that bad to make me leave my family on a major holiday to buy
5) I do miss the "good" ole days. Holidays are imo, now simply an excuse to purchase stuff we don't need. I predict that in 10 years the anniversary of 9/11 will be another day to shop.
6) retail is rarely anyone's "profession" the vast majority

*applause*

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Sorry, but if you have a job in this economy and your employer asks you to work 'different' hours 1 or 2 days a year, I don't see a problem. The customers are willing to get up.

I completely agree!

Also stores like Wal-Mart are open on Thanksgiving so employees work on "the" day.

DH has worked for WM for 14 years - he's glad to have a good steady job and he knows that in retail holidays and "Black Friday" are just part of the job.

 

[momxx5]

With our county unemployment over 11%, after applying for any & all jobs for well over 2 yrs, I am grateful to have a job.

So working Thanksgiving is not a choice. Its a necessity!!!

 

[eliza61]

past month I have gotten less than 15hrs per week.

Our schedule for next week was just posted an hour ago. I am so excited to be working 33+ hours.
Now I am a mom of 5 and I would love to stay home & cook a Thanksgiving feast.....this year things will be different and it will still be okay. We'll have a meal together and be extremely thankful, counting all our blessings.


So, a petition to protest store hours??? Really??? Started by an employee???
Sorry, be thankfuly you have a job, suck it up and work. OR quit and let someone else who has been applying for jobs daily get a chance at your job.Not everyone is a victim.

You're right he's not a victim. He's actively trying to change some thing he sees as unfair. Sorry but I actually have more respect for people who try to better their situation than those who just "suck it up" and "accept any type of treatment". Where do we draw the line? some one harrasses you, do you "suck it up"? Your job puts you in a unsafe or unhealthy situation? "suck it up".

I am so thankful this year that I work for an employeer who values their employees and doesn't tell us to "suck it up" when we have complaints.

What I find so interesting is that a few weeks ago, people were saying how the occupy wall street folks need to "do something" to change the system instead of protesting and rioting, yet here you get a guy who is actually doing that, yet we tell him to "suck it up". LOL.

 

[KelnRon]

Having worked in retail my entire life ... Montgomery Ward, Linens-N-Things, Walmart and Sears (most of them in management) we always asked for volunteer's for the early shifts! There usually is an over abundance of associates wanting to work the early hours. This year, back in retail after 4ish years of being a SAHM (PT evenings) I volunteered to work the 2am shift! I'm looking forward to it!

 

[Jey12]

I also agree that someone should just be happy to have a job mentality is wrong. The fact of having a job does not mean an employer can treat you like a pile of poo. I don't agree that you get to complain about working crazy hours between Thanksgiving and Christmas when you chose to work in retail. DH works for Penney's in their warehouse and he's been pulling OT and working extra hours on the end of his shift since the beginning of October because they want the stores filled with merchandise. He still doesn't know, and probably won't until Tue of next week if he'll be working Thanksgiving weekend. Often he has to work Hallloween night because the warehouse employees are working these kind of hours prior to Thanksgiving and he misses out on trick or treating with DD5. Where's the online petition for him? Where's the public support? It's not there and we don't expect it. For every retail employee having to work long crazy hours between Thanksgiving and Christmas there is a warehouse employee that's been pulling those hours in the weeks before. Every year his hours change up a bit, but we know to expect this. He just found out at 2am last night he'll be working tonight. We have plans all day Saturday and he may or may not elect to participate depending on how tired he is after working all night. We had less than 48 hours notice. Again we expect this at this time of year with his chosen job.

Obviously comparing police and fire employees wasn't a good example because as stated they are essential. Anyone ask why the police force is essential? Sometimes, and no not always, but sometimes they are on duty because of the idiots that can't control themselves. Not that much different than some of the black friday shoppers others have experienced. Personally I have yet to see any type of what I'd call out of line crazy behavior on black friday. We have enjoyed it for many years. I am on the side if the stores open any earlier I will not participate, I want the 3-4am sales back. 9pm is too much for me, I won't be at TRU this year. Midnight is pushing it but it's doable. I don't shop black friday because I must save $20, or because I'm selfish and feel like retail employees "owe" me the right to shop. I shop because it's been a tradition and we've just moved our tradition earlier and earlier with the opening of stores. If they get one minute earlier and we'll find a new tradition.

I have worked in retail, I have worked holidays. I worked as a veterinary tech for over 15 years and let me tell you I had no notice given that I would need to stay at work 1-3 hours past my shift end. Many times it was because a pet owner decided to bring in a sick animal (one that had been sick for days or even weeks) at closing time. I have spent many hours on holidays, Christmas included, taking care of pets that could have been home. Their owners didn't want to "deal" with vomiting and diarrhea during their family gathering, so they opted to leave the pet with us. We were not a boarding kennel, yet we seemed to be full of these animals that were having "issues", according to their owner, over most holidays. Many of the animals oddly didn't show any symptoms while in our care and went home right after the holiday. I can't even count how many owners were shocked we didn't have someone in the building 24/7 to care for their pet, yet they wouldn't take them home if the Dr. said they could. Sometimes I had notice on Christmas eve that I would need to spend 3-4 hours twice on Christmas caring for these animals. I have left many family functions to do this. I am a nonessential employee, there are emergency vet clinics these owners could have gone to. They are more expensive and owners wanted to save money on vet care. I'm not complaining, these are just simple facts of yet one of many many other jobs and careers that require late notice extended work hours over holidays. I chose my profession, and I enjoy what I do. That is why I work there.

The Target worker who has posted saying it's more of the late notice and demanding from the company that they stock shelves on Thanksgiving is correct, that is wrong. If the majority of employees feel that way then stand together and take it up with the higher powers of the company. Don't individually start an online petition (reference is to the young man, not yourself on here) complaining. If you all are the majority of the feelings of the employees, come together and do something about it. Target is not going to fire the majority of their workforce in the weeks before a major shopping event. If it's just because people don't want to work long crazy hours during the holidays, they'd better chose another type of job. If you don't want to work holidays and long hours during certain times of the year, I'd start looking at banks and government office jobs. Most every other profession has some sort of "busy" season, and many of those are consumer driven.