Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

I dO feel badly for retail workers. I know things hav changed and its not what the initially signed on fod. Dh and I both work in essential fields that are 24 7 but I understand that.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Posted by brownie

Posted by Mrs213

Posted by brownie

I don't really like going to any store on Thanksgiving day unless its something we need last minute from the grocery store (and sometimes we do drive through at DD because we deliver some Thanksgiving Equinox meals on the morning).

It would be nice if everyone could stay home but they can't (DH works in a hospital and has to work on Thanksgiving, not in the evening though). I get that its retail and they don't necessarily NEED to be open then, so it would be annoying for the workers. Annoying for them, yes but do I feel REALLY bad about it? Not really

Hmmmm.....maybe she is saying that the problem is that people really dont care about it
This is getting pretty stupid. Now everything that this girl says people are going to jump on??? I am not even in agreement with her BUT c'mon, really you dont understand what she means???

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Posted by PrincessP

Posted by brownie

Posted by Mrs213

Posted by brownie

I don't really like going to any store on Thanksgiving day unless its something we need last minute from the grocery store (and sometimes we do drive through at DD because we deliver some Thanksgiving Equinox meals on the morning).

It would be nice if everyone could stay home but they can't (DH works in a hospital and has to work on Thanksgiving, not in the evening though). I get that its retail and they don't necessarily NEED to be open then, so it would be annoying for the workers. Annoying for them, yes but do I feel REALLY bad about it? Not really

Hmmmm.....maybe she is saying that the problem is that people really dont care about it
This is getting pretty stupid. Now everything that this girl says people are going to jump on??? I am not even in agreement with her BUT c'mon, really you dont understand what she means???

No I get her opinion, but at the same time, I have a right to my own opinion. Yes its not ideal to work then, but there are a lot of things I feel badly about before this....if that makes sense.

AND FTR...the ONLY reason I looked at this thread was the OTHER ONE that had FM's posted...before that I never even read this thread

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

my husband works in the medical field and this year, he will MOST PROBABLY have to work on Thanksgiving... it is what it is...

when you take a retail job-- it's a given now that you'll be working on holidays, no?

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

I don't shop black friday because I don't think the prices are worth the craziness. I do feel bad for the retail workers. They have to scarf down their dinner to get to work and deal with a huge crowd of people. I would not even be able to enjoy myself @ dinner. I would be anxious about working straight through the night. It's so unfair to these people.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

IMO, I don't blame the stores. They know that people will go out and shop. Therefore they will open to be available to those people.

I personally don't go shopping on major holidays but I don't hate or boycott companies that open up.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Blah- I missed Christmas and Thanksgiving every year for 15 years because I was a flight attendant. My last 5 is the only time i got time and a half. it was something I knew when I signed on for the job. That said, now that I have children it would be awful for me to be away.

To answer the OP, no, I don't shop stores open on T-giving, unless it's a grocery store and we need a last-minute item. I also express gratitude to the cashier for being their.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Posted by MamaLeen

Posted by emilylives

The constant refrain of "Don't complain, at least you have a job" is how working conditions are deteriorating. What happened to worker's rights? I just wonder where the limit is. Of course we all should have the right to stand up for ourselves when we think we are being treated unreasonably.

And I very much disagree with the fact that retail workers knew what they were getting into. Obviously some did, but there's a reason this subject is coming up this year -- because a large percentage of these people (Mrs213 obviously included) were never asked to come in on Thanksgiving before. When they were hired, they were told that they would have Thanksgiving off. So to me, this is no different than any office worker randomly getting called in for Thanksgiving because the company wants to make more money.

I really feel for the retail workers and I will not be participating in the fiasco.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Eh I have very mixed feelings - I avoid BF like the plague b/c I hate shopping with large crowds. I have never fought the crowds unless I was working in the store. I don't feel that department stores or places like best buy have to be open for thanksgiving etc. But I really don't have a problem if they are opened Friday day itself. There must be enough people who WANT to shop those times or they wouldn't find it profitable for them to open Thursday night or early Friday morning. The only way people will change this cycle is to stay home and shop online or not shop at all.

But where do you draw the line. Just department and retail type stores? What about grocery stores? Places like DD or bagel stores? Restaurants?

Many restaurants are open on Thanksgiving and they force their workers to come in - many don't give them the option they just say show up or don't come back for work. There are many who are thankful for any job - and the sad fact is I bet if someone said no there would be someone else who is desperate who needs it and who is willing to make that sacrifice. I have worked in both department stores and restaurants. I actually feel sorry for those in the restaurants b/c they really don't get a Thanksgiving. While people are out dining they are missing the whole day out with their families (they don't usually go in at 7 - you have to go in at like 12 sometimes earlier or later. But for many if they don't work that day they don't get paid - and that is why many are willing to go in and work to pay for food or rent etc.

Now having said that. I worked seasonal in a department store. When hired the 1st thing I was asked BEFORE they offered me the job (this was back in the early/mid 90's) you understand you will have to work days like Christmas eve, New Years Eve. You might have to work very late on Christmas eve, or New Years eve or have to come in very early the day following a holiday (I did have to go in one day at like 5am). Same with the restaurant- if you want the good shifts you know you have to suck it up and work holidays. I missed Easter (several of our non christian coworkers had other plans that day and seniority so they didn't want to work and I had to miss church and the holiday to work), I had to work thanksgiving before. It sucks but I knew it was part of taking the job and if I didn't like it I didn't have to take it (I needed the pay so I gladly accepted it). Some places were good and tried to have those who didn't celebrate the holiday (i.e. jewish people work easter etc) and ask for volunteers 1st because there were many people who didn't have family to celebrate with who wanted the pay and wanted to be working rather than sitting home alone and depressed.

Unfortunately, there are pluses and minuses to any job and many jobs have some pretty negative things that come with taking the job. Emergency personal are frequently pulled and miss Christmas, Thanksgiving etc. Doctors are always on call, I know my husband and many others whose firms give their staff off but the lawyers are all in. Growing up my father got business calls sometimes on Thanksgiving etc. If it snows those people will be called in to clear roads so others can get to their celebrations. I know my niece works in a catering hall, my BIL is a manager in a supermarket. I know they volunteer b.c they get time and a half and some. In many circumstances - people who had to work on Thanksgiving simply didn't celebrate that day but made say Friday or a day that weekend their celebration day and they had their meal then. So for them they just worked a Thursday and then Friday was Thanksgiving for them.

The sad fact is as long as there is a demand for restaurants to be open, grocery stores for people who forgot something or burned something, people willing to go to the stores en mass than things aren't going to change. Stores aren't going to open for 2, 5 or 10 people but if they are making good money the cycle will only continue. so 50 people on here can say that is horrible but unless there are real numbers who refuse to patronize these places then the stores will continue to want to make money. Next thing everything will be open on Christmas rather than early the next day so people who want to can return gifts that weren't right.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

I'm OK with it. I think many families make traditions out of it. I work holidays and I'm not in retail but I understand it's my job. I think there are more important holidays that people work on. I maybe wrong but I thought that they are opening up a 9pm so I'm sure people have time for turkey.
For the other poster I'm sure that a lot of shoppers and workers think it's great your husband is open for a quick snack!! These shoppers go all day and need to keep up their energy.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

I dont think the stores should be open on thanksgiving not because of the ppl working but because WHo is shopping that day? I mean shouldnt you be home spending time with your family if possable.
However my sister in law & mother in law work for a hotel and they are both working that day, Plus chistmass day. Always have & always will probally. My father use to work on thanksgiving as well.
So i never thought of someone having to work that day as a horriable thing but someone making the choice to go shopping over spending time with loved ones that bothers me.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

I worked at the DMV for 7 years. With 40 employees in the office, only 10% of the staff were "allowed" off at a time. Yes that's right only 4 people out of 40 were allowed to take off any day of the week. It also was seniority based, so being the middle man, I rarely got any time that was desirable off.

Did I love it, no absolutely not.
I had to go into work during snow storms, holidays, days after holidays wtc bc we were considered "essential" employees.

And to top it off, the people who were coming there were never pleasant nor did they feel sorry for us they just wanted what they wanted.

I feel sorry for the people in restaurants (diners and such that are open every single day at all hours) as well as the people in retail, I think that we as a society should go back to the blue laws and respect that people have families.

I don't shop on Black Friday bc I think it's ridiculous. I would rather shop online, or on off hours (after work) when it's not crowded. I'm not that interested in losing sleep and sanity to save a few dollars.

And that's how I it

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Message edited 11/20/2011 5:10:34 PM.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

I won't be shopping Thanksgiving night, because it doesn't interest me. However, there are plenty of people that "have" to work on holidays,(nurses, fire fighters etc.) def not fair but life is not fair!

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Adbusters calls black Friday "buy nothing" day and I support that 100%

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

I don't support them, but I also don't not support them (especially if they sell textbooks on how to speak perfect, sensical English).

I think it's stupid for the stores to open when they do. Stupid for people to throw all reason, moral, and respect for mankind out the window so they can get an ice cream maker (in December) for $9. And stupid to deal with all the crowds and headaches just to save a few $. But, I also don't do crowds and would rather pay more to spare my time and anxiety.

As for working it... I guess it is what it is. I work holidays, but I'm also in an essential position (which means I'm a very important person)- its one of the drawbacks of being so awesome and useful. But, I feel like its necessary and I'm compensated well for it- I can't imagine being as accepting if I wasn't. Then again, I've been in positions where I felt like that, so I made changes to get out of it. I feel for anyone who has to work that day- essential position or not- it kind of stinks for everyone. Well, no, I don't really feel bad for obnoxious, confrontational people who have to work that day. But for everyone else, yes. Definitely.

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

Re: Stores Open on Thanksgiving....do you support them?

I've been on both sides of the fence and I will be shopping on BF. Years ago, I worked in a bakery and then shortly after, I worked at King Kullen while I was going to school. I was mandated to work all Holidays. I didn't see anything wrong with it then, I don't see anything wrong with it now that I work a M-F 7:30 - 3:30 job. It's just life, it's not always fair. Am I happy that my brother will be patrolling the streets on Thanksgiving instead of enjoying the Holiday with us? Of course not, BUT that is one of the drawbacks of being a Police Officer. What can you do. Every job has it's pros and cons.

Message edited 11/21/2011 8:25:35 AM.