Retail workers can't even enjoy Thanksgiving any longer

[WI_DEM]

It's all about the all-mighty buck and we the consumers have helped create this by going along with this nonsense.

Here is an example. Shopko a retail store here in Wisconsin and some other midwestern states is open on Thanksgiving Day from 8am-1pm (with all kinds of Doorbusters per the ad) and then close at 1pm and REOPEN at 9PM and stay open until 11PM Friday night.

I know other stores are going to open on Thanksgiving night, too. Whatever happened to the days of giving your employees the day off on Thanksgiving so they can enjoy a day with their families and then get an early start Friday morning for Black Friday sales?

Oh, I guess they should just be happy they have jobs?

[Sherman A1]

1. Working in Retail for almost 40 years now

and I will say that one learns to simply despise the holidays, pretty much all of them. Granted they are a means to have promotions, events and alike to increase store sales which does translate into hours, but honestly by the time any Retail Worker gets to a holiday that they might actually get to enjoy being off (and that certainly is no longer a sure thing as we see) they are simply exhausted by their workload and hours.

It's part of the territory and that is understood, but one simply does not find any personal enjoyment in any holiday.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

10. It's too bad the Congress doesn't have the balls pass a few laws

that actually help those working in retail during the holidays and for that matter in general. We all know where some of them get their marching orders. I remember the times long ago when stores were closed on Sunday or had limited hours.

But it isn't even that. Corporations just treat their employees like shit. Why isn't that ever taken up by the media?

In addition, for all the noise that the pundits and right wingers make about the war on Xmas (Holy, Holy Hokey) they sure do a 180 and cry just as loud when it comes to asking that corporations value their employees by not making them slaves during the holidays.

Their priorities:

*God/Jesus
*Corporations
Xmas
Profit (for corporations during the holidays)
Cheap labor for corporations (you, me, but most likely China)
America the gullible (you me)

*One in the same.

They should be called on their crap, but unfortunately the LibRul media would never live up to the values of truth in reporting when they can report on a 4Star penis or sports scores.

[leftyohiolib]

2. well some, like me, volunteer to work thanksgiving it's more money for me and helps to pay for

christmas but i understand what you're saying it sucks to be forced to work on a holiday.

[justabob]

9. many do

A lot of people choose to work the holidays for various reasons whether for money for xmas or simply to avoid their crazy family (or non-existant family).

[NYC Liberal]

11. I've done it. Double pay meant I got paid $28/hr

at one well known store where I used to work.

[aquart]

3. Oh, honey. We never did.

All you white collar cube rats with your regular schedules know nothing about us. We're like farmers were. We borrow to buy stock in summer to sell in the fall and early winter, praying all the time we bought right, that people will want to buy, that the city won't dig up the street in front of the store three weeks before Christmas, that we can pay our debts at the end.

You never stayed up all night after that sleep-inducing turkey to decorate your Christmas windows.

And you never got to feel that rush of joy as old customers come back and new ones catch the excitement. The annual Texans with their careful lists who never asked a price, just piled the counter high. The kids wanting to pick their own gift for teacher. The newlyweds shopping for their first Christmas in our store because their wedding pictures were on display in our frames, wearing the jewelry we loaned them (and they always returned without fail).

Retailing isn't for the faint of heart or weak of body. But there is a magic pleasure when you earn your money helping people to find what they need and what they want, especially when what they want most is to bring joy to others.

[brokechris]

5. nice!

I'd like to patronize your business!

[WI_DEM]

6. Actually I worked retail for years, and now work in a hospital ER

which obviously doesn't close for the holidays. I do remember enjoying my first christmas in retail, though. It was a rush and it was fun but back in those days they also allowed their employees time to spend with their families by closing at a decent hour and we weren't open on Thanksgiving day but bright and early (five am as I recall) on the Day after.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. I worked retail

All through high school and college.

Black Friday in the late 1980's and early 90's meant -

Getting shoes thrown at you to get your attention. You were standing right there. They were just pissed that the shoe didn't fit.

People screaming - I was first! I was first! I was first! I was ahead of them!

A man spraying a perfume on me (in my face) because he hated it - and said - "Well can't you tell it's disgusting".

And you always had to smile graciously at the assholes.

No thanks - no how. And Jenns Department store (now closed in Buffalo), Nine West, Dolci Shoes, and Scandia down were never ever open on Thanksgiving day at any time.

[WI_DEM]

8. I know. There are a lot of abusive customers and the ones who feel

'the customer is always right' are the worse. The way some of these people treat retail workers is disgusting and if there was any justice they would be kicked out of the store.

[brokechris]

4. one member of my family

will work a few hours on T-day. He is union and gets triple time--he is thrilled. For many, the "holiday" doesn't matter they prefer to be working. To each his own.

[Ilsa]

12. If it isn't police, fire, or hospital, I think it

should be closed for the entire holiday, and employees not needed until 6-7am the following day. (My MIL used to go to bed at 6pm on Thanksgiving to go to work at 3-4am at a grocery store on Black Friday.)

I boycott the stores on Thanksgiving so I don't contribute to profit-taking.

People shouldn't have to rely on holiday pay to survive, either. A living wage is what is needed.

We need to convince people not to shop on holidays.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. And I'm getting pretty fucking annoyed...

at the Facebook meme that pictures a soldier with caption to the effect of "I don't get the day off either."

Retail workers are not soldiers, get it? If you want to be fair, arm retail workers and let them open fire on obnoxious customers. Retail workers don't have health care for life or education benefits. Retail workers have shitty hours and shitty pay and nobody EVER fucking thanks them for their service.

One friggin' day off isn't too much to ask.

[mgcgulfcoast]

14. i worked at bath and body works for 8 years. here is a story

holidays were nothing to get excited about. just extra work. the good thing about the job was being able to legally touch hot women, hehe. it was part of our jobs to demo the products on women and i enjoyed having a really hot woman come in and be able to take her hand and rub on the lotion. i was really good at it too.