Do you think anyone would hire me to work for one day (TG day)? I hate TG. Unfortunately, I also hate the general public, so I'm not sure working would make it better. I don't shop on TG either (well, besides online).
I actually don't even think I understand your point in context of this conversation about retail.
When this all started a year or two ago, the major outcry was "but what about those who only get this one day off!" It's still one of the major battle cries, as evidenced by this thread.
I stated I can't get it up for the retail workers who have to work, because well - lots of people have to work on holidays. Why is there no outcry for them, but there is for retail workers? The best explainatation I've received is that it hasn't always been that way - and it's changed. Someone last year posted that their mom has worked retail for like 25-30 years and had never had to work on Thanskgiving and this was hard fo her. And I get that argumento to an extent. But - industries change and sometimes jobs/job descriptions change too.
Because people recognize the difference between the necessity of an ER nurse working on Thanksgiving and a cashier at Target doing so?
I have an aunt who's an ER nurse. Yes, some years she missed Thanksgiving Dinner or had to work Christmas. But she a) worked a job that is really, truly necessary for the health and safety of people 24/7, and b) was able to trade schedules with people so that she didn't have to work every holiday. Neither of those apply to the average retail worker.
If retail establishments abandoning Black Friday in favor of Thanksgiving doesn't bother you, then fine. Nothing I say will change that. But I have no doubt you can see the difference between an EMT having to work Thanksgiving and the merchandisers at Macy's.
When this all started a year or two ago, the major outcry was "but what about those who only get this one day off!" It's still one of the major battle cries, as evidenced by this thread.
I stated I can't get it up for the retail workers who have to work, because well - lots of people have to work on holidays. Why is there no outcry for them, but there is for retail workers? The best explainatation I've received is that it hasn't always been that way - and it's changed. Someone last year posted that their mom has worked retail for like 25-30 years and had never had to work on Thanskgiving and this was hard fo her. And I get that argumento to an extent. But - industries change and sometimes jobs/job descriptions change too.
Because a lot of us are saying that NO ONE should have to work on the holiday. (Except emergency workers, because they have to and we can't do without them because invariably someone will catch their garage on fire with the turkey fryer.)
I honestly don't think I've ever read here, or elsewhere, anyone claiming that NO ONE should have to work on the holiday other than emergency workers.
So are you also leading a crusade to stop the NFL and college teams from playing on Thanksgiving?
Because a lot of us are saying that NO ONE should have to work on the holiday. (Except emergency workers, because they have to and we can't do without them because invariably someone will catch their garage on fire with the turkey fryer.)
I honestly don't think I've ever read here, or elsewhere, anyone claiming that NO ONE should have to work on the holiday other than emergency workers.
So are you also leading a crusade to stop the NFL and college teams from playing on Thanksgiving?
I prefer to spend my Turkey Day lounging in my pjs on the web buying shit.
And this is why the brick and mortars are opening. They know people are going to shop and deals are starting online so maybe if they open too you'll bring the whole family out to their store after turkey and they get some of your dollar too. There's no keeping up with online retail though, so I wonder if this is really a long term solution for the malls.
But, I don't WANT TO BE IN THAT MADHOUSE ON TURKEY DAY.
I went to Black Friday ONCE at 5am. I vowed then to never, ever do that shit again. Folks damn near fighting in Wally World in the toy aisle.
Nope.
Personally, I don't see that anything was "broken" in the first place with Black Friday. Sure, I can buy it online on Turkey Day, but my buying online doesn't need to be confused with the idea that I might want to be IN a physical store. I don't. I LOATHE Holiday Shopping. My husband does all the "last minute shopping." NitaX does not. I don't even travel NEAR the mall during the last minute holiday rush. If I didn't get it before the mad dash, it ain't about to be purchased.
Post by gretchenindisguise on Sept 30, 2014 15:49:41 GMT -5
And it's not just an ER nurse/doctor that is working in a hospital on Thanksgiving. Bed linens still need to be changed, floors still need to be mopped, meals need to be cooked, etc.
The higher ups aren't there - it's certainly less than a regular day - but it's not like 5 guys running the ship.
Post by tacosforlife on Sept 30, 2014 15:55:09 GMT -5
This also makes me glad we have almost no gifts to buy this year. We'll buy something for my ILs. My dad made me stop buying him gifts 10 years ago. And we're renting a mountain cottage with my mom and siblings. At most, we might draw names for a small exchange but since my parents are paying for the cottage and the kids are supplying the food,we're not doing lots of gifts.
I'm SO PUMPED about this. Makes my life about a million times easier.
I hate it, however, the only good thing to come of it is a lot of retailers give great incentives to work on TG that enough people want to work, rather than requiring people to work.
Not so. My sister wanted the holiday off last year. They told her if she didn't work thanksgiving overnight into Black Friday that she would be fired.
Serious question. If retailers compensated their employees better, would there be less of an outcry about working that day? Like actually did holiday pay and paid decent wages to begin with?
I also don't see it going away, so in my head that would make it a bit better (H gets paid holiday pay so he always works). Or am I continuing to talk out of my ass?
Those in a hospital or many other medical facilities including nursing facilities, skilled nursing, assisted living, senior living. Those in a sports arena. Those at a movie theater. Those at a restaurant/fast food. Those at a gas station. Those in the police/fire/emergency field. People in television/radio/broadcasting. Customer service phone operator people. Most grocery stores have at least some hours open on Thanksgiving. Those who work for gas/electric/water companies - damn skippy they're on call and called out. Plumbers called in for emergencies. Those who are road crew around the city. It snows sometimes on Thanksgiving right? And if Aunt June wants to get to Thanksgiving dinner by golly, she has a right to get to Thanksgiving dinner. Surely that's not selfish of her, right?
Shall I continue?
I mean, the reality is that retail work isn't usually the best paying, the hours are bad, the holidays crummy. I agree that they should have one more guaranteed holiday and I think it is sad that one of two guaranteed holidays was taken away. I think we should have a national holiday where people don't use it as a reason to shop and use it as a time to reflect and be with family. . I think the onus is on stores to make it happen. But it makes me cringe when people can't see the hypocrisy. Last year someone was going on about how horrible it was that people had to work on a holiday. And then said...I really needed that Starbucks thanksgiving morning after all that cooking though but that is ok bc it was only open until noon. Seriously? If you want to take a stand then take a stand. And that means on Thanksgiving if you need to get cool whip or are watching football or if your Internet goes down while you are shopping in your pjs and you call customer service you too are part of the "problem" of making people work on a national holiday for something non essential. That too is consumerism. As long as you can own that then that is good.
Serious question. If retailers compensated their employees better, would there be less of an outcry about working that day? Like actually did holiday pay and paid decent wages to begin with?
I think some are paying holiday pay. Where the rub comes is that it's mandatory. You can't switch around your schedule with anyone else, and because of the hours worked EVERYONE has to be there.
Serious question. If retailers compensated their employees better, would there be less of an outcry about working that day? Like actually did holiday pay and paid decent wages to begin with?
I also don't see it going away, so in my head that would make it a bit better (H gets paid holiday pay so he always works). Or am I continuing to talk out of my ass?
When I worked retail, my pay wasn't crappy. It wasn't minimum wage, it was actually a few dollars above it. So, it's not the pay to me. It's more about folks getting ONE DAYUM DAY not to deal with ignit ass people. Just one. Because the holiday shopping rush is a mad house. It's a long day and people act like asses and are usually mean and what not. Everyone deserves a day of peace where they don't feel like they need to cuss a rude ass mofo the eff out.
It's the Principle of the Thing. One day to relax. Folks deserve just that much. That's all. At least for me that is.
Serious question. If retailers compensated their employees better, would there be less of an outcry about working that day? Like actually did holiday pay and paid decent wages to begin with?
I think some are paying holiday pay. Where the rub comes is that it's mandatory. You can't switch around your schedule with anyone else, and because of the hours worked EVERYONE has to be there.
I suppose I should have included that. Because that's really shitty. Same thing with the malls revoking someone's lease.
H has worked the last 3-4 holidays businesses are usually closed for and because of that he should be able to snag Christmas off.
I hate it, however, the only good thing to come of it is a lot of retailers give great incentives to work on TG that enough people want to work, rather than requiring people to work.
LOL! What retailers are these?! In my aforementioned 7 years in retail, I worked overnights every year starting around mid-November through New Years. Every fucking holiday--and not because I wanted to. I know of no one--in the various stores I worked in--who was given the option.
LOL! What retailers are these?! In my aforementioned 7 years in retail, I worked overnights every year starting around mid-November through New Years. Every fucking holiday--and not because I wanted to. I know of no one--in the various stores I worked in--who was given the option.
I know WaMart, Macys and Best Buy do. However, I don't doubt that there are still a lot of people that don't get these incentives.
Awww. WalMart pays its workers 7.5 cents. Isn't that cute.
I worked Thanksgiving at a call center one year. Open on damned Thanksgiving so some asshole could bitch that his cellphone doesn't work when it's turned off.
Serious question. If retailers compensated their employees better, would there be less of an outcry about working that day? Like actually did holiday pay and paid decent wages to begin with?
I also don't see it going away, so in my head that would make it a bit better (H gets paid holiday pay so he always works). Or am I continuing to talk out of my ass?
if it were truly optional and everyone got holiday pay I don't see why I'd have a problem with it. But of course that is never going to happen.
As it is if I thought execs were working that day I'd have less of a problem with it. But you know those hypocrites are getting their turkey on too.
And maybe a part of it is that I didn't grow up in a Norman Rockwell painting where Thanksgiving was as seen on tv. It's just not that sacred to me.
jfc. So others shouldn't get a holiday bc it's not important TO YOU?
I thought pixy went a little overboard with the selfish accusations but now I see she was spot on.
So since this is such an unimportant day and it's nbd for everyone to work, again I can't wait to hear how you're volunteering to work that day. Just cc me on the email to your boss.
Post by statlerwaldorf on Sept 30, 2014 17:51:54 GMT -5
DH works for a retail store. The majority at his store do not want to work Thanksgiving. DH requests it off every year, but it's only been granted once.
They added a meal for workers on Thanksgiving, but it sucked. They didn't have enough food. Since breaks are staggered, most people weren't able to eat it when it was fresh. Plus it was just some frozen food they reheated.