Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Would that include the historical abuse meted out by Priests, vicars, nuns etc?

As long as shop employees aren't forced to work Bank Holidays I can see no problem with it.

What you and Arthur seem to want is no-one works on the Sabbath. No Police, Fire or Ambulance services, then we have the NHS, not just doctors & nurses but cooks, cleaners etc. Let's just leave patients in hospital to fend for themselves on a Sunday because it's the Sabbath.

Many years ago my father (died 1975) told me of when he was on a long term contract in "Dry Sunday Wales" that if there was a light on in the front window of a pub on Sunday it meant the back door was open.

You cannot exclude one set of workers.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

i get a lot of criticism at work when i tell them Sunday is family day .

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

I have no problem with anyone who considers Sunday as a family day, sometimes that is the only day the family can spend time together.

I have no problem with someone who does not wish to work on religeous grounds, that is their preogative and I would respect it.

What I do have a problem with is those who would wish their religeous beliefs being imposed on others.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

But here are some thoughts and I would except the emergency and caring professions as well as farmers. All of these have to work, animals, patients, fires etc don't have calendars. And there are other exceptions too.

1)What if your employer wants to have Sundays/Bank Holidays as "normal" days, not paying extra?
2)What about staff who would like that time with families but employers don't see it that way
3)What about people who live near the shops who would also like a quiet day with out all the traffic and noise?
4)Small shops/stalls I have no problem with. Allows folk to buy essentials and have smaller impact on staff and surroundings. I use our farmers market on Sundays as it's the only day they are in my town. I also would buy essentials but would not go shopping.

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My comment on Christian Heritage is more to make Sunday the special day rather than force my faith on others. Same as Muslim countries or Israel may keep a different "sabbath" even if the country is now more secular. (Jewish "counting" is more interesting as it's from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.)

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

The wife works in a Farmfoods shop and Sunday is a normal working day same as any other day ,indeed Sunday is the first day of the working week for her company,the same company opens on boxing day.Nothing special about Sunday or boxing day any more

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

OMG! Why should Sunday be more special than any other day other than for your own religeous reasons?

Don't get me wrong I respect your belief but don't expect me to treat nor require me to treat it as a special day.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

I still think you are missing my point. The New Testament doesn't rank any one day in the week as special anymore but it does say that believers should meet together and that is not possible if half of them can't. Most Christian groups do celebrate a Sunday sabbath.

It just makes sense to have one day of the week when (nearly) everyone can have the same time off, let families be together, friends can meet up. You can probably staff with those who don't want that time if you do need to open.

For 3) above, what about in the summer when you want to be outside. Even in the winter it's nice not to have all the traffic and bustle going on around. It's not the small retailers that cause the issue, it's the big units. They don't need to open.

4)By shopping I mean that if I need something I will go and get it but I won't simply go out for the weekly shop or to get stuff I don't need at that time.

As to 1) and 2) you have no problem with employers penalising or disallowing people who do want to keep a special day? OK that's not what you meant but not all employers are accommodating.

I am not wanting to force anyone to follow my faith but it is important for everyone to have one day in seven as a day of rest. If you want to make it Wednesday that's also fine but if it's only you how does that fit in with your friends/family and others.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Again you're at it with the religeous aspect. I don't give a toss what the NT does or doesn't say, what believers should or shouldn't do or what members of any faith do.

You are fully entitled to your beliefs, that is your right. I would be one of the first to stand alongside you should anyone attempt to take that right away.

What I don't need is for you to incessantly remind me what your beliefs are.

In modern society that does not nor cannot work, again you are basing this on your religeous beliefs.

What about those whose only opportunity to do the weekly/monthly shop is a Sunday?

See above.

Glad you acknowledge that's not what I meant.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Do christian emergency workers have to work on Sundays or christian holidays? Do christian health workers? Do christian military?

I think you'll find they do. Because they are essential staff in essential roles, as are those that have no religious ideals.

Why should "one day in seven be a day of rest"? What if your day of rest is a Sunday or christian holiday? And that is the only day you can do your shopping, go to a restaurant or pub, or take the kids out for a treat somewhere? Why should the religion of some affect the lifestyles of others?

The simple answer is that it shouldn't. Ever.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

I think anyone who works on a bank holiday should be recompensed double pay..

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

we get pay x 3 or pay x2 and another day off

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

+1

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

We get another day of

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

The wife gets no overtime ,no days off ,no double time ,but she does get a £20 voucher to buy her turkey at Christmas

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

I object that the minority are dictating when we can go shopping.

I worked in retail and had to work the occasional Sunday. But the biggest workers on Sundays and Bank Holidays are students, who work theses days for PIN money.

Mind you some idiots have said shops should only be open Monday to Fridays only 9am to 5pm.