Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

http://www.itv.com/news/london/2016-...on-boxing-day/

I for one are in total agreement. Shop workers will be 'bullied' into working on Boxing Day.

This is a day when EVERYSHOP should be closed. We will have companies asking for 'volunteers' to work. And not get anything for it.

You will have companies that will make a fortune, and sadly Xmas is no longer a Christian day- its about how much money businesses will make.

When l grew up in Hammersmith. Every shop, was closed n Boxing Day. We should operate like Banks - they don't open on Bank Holidays - except Metro Bnk

Re: Totally agree
 

I had Christmas day, boxing day and new years eve of and voluntarily gave them all up to other workers that didn't, no one pressured me or forced me I chose to do it, fact is as long as I have Christmas eve of, which I had and still have of I don't mind spreading the Christmas spirit out

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Updated the title to something actually meaningful.

Arther, please give threads a useful title, so people have a clue what they are about.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Interesting idea but how it could be more meaningful than "totally agree" is beyond me

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Sorry Paul. Its watching the X Factor, put me off.
The Daddy., Its good that you pass on Xmas cheer. But not everyone is that kind hearted. Its all about making money at Xmas, when shops and companies make a killing with shoppers

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Arthur X Factor has nothing to do with it, you always post thread titles that make no sense and are usually part of your rant that should just be in the post.

Simply use the headline of what you are linking to as the thread title. Its pretty simple.

I do agree that all shops and call centres really should be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing day.

Where I work is open both those days and if rota'd to work then we have too. I am having to go in on Boxing day and its usually really quiet, hardly any calls come in. Paying us just to sit there really.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Many years ago when I worked in the Hotel and catering trade I would always give up my time off over Christmas eve and Christmas day for those with young children.

They in turn allowed me to have New Years eve & day off in return. A win-win all round.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

I think they should be open infact I think shops on sundays should be open as if it was any other day of the week.

Not everyone wants to stay in watching trash tv I think it's nice to get out of the house. For some people it actually suits these hours to work it might fit around their lifestyle. We don't all work mon-fri 9-5. I'm an NHS worker so my shifts cover 7 days a week 356 days a year as does many other people in many other jobs.

We don't all want family time it's not the 1950's most people I know are not that bothered about working boxing day

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Personally l am not worried either way as some absolutely love the Boxing day sales where others prefer the peace and quiet of being at home with their family.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Its the stupid times some shops open for their sales. Next do something stupid like 4am; even more daft are the nutters that queue up at that time.
More credit card debt around than ever now; ticking time bomb. Anyway, Merry Christmas :)

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

I don't think Boxing Day is a public holiday in Scotland, they do have 2nd of Jan where the rest of us don't. But I think that having those 2 days together as holidays is a good thing.

I would support a Keep Sunday Special as I think that a sabbath is important and having a single day that for the most part can be shared would be beneficial and Sunday matches the Christian heritage of the nation. Other communities can have other days if they want and would provide service over that period. An big issue is that large companies want staff to work 7 days and don't seem to care if staff want a single day each week as a special day. And I bet the bosses take the days they want.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Well it ought to be after 11 years here. :shrug: :D

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Whats so special about shops that they should be shut on Boxing day.

How about the thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of people who will work on call or on standby over the festive 'break' never mind the people in the NHS/Police and also the Fire Brigade.


Are we seriously expecting the entire country to come to a standstill?

When you were a little boy Arthur, kids worked down the mines (in fact you probably did....) does that mean to say it should still happen?

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Why should every shop be forced to close? What about shop owners that are non Christian and do not celebrate the Christmas holidays? Why should these be forced into staying closed?

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

A lot of workers love the double time they get, and would not be best pleased if the option were forcibly removed.

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.

----
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.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

its only a debate that's been triggered by a petition .

it only has 140,000 signatures- its not like a money grabber and a hair dresser are involved then it would be serious
.

Re: Petition to shut shops on Boxing Day
 

Should the leaders of churches demand Sunday as a day off... from the pulpits?