Should shops be allowed to open on Boxing Day?

Should shops be allowed to open on Boxing Day?

  • Yes

    Votes: 23 34.8%

  • No

    Votes: 43 65.2%
  • Total voters
    66
Alastair said:
Likewise I've not seen a valid reason why shoppers have a special need..

Some services have a genuine all-day all-week all-year need. Some don't. Retail doesn't.

You really can't see the difference between wanting to buy a cheap tv and the work of the care, medical and emergency services?
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There are a lot more than essential workers working on Boxing Day.

As a direct comparison example, why should the Asda store staff get the day off while the Asda warehouse staff work?

What makes the staff at your local pub or restaurant different to the staff in the local Tesco? Many restaurant staff will be working Xmas Day and Boxing Day.

Are staff at football stadiums essential staff?

The list and questions could just go on and on...
 
nilagin said:
s***, you mean my job for the last 37yrs has been imaginary?:eek:
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If you are working at the bottom end of the labour market and get time off in lieu of working public holidays, then you have a very special employer. It is not the case for the vast majority of such workers.
 
neil_g said:
they are? christmas cover in my experience was always an optional "whoever didn't do last year" kind of rotation.

edit: the applicable days would also be paid overtime and/or time in lieu if a bank holiday. so not exactly being screwed for doing it.
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It isn't an option my company. The whole team HAS TO work Boxing Day. No days off that week, no days off the week after. Not an option.
 
All that seems to matter these days is money and 'profit'.

I've worked in the retail industry most of my life and the argument originally against Sunday trading applies here - spread the sales over a longer period, Sundays, boxing day etc, increases the overheads as it's necessary to employ staff for seven days instead of six to generate the same level of turnover.

The real cost is social though, it seems that the pursuit of materialism is often all we have now sadly and as a society I feel we are all the poorer for it :(
 
Given the choice I don't like it, hence I voted as such. I still like it how several European countries are shut on a Sunday as well. But ultimately they are only open because "we" make it worthwhile for them to be open.

No one in our family goes out shopping on Boxing Day. Can't see the point. Much more enjoy a nice winter dog walk with friends. A nice meal together and an afternoon and evening of board games by an open fire.
 
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viv1969 said:
Not here it's not.
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I can only speak from my own experience.

Supermarkets in my area have only been opening boxing day for the past 4 years. I must admit that other retail stores have been opening a lot longer. This doesn't mean that they should or need to.

They only open for pure greed and fear of their competitors gaining an extra sale.

Have people really not got anything better to do with their time off than to go shopping? What a sad world we have become.
 
H.J.H said:
.

Have people really not got anything better to do with their time off than to go shopping? What a sad world we have become.
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Well, that's a bit condescending.
So you don't want to shop on boxing day.
Some folk couldn't give a toss about Christmas in general.
 
Dave1 said:
There are a lot more than essential workers working on Boxing Day.

As a direct comparison example, why should the Asda store staff get the day off while the Asda warehouse staff work?

What makes the staff at your local pub or restaurant different to the staff in the local Tesco? Many restaurant staff will be working Xmas Day and Boxing Day.

Are staff at football stadiums essential staff?

The list and questions could just go on and on...
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Totally agree with you.

Maybe we should be fighting for ALL non essential workers to have time off at Christmas.
I for one would vote for that.
 
H.J.H said:
Totally agree with you.

Maybe we should be fighting for ALL non essential workers to have time off at Christmas.
I for one would vote for that.
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No need to fight for it. We can all do our bit right now, just don't use the services. If enough people agree and don't use the services they will not be provided. And if people don't play along, we'll just maybe they actually like the services being provided.

Simples.

It honestly doesn't bother me. I don't go into town, I don't even see they are open or not. Why force it onto others.
 
viv1969 said:
Well, that's a bit condescending.
So you don't want to shop on boxing day.
Some folk couldn't give a toss about Christmas in general
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It might be condescending to you but it is my opinion of which I am entitled.

I don't really give a toss about Christmas but I would like to spend time with my family who do.
 
Never understood why people flock to buy a load of crap that they previously didn't want, might be cheaper, but its still tat.
 
The amount of food people buy before christmas, trolley loads, I reckon food shops could close for a week at least.
Never go shopping on Boxing Day, my time off is far to precious for that
 
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Cartus said:
Surely that's precisely why legislation is needed, what next, why not open on Christmas day itself?
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As previously stated, co op here is open Christmas day.
 
H.J.H said:
It might be condescending to you but it is my opinion of which I am entitled.

I don't really give a toss about Christmas but I would like to spend time with my family who do.
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Do you work on boxing day?
 
I work xmas day, so for some of us it is indeed just another day.
 
H.J.H said:
Have people really not got anything better to do with their time off than to go shopping? What a sad world we have become.
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Perhaps it's the only day some people get to go shopping with their families before returning to work the following day.
 
Cartus said:
It depends what sort of society you wish to live in I suppose...I think you'll get your way Ruth and shops will soon be opening on Christmas Day and we'll be all the better for it no doubt.
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How is it "my way"?
 
Cartus said:
It depends what sort of society you wish to live in I suppose...I think you'll get your way Ruth and shops will soon be opening on Christmas Day and we'll be all the better for it no doubt.
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Shops have been doing it for years, some shops would be open 24/7 365 days a year in London back in the 80's probably even earlier, long before Sunday trading was even allowed.
 
Cartus said:
Your seeming to be in favour of not legislating against shops opening on Boxing Day.
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I have no feelings either way.
I do think, in the grand scheme of things, it's immaterial.
 
I'm in favour of not legislating against the sale of the The Daily Mail.

Hardly makes it "my way"
 
cambsno said:
lets get Christmas back to being a special time for the family and not have people being forced back into work the day after.
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We need a referendum. :whistle:


dejongj said:
I still like it how several European countries are shut on a Sunday as well.
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Oh that settles it then ................ we shouldn't have voted Brexit after all :D
 
I would love Boxing day off, but I'm also quite glad I'm working it for double pay. I used to open up on Christmas day by myself for a couple of hours and you'd be surprised the amount of people who though it would be like any other work day for us, expecting normal hours etc! I was rushed off my feet both times I did it, then they stopped opening, apparently it wasn't worth it (though I'd say it was, and it certainly was worth it for me!).
 
FujiLove said:
Yes they should be allowed, because we live in a democracy and have a free-market economy. Simple.

A different question is, "is it a bad thing?", and the answer is probably yes. It's pretty crap for workers (and arguably also for shoppers) that they are open, but that's our system at fault. Vote for different politicians if you don't like it, but don't vote Tory then moan about the shops being open!
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oh right so Labour and the Lib Dems will stop it then???
 
H.J.H said:
I can only speak from my own experience.

Supermarkets in my area have only been opening boxing day for the past 4 years. I must admit that other retail stores have been opening a lot longer. This doesn't mean that they should or need to.

They only open for pure greed and fear of their competitors gaining an extra sale.

Have people really not got anything better to do with their time off than to go shopping? What a sad world we have become.
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Great point - as other have said if we are not careful shops will be open Christmas Day soon if they could!

I am not normally one to ban things that people enjoy (and I like a good shop) - but I do think its nice that for 2 days of the year we can take a step back from the 24/7 world we live in. Take time away from the hustle and bustle.

Not sure where some of you live, but most shops on the high street tend to be the Boots/Next type rather than small family businesses so I don't necessarily buy the argument they will suffer due to Amazon.
 
Round here most of the small family type businesses don't open on boxing day or most other bank holidays
 
cambsno said:
oh right so Labour and the Lib Dems will stop it then???
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Yes, you've got it in one. Having a party in power who supports unions and puts workers' rights ahead of business lobbyists, may well mean people employed in retail finally have some power to infuence opening times. Or at least be able to choose not to work on Sundays or Bank Holidays without losing their jobs.

I know, that would be a crazy. crazy world!
 
dejongj said:
Given the choice I don't like it, hence I voted as such. I still like it how several European countries are shut on a Sunday as well. But ultimately they are only open because "we" make it worthwhile for them to be open.

No one in our family goes out shopping on Boxing Day. Can't see the point. Much more enjoy a nice winter dog walk with friends. A nice meal together and an afternoon and evening of board games by an open fire.
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I'm genuinely curious...do the prostitutes you employ/did employ get Boxing Day off, or are men too busy with their families for you to bother opening?
 
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