Although I like the idea stores opening up at midnight, I dislike workers not getting to enjoy Thanksgiving with their families.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/15/pf/black_friday_backlash/index.htm?iid=EL

11/17/2011 12:32:40 PM

I thought about braving the horde and going to best buy, but i realized they were opening at 12am, which would require me to get in line on thanksgiving.

Big fuck that shit out to best buy.

11/17/2011 12:35:48 PM

DivaBaby19

11/17/2011 12:35:57 PM

Quote :

"Although I like the idea stores opening up at midnight"

Then you're part of the problem.

11/17/2011 12:36:27 PM

I read a good article yesterday with a quote from one of the workers. Her comment was basically "I knew I'd have to work this day when I signed up and applied for the job. If I don't want to do it, there are thousands of people that would take my spot. I'll be thankful on Thanksgiving, celebrate early, then come in and be thankful to be making money."

She's spot on. I worked in retail. It sucks, but it's not a surprise that you work when other people have time off. That's when they shop. Big deal. We don't hear outcry from people who dare to have babies on Christmas and make nurses come in and work every year Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

11/17/2011 12:38:27 PM

Just because I like the idea doesn't mean I'll act on it. I'm more excited about putting up decorations for Christmas that night!

11/17/2011 12:40:40 PM

^^with that being said, having worked in the same store for 4 holiday seasons you see how much it changes, and how greedier the corporate folks get.

Its one thing for the mall to open at 7:30, but when they start opening at 5 that's fucking bullshit and no one should have to work so Dolly can finally go to the stores she never steps foot in because they're doing 50% off for 2 hours.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 12:40 PM. Reason : e]

11/17/2011 12:40:46 PM

they have all day to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family, as long as their family isn't hours away.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 12:42 PM. Reason : ^that's the perfect reason to open a store early - get new clientele shopping there.]

11/17/2011 12:41:02 PM

Quote :

" We don't hear outcry from people who dare to have babies on Christmas and make nurses come in and work every year Christmas Eve and Christmas Day."

There's a huge difference between medical emergencies (you know damn well they don't schedule induced labor on Christmas lol) and stores opening on Thanksgiving. Has our society become so devoid of meaning that we now need for stores open on Thanksgiving and Christmas? It'd be nice to have at least one day of the year that isn't filled with consumerism.

Of course, I'm the same person that fucking hates that Ebay commercial they're running right now with the snotty kid telling all her relatives they give shitty presents. People need to take a step back from the materialism.

Quote :

"with that being said, having worked in the same store for 4 holiday seasons you see how much it changes, and how greedier the corporate folks get. Its one thing for the mall to open at 7:30, but when they start opening at 5 that's fucking bullshit and no one should have to work so Dolly can finally go to the stores she never steps foot in because they're doing 50% off for 2 hours."

This. It's all about greed, both on the part of the consumer and the corporations. I have to applaud companies like Nordstrom's for not falling into it.


[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 12:43 PM. Reason : a]

11/17/2011 12:41:12 PM

^I agree with you on the materialism thing. My point is--who cares about retail workers on the holidays? They are one of a crap load of people who have to work that day. I've been there, I've done that, and I got paid. These people are getting paid to be there. There are benefits to working retail, and there are detriments. This is a detriment.

I just have a problem with the "I dislike workers not getting to enjoy Thanksgiving with their families" when there are SO many types of people who won't get to enjoy their Holidays because of their jobs, etc.

11/17/2011 12:44:02 PM

Quote :

"they have all day to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family, as long as their family isn't hours away."

Quote :

"For Anthony Hardwick, Thanksgiving has special meaning. Last year, he proposed to his girlfriend, Denise, in front of her whole family during the holiday. This year though, he will be working. A part-time employee at Target in Omaha, Neb., Hardwick said his manager requested he start his shift at 11 p.m. In order to make it through the night, he'll need to sleep on Thanksgiving Day."

On point as usual, eleusis.

11/17/2011 12:44:28 PM

^Is he the one that started the petition? If so, his manager was quoted last night as saying he was never even on the schedule for Thanksgiving. He requested and was granted, the time off.

11/17/2011 12:45:28 PM

I think it lies in the reason for why they have to work on Thanksgiving. It's for greed. It's not because a house is burning down, or there's a robbery in progress, or a person gave themselves 3rd degree burns frying their turkey, it's so some jackass that can't figure out how to shop online can buy crap on Thanksgiving.

11/17/2011 12:46:08 PM

he doesn't have to sleep through the day; he's just using that as an excuse to avoid the in-laws. What person is incapable of staying awake for an additional 8 hours over what they normally do? Tell that fucker to grow a pair or stop making shitty excuses.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 12:48 PM. Reason : he'd shit a brick if he knew what utility workers go through after a storm.]

11/17/2011 12:48:00 PM

^^How about movie theaters? Or grocery stores? Airports? Restaurants? Football stadium attendants?

I get your point, but it's more than just emergency workers who are still working on Thanksgiving.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 12:49 PM. Reason : ]

11/17/2011 12:48:37 PM

Maybe he works two jobs, maybe he's just tired as fuck, maybe he's that guy serving your wife triple stacks at Denny's before she goes to blow some dude from the internet. Cut the guy a break.

11/17/2011 12:49:20 PM

Quote :

"Has our society become so devoid of meaning that we now need for stores open on Thanksgiving and Christmas? It'd be nice to have at least one day of the year that isn't filled with consumerism."

It wasn't all that long ago that most stores/businesses were closed on Sundays. Heck Chick-fil-A still closes on Sundays and I've never heard people mention that in a positive way.

11/17/2011 12:50:16 PM

or maybe he's just some whiny douche who thinks he has an audience.

11/17/2011 12:50:20 PM

Quote :

"How about movie theaters? Or grocery stores? Airports? Restaurants? Football stadium attendants?"

Personally I don't think any of those places should be open either but I know I'm in the minority feeling that way.

Quote :

"Maybe he works two jobs, maybe he's just tired as fuck, maybe he's that guy serving your wife triple stacks at Denny's before she goes to blow some dude from the internet. Cut the guy a break. "

I read in another article that he does work two jobs.

The ones that really kill me are places like Old Navy opening at 8am on Thanksgiving Day. What the fuck could you possibly need from Old Navy the morning of Thanksgiving?

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 12:52 PM. Reason : a]

11/17/2011 12:50:34 PM

Quote :

"Heck Chick-fil-A still closes on Sundays and I've never heard people mention that in a positive way."

I love that they are closed on Sundays, but man they got tasty chicken sandwiches

11/17/2011 12:52:12 PM

i hate holidays where everything is closed

i want to go pick up a chicken sandwich? sorry, restaurants are closed

how bout i go to the grocery, buy some chicken breasts, buns, cheese, lettuce, tomato, no sorry, grocery stores are closed

ok fine, i'll go get a dr. pepper and a bag of tostitos...sorry, the convenience store is closed

11/17/2011 12:53:06 PM

^ Or you know, plan ahead and do your grocery shopping the day before the holiday. That's what they used to do in the olden times.

11/17/2011 12:54:18 PM

STOP THE WAR ON THANKSGIVING...KEEP BLACK FRIDAY OUT OF OUR HOLIDAY

11/17/2011 12:56:53 PM

Quote :

"I knew I'd have to work this day when I signed up and applied for the job. If I don't want to do it, there are thousands of people that would take my spot. I'll be thankful on Thanksgiving, celebrate early, then come in and be thankful to be making money."

This should be engraved.

11/17/2011 12:57:12 PM

The Magna Carta calls for the separation of Thankgiving and State

I'll be damned if Abraham Lincoln intended for fast food restaurants to close on "holidays"

11/17/2011 12:58:32 PM

^^Watch out! You're going to get PMs from GeniuSxBoY telling you that you are a slave to corporations.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 12:58 PM. Reason : ]

11/17/2011 12:58:35 PM

Quote :

"Maybe he works two jobs, maybe he's just tired as fuck, maybe he's that guy serving your wife triple stacks at Denny's before she goes to blow some dude from the internet. Cut the guy a break."

Damn, Ernie bringing the heat!

11/17/2011 1:01:52 PM

Shit gettin real ITT

11/17/2011 1:11:43 PM

Quote :

"It'd be nice to have at least one day of the year that isn't filled with consumerism."

Couldn't disagree more.

11/17/2011 1:16:16 PM

holy shit, i shot diet coke through my nose just now

Ernie with the fatality.

11/17/2011 1:16:42 PM

Quote :

"I knew I'd have to work this day when I signed up and applied for the job."

Considering these super early store openings are a relatively new phenomenon, I'm not sure how a person would know this if this is the first year the store has been doing it. Unless you were hired on for temporary help last week or something.

11/17/2011 1:20:38 PM

Why is one day any more important than the next day. Capitalism never sleeps, consumerism makes our country what it is.

If you don't like it you ken git ouuuuuutttttttt

11/17/2011 1:24:42 PM

Quote :

"What the fuck could you possibly need from Old Navy the morning of Thanksgiving?"

Comfy sweaters and cute boots, duh

11/17/2011 1:26:52 PM

Compassion tww no haz it.

11/17/2011 1:27:04 PM

Stores have been opening super early for black friday for quite some time now. Honestly, would you rather show up for work at midnight or at 3 AM? Either way it kind of sucks, but it's not shocking and new.

Retail is retail, you know (or at least should know) that the majority of business is in the evening and on weekends. They are open on holidays, you should expect to work a lot of those hours. That's like a GM factory worker bitching about having to build cars all day long. If you didn't want to do it then why did you apply in the first place? It's even stupider if you're seasonal help. You're being hired for the holiday season, of fucking course you're going to be working on and around the holidays!

11/17/2011 1:27:16 PM

If folks signed up to work at these retail locations, get to work or get another job.

I've worked during holidays, storm events, and other very inconvenient times. It's what I signed on for in taking the job - does no good to bitch about it.

^ Kurtis knows - if you're car is stuck in the snow - walk to work and stock them grocery shelves anyway. Shelves won't stock themselves!

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 1:31 PM. Reason : ^]

11/17/2011 1:28:39 PM

Quote :

"Maybe he works two jobs, maybe he's just tired as fuck, maybe he's that guy serving your wife triple stacks at Denny's before she goes to blow some dude from the internet. Cut the guy a break."

Oh my God

fantastic

11/17/2011 1:28:58 PM

Quote :

"Of course, I'm the same person that fucking hates that Ebay commercial they're running right now with the snotty kid telling all her relatives they give shitty presents. People need to take a step back from the materialism."

I hate that commercial too! What a brat!


I try to make it a point not to make any brick and mortar purchases on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I handle all my shopping early and make sure I'm good on gas, food, and other supplies the day before. I don't go to Christmas day movie openings.

I realize not everybody celebrates Christmas and I don't feel bad for store owners who decide to be open, but I don't want to support stores that make their $8/hour lackey do the work that they don't want to do themselves.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 1:37 PM. Reason : s]

11/17/2011 1:36:18 PM

I'm pretty sure if I had pulled a similar stunt at a family Christmas gathering I would have had a very sore butt for a couple of days

11/17/2011 1:39:31 PM

Quote :

"but I don't want to support stores that make their $8/hour lackey do the work that they don't want to do themselves."

Really??

11/17/2011 1:39:38 PM

R
E
A
L
L
Y

11/17/2011 1:41:29 PM

You pretty much described almost every single business in operation.

11/17/2011 1:42:20 PM

Why hire someone at $8 an hour if you're not going to make them do the grunt work no one else wants to do?

11/17/2011 1:45:50 PM

Of course they don't want to do it themselves, that's why they hire someone to do it.

If I WANTED to mow my lawn, I wouldn't have HIRED someone to mow my lawn.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 1:48 PM. Reason : ]

11/17/2011 1:48:00 PM

It's no coincidence that stores like Best Buy and Sears do not pay commissions any more, but it hasn't been this way for long.

When I was in high school/college they did. We're talking about a dramatic shift in a ~10 year period. They want their retail workers to provide the same level of commitment (working holidays, working overtime, dealing with an overcrowded store and huge numbers of customers) without the incentive.

An $8/hour employee might take home $50 at the end of an 8 hour day. Were that person on a commission based income they could expect to make a (relatively) huge sum of money on a day like Black Friday. I knew a guy who made $6k in the month of December working at Best Buy when I was in college. He busted his ass for that money, juggling full-time work with exams; but it paid off in the long run because he had a nice stash to hold him over until summer.

It's just another way to pad the executives' pockets. I personally choose not to support it on days that I know many employees would rather be with their family and friends.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 1:49 PM. Reason : s]

11/17/2011 1:48:44 PM

Both Suck because I have to work

11/17/2011 1:49:11 PM

Thanksgiving is just a regular day.

STOP BITCHING

11/17/2011 1:49:49 PM

RAWR RAWR RAWR
IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT THEY CAN JUST GET A NEW JOB
RAWR RAWR RAWR

And I bet you people were wondering why it's so hard to find someone to help you when you go shopping.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 1:55 PM. Reason : s]

11/17/2011 1:54:16 PM

Quote :

"Ernie with the fatality."

11/17/2011 1:56:22 PM

Quote :

"We're talking about a dramatic shift in a ~10 year period."

Not just retail, that's pretty much everywhere. Employees are expendable resources, to the point where employers offer work disincentives because they know that if you leave there's a line of people waiting to take your place, and if that line should form overseas all the better. So yeah, an exaggeration, but employers are constantly lowering the limbo bar to see just how low they can go to boost profit and still have "morale."

I'm sure it could be worse. I know someone that has 3 weeks worth of furlough for the year and the average employee accrues less vacation than that per year, so best case you take all your vacation on the lame days the company opts to furlough, average case you get those same crummy days off and don't get paid.

[Edited on November 17, 2011 at 1:59 PM. Reason : -]

11/17/2011 1:56:43 PM