Black Friday/Thanksgiving Retail Outrage

[BadMoon]

Can someone please explain to me why people get all worked up when stores are open on Thanksgiving? Obviously the employees are not held at gun point to work that day. It's their choice to find a new job should they wish.

I see people complain and post on Facebook about this. Yet I bet if someone is choking on Grandmas turkey they would want the ampalamps to show up right? Or maybe they shouldn't go to the movies that day or Christmas either?

It annoys me. I don't get all the hate. Retailers are opening up and consumers are rushing out to spend money. If you don't like it, don't work or spend your money there. Its that simple right?

 

[occulum]

cause its all about ME and what I want.
MY OPINION rules and those who disagree are WRONG!

 

[karamazov80]

I don't know much about this situation, but no, it's not really that simple for folks who work these kinds of jobs. First, they are mostly low skilled laborers without much education, so their pool of potential jobs is small. Then, quitting a job and getting a new one takes time, and is costly as money isn't coming in in the process. So I don't see many of them up and quitting because they have to work a certain day.

If they are complaining about it, so what? It's their right to complain. If the businesses don't care, then nothing will change and they'll either have to work or suffer the consequences of not working. The companies have all the advantages in this kind of conflict, and whenever they throw these kinds of workers a bone, it's usually a relatively low cost, pain free move. They may do that, or they may tell the workers to suck it. Either way, your shopping malls and Wal Marts aren't going to lose a lot of sleep over something like this. These little tiffs are nothing new.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

It's more about the companies being open on those days in general. Retail workers always have to work the holidays and even worse, work so late they miss it all together

 

[BadMoon]

I mean I work two jobs. One is my career, the other is part time job. I choose to work an extra 20 or so hours each week retail. Why? Well two kids in daycare just about sums it up. But seriously I work about 70 hours a week. Because I work retail guess what day I have to be at work? Black Friday is one of those days.

That's my choice. I'm not going to complain. I get time and a half that day (still far less than my other job) but still the company is nice enough to pay that. Plus having that second job means we can afford extra fun things like dinners out and what not.

Get over it lazy *****es. And if you don't work in retail and want to complain, then stop going out and spending money on those days.

 

[BadMoon]

I don't know much about this situation, but no, it's not really that simple for folks who work these kinds of jobs. First, they are mostly low skilled laborers without much education, so their pool of potential jobs is small. Then, quitting a job and getting a new one takes time, and is costly as money isn't coming in in the process. So I don't see many of them up and quitting because they have to work a certain day.

If they are complaining about it, so what? It's their right to complain. If the businesses don't care, then nothing will change and they'll either have to work or suffer the consequences of not working. The companies have all the advantages in this kind of conflict, and whenever they throw these kinds of workers a bone, it's usually a relatively low cost, pain free move. They may do that, or they may tell the workers to suck it. Either way, your shopping malls and Wal Marts aren't going to lose a lot of sleep over something like this. These little tiffs are nothing new.

See my post above. All of the people that work in my store have full time jobs. The exception being the store management staff who are full time. We all knew what was up when we took the job.

People have to make sacrifices sometimes to do what they need to do to put food on the table etc. The problem is we have become a lazy society of PC thumb suckers.

 

[karamazov80]

I don't know what not wanting to work on holidays has to do with being PC. Some folks lack options, so they have to work ****ty jobs at ****ty times. It sucks for them. They don't feel like they have many outlets, so they voice their frustrations in whatever way they can I guess. Billion dollar corporations complain all the time about various policies that they feel hurts their bottom line. But they have power and money so they complain directly to powerful people, often via their lobbyists. Poor folk complain that they don't get benefits, or time off for vacation on Facebook. Some people complain about poor people complaining in the same places. Everyone complains about something. It's just the nature of things.

 

[The Ween]

Most of the people who complain aren't working the jobs. They just feel that the employees shouldn't be working and enjoying the holidays. A lot of employees like working the holidays because they get more money per hour. With most retail jobs, you're told up front that you might have to work holidays and weekends.

If you want to protest, don't shop on Thanksgiving. I'll have to think about that while I'm eating at Cracker Barrel this Thanksgiving.

 

[karamazov80]

Yeah, if you're talking about people who aren't directly affected, I would also tell them to put their money where their mouths are. If you shop Black Friday while railing about how unjust the system is, then you're a hypocrite of sorts for perpetuating that system IMO. It's easy to say something when there are no consequences to you for it.

 

[BadMoon]

Most of the people who complain aren't working the jobs. They just feel that the employees shouldn't be working and enjoying the holidays. A lot of employees like working the holidays because they get more money per hour. With most retail jobs, you're told up front that you might have to work holidays and weekends.

If you want to protest, don't shop on Thanksgiving. I'll have to think about that while I'm eating at Cracker Barrel this Thanksgiving.

I guess that's my point. The same people that complain about this have no problem going to a movie or out to dinner. What's the difference? People like to complain I guess. Hence my post complaining about the complainers.

 

[BadMoon]

The comment section here is hilarious.

https://money.cnn.com/2013/11/04/pf/kmart-black-friday/

 

[darthviper107]

Some people volunteer, but I've worked retail jobs where you didn't get a choice. Worked one thanksgiving and it was a waste of time--1 customer.

 

[grphyx1]

I worked retail for many many years and never hated working on the holidays, I love the craziness of it. ya gots to do what ya gots to do.

 

[karamazov80]

Considering the economic situation, it makes sense that retailers would try to really milk these key sales days as much as possible. They get so much business in the peak sales times that it no doubt helps to keep doors open throughout the rest of the year in this kind of economy. Some of the workers may not understand that, though I'm sure some wouldn't care, either. Thanksgiving and Christmas have become holidays defined by commercialism as much as anything else at this point, anyway, so it makes intuitive sense to me that they be open on those days.

I worked one Black Friday at Radio Shack years ago, when I was sick as a dog. I never actually shopped during one, so I didn't know what to expect, and even for a low level retailer like ours it was pure insanity. All the customers seemed hopped up on something, and they were like animals. Those videos we inevitably get of folks being trampled sum it up to me. Humanity shows its real face on these days, and it's a scary face to behold

 

[Lejuan]

Working on holidays is a non-issue on Oz. I'm surprised it appears to be an issue in the States.

 

[karamazov80]

Are most businesses open there, Lejuan? I know, at least years back, that one difference between Australia and the U.S. was that Australia had a genuine living wage for the lowest paying jobs. We don't have that in the U.S., so there is probably a huge cultural disparity.

 

[316what]

Why aren't these same people complaining about the military, police officers, firemen, and hospital staffs who all work on Thanksgiving?

And let's not forget these folks who also have to work on Thanksgiving day:
parking lot attendants
concession workers
trainers
coaches
referees
broadcasters
NFL players

 

[Lejuan]

Are most businesses open there, Lejuan? I know, at least years back, that one difference between Australia and the U.S. was that Australia had a genuine living wage for the lowest paying jobs. We don't have that in the U.S., so there is probably a huge cultural disparity.

Yes, I think the wage disparity is important to note, I'm pretty sure we have a substantially higher minimum wage in retail over here - $25 an hour (for a cashier or shop assistant) and add at least time and a half for holiday work. Boutique stores close up on the major holidays, but the larger retail stores remain open. Except on Christmas Day, where it's mostly essential services that stay open. Actually, were retail stores to remain open on Christmas there would be an outcry... maybe it's not so different over here after all.

 

[karamazov80]

Yeah, so it's a different kind of situation, and helps to address 316's question. It seems like there are two reasons for why there is noise in one sector and not others. One is that most of those are professional jobs, where those working in those capacities expect to work at those times, and are sufficiently compensated for it. Since poorer Australians may make over 3 times what poorer U.S. workers do ($7.25 in my state), you can understand how the calculation of how much their vacation time is worth may differ. The other workers (concession stand workers, ticket attendants, etc.) sign up to work those jobs at those kinds of times specifically, so it fits their expectations. If not for working Sundays, nights, and holidays, those guys might not have those jobs at all. Clearly some folks working in retail don't have those same expectations.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Such is the nature of unskilled labor. Retail sucks. There's a reason people spend time, money, and effort to get out of those industries.

Don't be surprised when it turns out that your lousy job is considered lousy for a reason. Stay in school, and get a degree/ skill with practical use, or you'll be shoveling fries or slinging cheap clothes for the rest of your life. You have to earn paid holidays ... so have a plan. Til then, be a man, suck it up, and do your job. We've all been there.

SnakeDoc