Plan B Forum

I'm completely disgusted by the newest twist on Christmas consumerism, that being the broadening trend of stores opening ON Thanksgiving and millions of people being forced to work on that secular, family-oriented holiday so those stores can be open.

I think it's nice that some bars and movies theatres are open, because some people have no place to be on Thanksgiving and it's nice there might be someplace for them to be around people, because when you are alone on holidays, that can be really shitty.

But aside from that, I don't think stores should be open. The only people who should have to work on Thanksgiving should be absolutely essential workers - police, EMTs, nurses, correctional officers, snow-plow drivers when necessary, etc. Those people should get premium holiday pay, and the opportunity when possible to split shift so they can be home with family at least part of the day.

If corporations really MUST increase holiday sales, why couldn't they offer super deals to online shoppers on Thanksgiving?

I read that two polls last year showed a very small % of Americans actually shopped on Thanksgiving; yet millions will have to work to keep all the KMarts, WalMarts, etc. open all over the country.

Is there no end to the madness?!?!

I'm really, really upset about this - so I have determined that I will never shop again at any retailer who is open on Thanksgiving.

Shorely shome mishtake? You mean a Kwanza Thanksgiving

Lunchtime O'Blues

a Juneteenth jubilee would be pretty cool....

I d go hang out and celebrate

a three day weekend in june !

Nobody is forced to shop on Thanksgiving. If being open on Thanksgiving doesn't make enough money, the practice of stores being open on that day will stop. As long as it is profitable it will continue.

Around here places like McDonald's, Burger King etc have always been open on Thanksgiving. If you work for a fast food restaurant or a place like Walmart, you are told when you are hired that you may be required to work on a holiday.

Employees who complain that they are being forced to work on Thanksgiving are no different than people working at McDonald's and demanding a $15.00 per hour wage. If they don't like what is offered, they shouldn't work there.

I'm working Xmas eve, Xmas day and boxing day this year.

Gob wrote:I'm working Xmas eve, Xmas day and boxing day this year.

Taking care of those who are on holiday in their frontal lobes.*


yrs,
rubato

*to borrow from Trudeau.

Gob wrote:I'm working Xmas eve, Xmas day and boxing day this year.

Right, but you fall into the catergory of essential worker, Gob. I hope you are being well paid for holiday time.

The folks at WalMart, Best Buy, etc. - not so much.

I agree that if this doesn't prove fruitful it will eventually go away - BUT, Thanksgiving is the one solid secular family holiday that almost everybody celebrates, and losing even one from your life experience really sucks, IMHO.

I had to work Thanksgiving one year at a stupid video store, and it sucked. My family all waited for me to get home to have dinner - we are traditionally noon-time eaters on holidays - and my mother's mashed potatoes were ruined. She was crestfallen and my entire memory of that holiday is that I ruined it, because of my stupid job. I don't think I rented a half dozen videos that day - SO worth losing the holiday with my family.

bigskygal wrote: Right, but you fall into the catergory of essential worker, Gob. I hope you are being well paid for holiday time.

Double time.

I stay home around thanks giving. if people want to shop I can t stop em.

I generally would take my Christmas bonus and go shopping one day about a week or less from Christmas. I like buying, but not shopping.

I try to get presents that will last. books, balls, art supplies, instruments, things like that.

a few years ago I had a local cabinet guy make lapsized drawing boards for all the kids in the family. he had some beautiful old black walnut boards. I think I got 8 made for 20 bucks each. they should last a lifetime unless they use them for bike ramps.

ps- luckily my better half has taken over the present thing and plans ahead now. I miss my shopping day tho...

I have a plan to take family photos and get some collage frames to make gifts for next year...god willing

bigskygal wrote:Right, but you fall into the catergory of essential worker, Gob. I hope you are being well paid for holiday time.

The folks at WalMart, Best Buy, etc. - not so much.

I saw a meme from an EMS complaining about how they have to work holidays. I so wished I had made a reply about proud they must be about the importance of their job that they'd equate it with retail.

Gob wrote:I'm working Xmas eve, Xmas day and boxing day this year.

Bummer - still, 3 out of 365 ain't too bad...

I didn't ask for anything off so all I have to work is Christmas. Off Turkey day, off New years and the eve too.

I'm thankful the courts are closed on the major holidays and I usually don't have to worry about work on that day - but that doesn't mean there aren't deadlines before and after. This year I have no court or other hearings or deadlines after Tuesday morning, until the following Thursday, so I'm leaving for the holiday on Wednesday morning bright and early - hopefully ahead of the coming storm(s)!

An appliance store headquartered here on Long Island (family owned/operated) announced it's closed thanksgiving day. From what I remember, it has always done so.
Christmas too.
I buy most of my electronic/appliances there.
FYI, the name of the chain is P.C. Richards.
the architect my wife used to work for designed a lot of their stores.

I have been very thankful (pun unavoidable) over the years that our local Lucky's Supermarket has limited open hours on Thanksgiving (I just checked and this year they're open 7-4)...

Because rarely, ("rarely" as in "never" ) does a Thanksgiving arrive where we haven't forgotten to pick up some essential item that we need (either for our own cooking or to bring to whatever relative's house where we're celebrating the holiday)

But from speaking with a couple of the employees there who I have become friends with over the years, it's my understanding that they get paid double for working on Thanksgiving, and most of them only work 3-4 hour shifts.

I thought this was going to be a thread about mac-n-cheese.

Gob wrote:I'm working Xmas eve, Xmas day and boxing day this year.

Wish to hell I was...