Black Friday petition

courtski2004 · November 2011

Did anyone else see this? http://finance.yahoo.com/news/black-friday-backlash-early-openings-112000843.html

I don't have any sympathy for this guy, honestly. I think that if you work for a major retailer, it should be expected that the day before the biggest shopping day of the year you may have to work in some capacity--it just comes with the territory.
I worked in the hotel and service industries for a number of years, and had to work on all major holidays. I had very few holiday dinners with my family but I knew what I was in for. I didn't start a damn petition, I just found a way to make it work.

MarieSD · November 2011

I'm completely torn. I can understand why people that have to work are upset.

But, I have shopped on Thanksgiving Day before, so I'm one of the reasons retailers are opening earlier and earlier. Once the pie has been eaten ... I'm ready to start my Christmas shopping.

Also, at my first job, where I worked from age 16 through 20, I worked Thanksgiving Day and Christmas day -- ever year, no exceptions. And they were the busiest and craziest and most stressful days. Sometimes I missed holiday events, but for the most part I could schedule around them (i.e., my family did Thanksgiving lunch instead of dinner if I was working the evening shift).

selie22 · November 2011

Maybe this is going to be an unpopular response, but IMHO this is just another sign that culturally we're forgetting that the people who work jobs like this are human beings - and it's just another sign that businesses don't consider their employees to be human beings either.

If something makes enough people unhappy, I think it's their right to speak up and say "hey, this isn't fair" - not to just accept it because that's how it's always been (although in this case this isn't even how it's always been; it's just a trend that's been getting worse over the past few years).

Yes, if you're working retail, chances are that your bosses and their bosses and their bosses' bosses are going to screw you over, but that doesn't make it right.

(Places like hotels can't just close over the holidays, so I get that, but making shifts start at obscene hours on Black Friday is just heartless, IMHO, even if that's where the money is.)

Off my soapbox now...

professorscience · November 2011

I agree that there are some pretty big cultural implications here... when did the holiday become about shopping and not about family?

However, I'd like to say to this man who is planning a wedding: At least you have a job. Yes, it is terrible that you have to work on Thanksgiving, but there are probably a thousand people who would happily fill your shoes.

selie22 · November 2011

I agree that it's very good for him that he has a job (my husband just got a job after 11 months of looking, so I know how much the market sucks right now), but that's still no reason for his employers to take advantage of him.

It's just a terrible situation all round and it makes me so sad.

professorscience · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_black-friday-petition?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:adf588ff-f5ef-4c0d-9a32-88e686b2b805Post:29667dff-53f9-45cd-a53b-7702df96578c">Re: Black Friday petition</a>:
[QUOTE]I agree that it's very good for him that he has a job (my husband just got a job after 11 months of looking, so I know how much the market sucks right now), but that's still no reason for his employers to take advantage of him. :(<strong> It's just a terrible situation all round and it makes me so sad. :(</strong>
Posted by selie22[/QUOTE]

<div>I totally agree with you. My first Christmas with my now-husband's family I had to get up Christmas day and drive from Waco to Oklahoma City so I could go in to work at Bath and Body Works the next day. It really sucked. After I transferred to Baylor I had to spend one Thanksgiving with his family (not that I minded) because I had to be at work at 5 am the next day. And my manager even said he was "doing me a favor" because he wasn't making me come in Thanksgiving Day to set up for the huge sales.</div><div>
</div><div>It's totally lame that we forget, as you said, that those salespeople are human beings. I just feel like a petition is really extreme, and I feel like his management has grounds to terminate his employment.</div>

courtski2004 · November 2011

I don't think Target is taking advantage of them, they are getting holiday pay for the hours they work.
I'm just saying that it could be worse--and yes--be thankful for the job that you have whether it is part-time or not. If you aren't a fan of the hours that your employer could assign to you based on the needs of the company, then see about finding something else.

angelsong21 · November 2011

I understand both sides but honestly, having worked in retail myself for 6+ years and working on almost every holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, New Years Day, etc) I don't really emphathize with him. I know that sounds harsh, and I don't mean for it to, but you have to know that going into retail means you will be working holidays, esp as a part-timer. And they want him to come in at 11PM. Why can he not go to bed much later than usual the night before, sleep in until 12PM on Thanksgiving, eat Turkey Dinner with the fam and FI and then head to work at 11PM? If you get tired, drink coffee/soda/Red Bull/etc. It would be one thing if he had to work all day on Thanksgiving and not be allowed to celebrate with his family. At least they are respecting that time and scheduling people late in the evening. If you don't like it, you can always quit.

Sorry, again I know this sounds really harsh, especially just in typing where you can't hear my tone/voice. I do understand why he's upset to a degree, but I just think that it's not completely justified IMHO.

AshJohnson30 · November 2011

My FI actually works at ToysRUs/BabiesRUs and 11pm is nothing compared to the 9pm opening they are having!! Yes 9pm Thanksgiving day! I understand that in the retail industry its expected that you may work holidays but the hours continuously get pushed up more and more. Midnight was fine but how much shopping do people really need to do when they are full off turkey?! Its frustrating but it honestly won't stop until the shoppers quit lining up.

crash2729 · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_black-friday-petition?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:adf588ff-f5ef-4c0d-9a32-88e686b2b805Post:29667dff-53f9-45cd-a53b-7702df96578c">Re: Black Friday petition</a>:
[QUOTE]I agree that it's very good for him that he has a job (my husband just got a job after 11 months of looking, so I know how much the market sucks right now), <strong>but that's still no reason for his employers to take advantage of him.</strong> :( It's just a terrible situation all round and it makes me so sad. :(
Posted by selie22[/QUOTE]

Honestly,
I don't see this as him being taken advantage of. He's getting holiday pay AND there is always the option to call in or not go. There will be consequences with that choice that will probably be termination but you still have the option.
I feel like he should have known what he was in for when he took a retail job. That's just part of the territory. Many have done it before and many will do it after. Did he think he was going to be special?

juliebug1997 · November 2011

Lest we forget, the reason that he even started this no longer exists for him.

In years past, I probably would have loved to have worked Thanksgiving evening (Best Buy, etc) because I would have liked the double time. My dad had to work either Thanksgiving or Christmas every year (he and the other most senior guys) would work those two days because they knew what they were doing and they could do the job without any help (keeping those phone calls going to grandma was important), but we would work the day's schedule around him.

He works part time. When you work retail during the holidays, you are expected to work.

professorscience · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_black-friday-petition?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:adf588ff-f5ef-4c0d-9a32-88e686b2b805Post:79ac7db6-c866-4cca-9843-77f21d55cb43">Re: Black Friday petition</a>:
[QUOTE]Lest we forget, the reason that he even started this no longer exists for him. In years past, I probably would have loved to have worked Thanksgiving evening (Best Buy, etc) because I would have liked the double time. My dad had to work either Thanksgiving or Christmas every year (he and the other most senior guys) would work those two days because they knew what they were doing and they could do the job without any help (keeping those phone calls going to grandma was important), but we would work the day's schedule around him. <strong> He works part time. When you work retail during the holidays, you are expected to work. </strong>
Posted by juliebug1997[/QUOTE]

<div>This exactly. It's not like he was mislead or something.</div>

angelsong21 · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_black-friday-petition?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:adf588ff-f5ef-4c0d-9a32-88e686b2b805Post:5a10f98b-2d01-408a-9972-e3de940920bf">Re: Black Friday petition</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Black Friday petition : This exactly. It's not like he was mislead or something.
Posted by professorscience[/QUOTE]

ITA with you and Julie. I asked people about this at work just out of curiousity and everyone's response was, "...and he didn't expect this because...?" I don't get why this made news. At all.

MBS0310 · November 2011

I'm sorry but I also do not feel bad for this guy. In the first place, when you work retail you oughta know first thing that your gonna have to work at least part of some holiday. That's just part of it with retail. Being that I am a nurse and there is no time off for us, it's a 24/7/365 job and I know this and I don't complain, I dont feel bad for this guy having to work an hour of thanksgiving. Heck I'm on call this year from 5 pm Wednesday til 8 am Monday, so that means at any given time I gotta be ready to go at the drop of a hat and could be away from my family all day Thanksgiving, etc... It sucks but its part of life. Heck, if it's that bad he can quit. At least he should be happy to have a job.

ludajean · November 2011

I agree with several pp. I work as a nurse 7pm to 7am. This year will be my

first year having thanksgiving off in the last 5 years!! Even though I work the night before which means I will more than likely be sleeping the first half of thanksgiving day. I make a point to be grateful for each and every moment I spend with my family holiday or not. I understand the frustration but yet I can't complain either b/c

it's just a given - I will have to work holidays at some point and I accept that

and move on.

Jay&Marissa · November 2011

Can I just say I'm not surprised it started with Wal-Mart.

TexanTreasure08 · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_black-friday-petition?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:adf588ff-f5ef-4c0d-9a32-88e686b2b805Post:de188e68-3544-491d-be21-9be93009c579">Re: Black Friday petition</a>:
[QUOTE]Can I just say I'm not surprised it started with Wal-Mart.
Posted by Jay&Marissa[/QUOTE]

But he works for Target...

Jay&Marissa · November 2011

Wal-Mart pushed their opening to 10pm on Thankgiving Day and other stores felt they had to follow suit.

At first midnight didn't seem so bad to me...then my husband pointed out (an avid Best Buy Black Friday Enthusiast every year) that in order to get the deals he wants he and my brothers will pretty much have to line up in the late afternoon...right after Turkey. Not cool.

So while I don't think this particular employee has much to complain about, I'm not thrilled that it really truly is impinging on my holiday with my family.

prlmrg08 · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_black-friday-petition?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:adf588ff-f5ef-4c0d-9a32-88e686b2b805Post:671dea7a-bb0a-41d7-b858-40b677a35498">Re: Black Friday petition</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Black Friday petition : Honestly, I don't see this as him being taken advantage of. He's getting holiday pay AND there is always the option to call in or not go. There will be consequences with that choice that will probably be termination but you still have the option. I feel like he should have known what he was in for when he took a retail job. That's just part of the territory. Many have done it before and many will do it after. Did he think he was going to be special?
Posted by crash2729[/QUOTE]

<div>This. My dh is a police officer and he has to work holidays. No choice. When he took the job he knew that he would have to work even when he didnt want to. Part of it. Same with retail. You work in retail you KNOW the big shopping days. </div>

crash2729 · November 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_black-friday-petition?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:adf588ff-f5ef-4c0d-9a32-88e686b2b805Post:2a5b07ae-d309-485c-8648-e1c37cea344b">Re: Black Friday petition</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Black Friday petition : This. My dh is a police officer and he has to work holidays. No choice. When he took the job he knew that he would have to work even when he didnt want to. Part of it. Same with retail. You work in retail you KNOW the big shopping days.
Posted by prlmrg08[/QUOTE]

Yep. I've thought a few times about getting a 2nd job which would be retail but I've always decided against it specifically because of black friday and all the crazies.

Black Friday petition

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