Should businesses open on Christmas day?

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NancyNGA

Well-known Member
Location
Georgia
The survey by the Huffington Post focuses mainly on McDonalds, but includes others, and grocery stores.

Full Article Here

"As more businesses opt to stay open for Christmas this year — including a growing number of McDonald's franchises — a new survey finds what the vast majority of Americans think of the new trend: They don’t like it one bit.

... by a 60 percent-to-26 percent margin, respondents said that fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s, which issued a memo this year encouraging franchises to stay open on Christmas, should close shop.

This is one issue on which broad majorities of Americans across political party lines, age groups and gender agree, although older Americans were even more likely than younger Americans to say that both businesses in general and either fast-food restaurants or grocery stores in particular should remain closed.

Americans are about evenly divided, though, on whether it’s acceptable for businesses to ask for some employees to volunteer to work on Christmas: 43 percent said it was an acceptable request, while 45 percent said that it would pressure employees to agree to work."
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What do you think?

I would think a lot of employees would welcome the chance to get overtime pay, as long as they don't feel pressured into volunteering. I know I would. :confused:
 

I would think a lot of employees would welcome the chance to get overtime pay, as long as they don't feel pressured into volunteering. I know I would. :confused:
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Agree.

I've worked on Xmas before as well as other holidays for the overtime pay......it never hurts to have a little extra jingle in your jeans.
 
not everyone has family or friends to spend holidays with .for many it is business as usual whether working or wanting a store to go to . in fact many do not even celebrate christmas ever as a holiday because they have different beliefs .

all in all dictating what days should be work days or not is not the right thing to do .
 

I think it is OK to close down for a Christian holiday--that should not be offensive to anyone. I think employers wishing to open should offer premium pay and ask only for volunteers, as working any holiday should not be a forced issue or threaten one's job. If an employer makes it conditional and you sign onto that at the time of hire, well then it is contractual.
 
I think the market should take care of itself. If a place can find enough employees to work that day and customers come and support the business then sure, why not be open ? If I owned a similar business I wouldn't be open but that's just my thing. I have often wondered though if there will be a time when Christmas is no longer recognized as a state or federal holiday.
 
I worked a blue collar union job, although not in retail like serving people food, cashier, etc. For the holidays we signed up to volunteer, and the work would be given to those with the most seniority. That worked out great because the people who wanted off usually got their way, although not in every instance. I was one who usually wanted the holiday pay and overtime, it helped me save for early retirement so it was all worthwhile. Christmas hasn't been a big deal to me since I was a child, it doesn't bother me at all if stores remain open on that day, up to the owner.
 
MarkinPhx said:
I think the market should take care of itself. If a place can find enough employees to work that day and customers come and support the business then sure, why not be open ? If I owned a similar business I wouldn't be open but that's just my thing. I have often wondered though if there will be a time when Christmas is no longer recognized as a state or federal holiday.
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I agree leave it up to the business owners.
 
My first gut response was to say no. But then I remembered that yesterday, on the first day of Hanukkah, businesses were open. Well OK, the Jewish deli near me was closed, but I think they always close on the Sabbath.
 
I'm happy if I need something on a holiday and they're open for business I can see why the Christians would want to stay home that day
 
Just thought of another problem. Even allowing volunteers could cause conflict. The people that think no one should work on Christmas would probably be upset because those that did volunteer to work would be making extra money. Ha! Ha!
 
NancyNGA said:
Just thought of another problem. Even allowing volunteers could cause conflict. The people that think no one should work on Christmas would probably be upset because those that did volunteer to work would be making extra money. Ha! Ha!
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Well, there are times you can't have your cake and eat it too! There can be unhappy people either way--they may want the OT and cannot get it or, they may be forced to work if no one else volunteers. (Drafted) Unions normally go by seniority but other rules may apply in non-union situations which is most likely the case in retail. Grocery stores do have some unions, at least they do around my area.
 
I used to work for an agency that provided services to adults with developmental disabilities. I worked in a group home..meaning we worked there 365 days a year. Including holidays. I did have one co-worker who was Jehovah's Witness. They do not celebrate holidays. Every year she worked there, she offered to work each holiday, especially Thanksgiving, New Years and Christmas, providing someone who wanted the day off could have it. Very nice of her.
 
If the businesses that are open on holidays did not make a profit, the businesses would not be open. Say what you will, American consumers continue to speak loudly with their dollars.
 
Many people have to work on Christmas Day because their work is essential. My grand daughter was on duty all through the night of Christmas Eve at a group home for 12 adults with cerebral palsy and someone would have had to be there on Christmas Day as well. Public transport, hospitals and other essential services need to be operational but the budgets should accommodate penalty rates for working unsociable hours. Rosters should be fair, taking into account religious and family responsibilities.

I am against the idea of open slather on Christmas Day. For one or two days of the year we do not need the cinemas, malls and chain stores to be open. One the other hand, if a small family owned business wants to open, and if there is demand for their wares then I am OK with it.

Today is Boxing Day already in Australia. Boxing Day is a gazetted public holiday. The sales have started in the city, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race will kick off soon and it is Day 1 of the cricket test (Australia v Pakistan) in Melbourne. People are relaxing today after yesterday's feasting with family and friends and the beaches will be crowded. This is how it should be IMO.
 
Carla said:
I think it is OK to close down for a Christian holiday--that should not be offensive to anyone. I think employers wishing to open should offer premium pay and ask only for volunteers, as working any holiday should not be a forced issue or threaten one's job. If an employer makes it conditional and you sign onto that at the time of hire, well then it is contractual.
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Do you also agree that it is okay to close for holidays of all other religions? If not, why?
 
I don't shop on Sundays or eat in restaurants on Christian holidays as a general rule for obvious reasons ..but...even die hard Christians have to eat and if they are forced to travel over those holidays they need to be fed. If I was travelling I would eat in a restaurant if I had to. If you take it to it's natural conclusion then gas stations, airports, buses , railroads etc would be closed also and if that was the case then why would we then not close on all religious holidays. While I wouldn't use these services on my Holy days as a rule, I would feel wrong about mandating that someone else should not use them. I don't like to be served by someone who has to work on a holiday but that is my choice. When I ran a retail business I had two Jewish people who worked for me, I was quite comfortable with giving them their Saturdays off and they left early on Fridays so I think working whatever Holy days come up should be voluntary not mandatory.
 
I remember stores used to close early on Christmas eve, boy oh boy, as of yesterday, for sure, am I ever thankful some stores are choosing to at least stay open a little later. Imagine being without toilet paper for the next couple of days. :eek:nthego:

I completely forgot to pick some up which was on the top of my shopping list which I forgot to bring with me to the store previously. After a holiday party I attended, like a miracle, there they were, bright lights in the store window of Dollar Tree, just when I'd given up all hope. :D I am expecting a large shipment TP from Walmart one of the other reasons I ran out as they sent an apology for the delay. :mad:

Anyhoo, I too think it should be left up to the establishment, but at the same time, the employees should have the option to not work it if they celebrate that holiday. I don't feel it should be mandatory for the employees to work none essential jobs on such days as Christmas and Thanksgiving. But, then again, I think everyone should get their birthdays off too. Just sayin.
 
My cousin works for Walmart. Not only was he mandated to work Thanksgiving AND Black Friday, he also had to work the last 5 days, up to and including yesterday, meaning he was NOT able to be with his family in another state for today. He lives in the same city as me, so I always have him for Thanksgiving. He was scheduled to work that day 11AM-8:30 PM. Really? You would think they would at least give them short shifts. The store did not even open until 6PM
 
One more comment, and then I am done. I can understand emergency personnel, hospitals, group homes and stuff. But While I guess I have no issue with businesses being open I think it should be a lottery, or voluntary.
My mom was in the hospital on Thanksgiving day, the year she died. We brought dinner to all the nurses and aides who were working. Not just sandwiches, a HOT meal, right down to cranberries, mash potatoes and stuffing
 

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