Black Friday and the War on Thanksgiving

[ASTalumna06]

This is getting out of hand.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/59842...ushpmg00000063

The war on Thanksgiving has officially begun.

Macy's confirmed to The Huffington Post Tuesday that it will open stores to Black Friday shoppers at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving day-- two hours earlier than it opened last year.

[33girl]

It's not a "war" if two parties won't both engage.

If people didn't shop on Thanksgiving, the stores wouldn't be open - and I would guess that a fair portion of those shopping are "low wage workers" themselves. (That little attempt to make this a class war doesn't quite work, but they tried. Good try, HuffPost.)

Not only that, maybe spending a day with family and gorging isn't everyone's idea of fun or something that contributes to everyone's physical or mental health. I worked the last 3 Thanksgivings. I didn't mind in the least. Before we work ourselves into an outrage, maybe we should consider if for many people, there is anything to be outraged about.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It's not a "war" if two parties won't both engage.

If people didn't shop on Thanksgiving, the stores wouldn't be open - and I would guess that a fair portion of those shopping are "low wage workers" themselves. (That little attempt to make this a class war doesn't quite work, but they tried. Good try, HuffPost.)

Not only that, maybe spending a day with family and gorging isn't everyone's idea of fun or something that contributes to everyone's physical or mental health. I worked the last 3 Thanksgivings. I didn't mind in the least. Before we work ourselves into an outrage, maybe we should consider if for many people, there is anything to be outraged about.

I think you and I talked about this last year on FB and I totally agree.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

I think you and I talked about this last year on FB and I totally agree.

As much as I'm a Thanksgiving fan and hate seeing it swallowed up in Christmas, I agree too.

[chi-o_cat]

My significant other & I don’t exchange gifts between ourselves or family members, however we do participate in a gift drive through a local radio station where you “adopt” children and are given clothing sizes and a “wish list” (a secular version of the Salvation Army Angel Tree, basically), and last year we did do some crazy late-night Black Friday shopping to try to get some deals on clothes and toys for our list kids. Well, okay, we might have also bought some stuff for ourselves…who can resist a $9.99 Crock Pot?


I’m not really a family holiday person in general, so I have to admit, if there are great sales, I’m definitely interested in going out shopping at 6PM on Thanksgiving rather than waiting until the middle of the night. I’m curious to see what Kohl’s is going to do.

[ASTalumna06]

The problem comes when people are forced to work on the holiday when they don't want to. Yes, I know people who experienced this last year, because they were the low man on the totem pole, so they had to "pay their dues" by working the holiday. It wouldn't have been a problem if they knew in advance that the store would be open that day, but in the case of one of my friends, he found out by reading online that their store would be open, and he found out a few days later that he'd have to be there when the place opened on Thanksgiving night.

I guess I don't really see the point of Black Friday anymore? Many reports say that it no longer helps the economy the way that it used to, more and more sales are lasting throughput the holiday weekend, and online shopping is more popular than ever. When will this become just like every other shopping day of the year?

The real annoyance is with Christmas taking over the last 4 months of the year. Why are there Christmas decorations up in the mail in September?! That may be a different discussion for a different thread, though

[DrPhil]

Yeah not everyone cares about Thanksgiving just like not everyone goes shopping for the holidays (I don't exchange holiday gifts and don't shop during holidays therefore Black Friday just means I am Black on a Friday).

If the real topic is employees being forced to work on Thanksgiving, if Thanksgiving is that important to some of the employees then they will figure out how to make it work (no pun). If this is used as an example of capitalism's employee exploitation of labor then this is a small sign of a more interesting issue. If this used as an example of erasing the traditional American family then LOL and "give me a break".

[shellylou]

I am a Supervisor at Kohl's. I have not heard for sure but more than likely we will open at the same time as other major retailers. I just point blank tell my Store Manager that I am available no earlier than noon on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The working overnight shifts (& if you work Thanksgiving night it is a 10-12 hr overnight) are usually picked up my the younger folk! I am busy on Thanksgiving with my 4 kids & have put in my time with those crazy shifts! We will be open like 30 hours in a row so lots of shift coverage will be needed.

[AlphaFrog]

I am in the camp of not caring about Holidays apart from Christmas. My holiday celebrations include my husband,kids, and parents. And it's not like getting six people that live 3mi apart is special. Mainly, it's fun to cook a big meal, but I can do that whenever.

[andthen]

At least in my family Thanksgiving is a bigger deal than Christmas. Mainly because my sibblings and I are grown, and realistically if I want and need something I get it in advance of Christmas.

I think there is clearly a need being met in order for stores to be open part or all of Thanksgiving day. I know they wouldn't continue to be open if they weren't feeding their bottom line.

I think for some being with your family is nice but I know for me personally, I can only spend a fixed amount of time with them before I just need to get away. Thankfully though we all live within 3 miles of each other so I don't have to quite go to the store to escape.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I wish that people were less worried about retail workers having to work at 6pm on Thanksgiving and more worried about retail workers not getting health benefits, paid time off, steady schedules, or a fair wage.

[33girl]

^^Yep.

Corporations are asking (by asking I mean ordering them or they'll get fired) their workers to do more and more with less and less. I'm not saying it's 12 year old children working in the coal mines, but if your average customer had any idea what was expected of those smiling people checking them out, they'd faint.

[chi-o_cat]

Not to mention, there are many other employees who have to work on Thanksgiving. I don’t mean essential functions like police, firefighters, emergency rooms, etc, but places like hotels, restaurants, airports. Nobody gets in a tizzy because Golden Corral is open all day.

[navane]

Originally Posted by chi-o_cat

Not to mention, there are many other employees who have to work on Thanksgiving. I don’t mean essential functions like police, firefighters, emergency rooms, etc, but places like hotels, restaurants, airports. Nobody gets in a tizzy because Golden Corral is open all day.

Ha! I think you just named my entire family! LOL My mother was a nurse on the graveyard shift for the Sheriff's department, my dad was a supervisor at the airport, my sister was a chef at a high-end restaurant and I am in the fire service. We always have to coordinate out family get-togethers and it's not unusual to celebrate a holiday or occasion the day before or the day after....or even a few days after.

Originally Posted by ComradesTrue

Co-worker had seniority over me, and also had 3 kids. No matter what day of the week Christmas fell on, she would request off Dec 22-29. Every. Damn. Year.

Oh man, you're speaking my language right now. I received promotion to Fire Captain earlier this year. There are only 4 FCs and I am, of course, the least senior. The other FCs got to bid for all of the holidays off and I am the one that gets stuck for every holiday this year.

I have to work Thanksgiving and the day after (Friday). I can't see my family the day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday) because I am being redirected to cover for another Captain who rquested the day off. So, I have to work three days in a row (Wed-Thurs-Fri) which is 72 hours straight over Thanksgiving.

Now I also learn that another Captain has requested the Tuesday before Thanksgiving off. The department can't force me to work as the policy says that they can only force me for 72 hours max. So, the second lowest senior Captain will have to be forced in - making HIM work his regular Sun-Mon shift plus Tues, for 72 hours straight. I sure hope HE didn't have any Tuesday travel plans for Thanksgiving!

Maybe Christmas will be better? I am regularly scheduled work on Thursdays and Fridays. Let's look at the schedule. Darn - Christmas falls on Thursday this year; so, I have to work Christmas and the day after. No worries, I can see my family on Christmas Eve, right? Nope! That same Captain from before has also requested Christmas Eve off and I am the one who is being redirected to cover Wednesday, 12/24. Soooo.....I get to work another 72-hours straight over the top of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

New Years? That's also my regular day (Thursday); BUT, I got it off! I don't know why they didn't schedule me; but, my guess is that the Chief was trying to throw me a bone after making me work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Awkward! LOL

My heart goes out to all of you who have to work strange hours or forced hours on the days you would rather be with your families. I chose this life and career and I accept the consequences of that decision. Though, for some, the choice to work in retail wasn't as easy and finding another job isn't as cut and dry as it sounds.

[luv n tpa]

Originally Posted by navane

Though, for some, the choice to work in retail wasn't as easy and finding another job isn't as cut and dry as it sounds.

This. Can't tell you how many times I had been told, "Well just got get a different career if you don't like it." Sure, let me snap my fingers.

You have to be a certain kind of person with a certain kind of personality to LOVE working in retail. I am not that person. But you know, bills.

It took me 5 years to get out, but I'm out. Finally.