Black Friday and the War on Thanksgiving

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

After I worked my first (and only) Black Friday, I promised myself I'd never put myself through that again.

Years ago, I worked in the pharmacy at Wal-Mart, and because the pharmacy is closed on Black Friday, we weren't required to work. Then my manager came at me with these big, sad puppy-dog eyes, saying that they were going to be short-staffed that day. I caved and agreed to work at 4 or 5am. I can't remember the time exactly - all I know is it was too damn early to deal with all the BS I had to deal with.

I was pushed, shoved, and called a "dumb broad" when I didn't know where a toy was (that we only carried in the store that ONE day). No one listened when I tried to organize the check-out lines, and people looked at me like I was worthless. I've never been so disrespected and so disgusted with people before. It was awful.

Maybe that's why Christmas is my least favorite holiday… because it seems to be the time of year when many people are so mean to each other, all because there's a sweater on sale.

No thanks!

My favorite was the folks who came in still drunk/high from the night before who vomited on our floor. Every.single.year. Thank God for temp workers, right?

And then, of course, the company, in all of its wisdom, would roll out Black Friday promotions which would tie an employee up with a customer who opted in for about 15 minutes.

It's obvious that many of the decisions which make Black Friday so effing miserable for all involved are made by individuals who haven't ever tried to run just one store.. it's a very different skillset than running a region or country full of stores and those executives really could learn a lot.

Companies like Wal-Mart.. well really, just Wal-Mart specifically, allow really dangerous scenes to be created by these doorbusters. These sales have major quality of life implications for employees, and in the end, with all of the loss leaders they sell on Black Friday, it's not even all that profitable.

One might even argue it's degrading to the customers, most of whom are low wage earners to be herded into the store, forced into dangerous, sometimes violent confrontations with other customers and made to miss quality family time because this is the only day they can afford to shop on.

[StealthMode]

Originally Posted by shellylou

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!

Not aimed at you but this reminded me of another gripe I have. At each job I've had up to this point, I was always automatically expected to work the holidays to free up the people "who have families." It is irritating to no end to hear, "Well, she should get the time off because she has a family." Ummmm what am I, a vagabond? I may not have kids but I do have a family and lots of loved ones who I will miss and will miss me if I am not home for the holiday, too. (For the record, I totally understand why priority would be given to people with small children. My issue is with the insinuation that me not having children makes my personal time less valuable.)

/rant

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by StealthMode

Not aimed at you but this reminded me of another gripe I have. At each job I've had up to this point, I was always automatically expected to work the holidays to free up the people "who have families." It is irritating to no end to hear, "Well, she should get the time off because she has a family." Ummmm what am I, a vagabond? I may not have kids but I do have a family and lots of loved ones who I will miss and will miss me if I am not home for the holiday, too. (For the record, I totally understand why priority would be given to people with small children. My issue is with the insinuation that me not having children makes my personal time less valuable.)

/rant

Thank you!

I've been told at many jobs, "Well, you have to understand.. Cindy needs the time off because she has 2 kids." Um, ok.. but I don't see why her time with her family is any more valuable than my time with my family.