Workers angry as Black Friday creeps into Thanksgiving

Nashua Telegraph ^ | 11/18/11 | Kavita Kumar

[Libloather]

Workers angry as Black Friday creeps into Thanksgiving
By Kavita Kumar
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Friday, November 18, 2011

ST. LOUIS – Lyndsey Shaw has been on the front lines of Black Friday in years past, helping to open the Best Buy store in Brentwood, Mo., by 5 a.m.

But when Best Buy decided to follow other retailers this year in moving up its opening time to midnight on Thanksgiving, Shaw worried she would have to miss her family’s tradition of going out to see Christmas lights after their holiday dinner.

“We don’t usually get everything cleaned up and out the door until 10 p.m.,” she said.

Fortunately, her supervisor allowed her to work a Friday afternoon shift instead.

But with several other retailers, including Macy’s, Kohl’s and Target, also opening at midnight for the first time, a groundswell of protest has been brewing among people who worry that not all retail employees will be as lucky and that some will have to skip out early on family gatherings.

And moreover, critics assert, the earlier opening times are encroaching too much on a holiday that should be reserved for family – not for shopping.

[SoldierDad]

So, people who work in, and earn a paycheck from, retail, are complaining about the money stores are making from the "Black Friday" sales day because it is happening one day early? Um, isn't in the interest of people who work retail for their store to make money - as much as possible - during the holiday shopping season?

Going back through time when people were forced to work 12 hour days just to put food on the table, I'm wondering how many people complained about having to work their farm, or ranch, or blacksmith shop, or whatever, on these holidays (including Christmas)?

[discostu]

Now that black friday is all about the door busters there most definitely is a reason to be open before 6 friday: your competition. Black friday is basically over by 9AM now, by noon it’s down to a basic “normal” shopping day. When it was an all day affair you were right, but now it’s a sprint, one more hour open before 9AM could mean the difference between existing next year and not.

[SoldierDad]

Giving up family time as a medical professional or first responder is part of the game . . .

For retail workers, it's a chance to trade family time for a rollicking shift of insults, abuse and anger.

Yep, people who work in Law Enforcement, the field of Medicine, or who are first responders (EMT, Fire fighters, etc) NEVER endure insults, abuse, and/or anger.

[SoldierDad]

If people have truly “lost” the meaning of Christmas, it is NOT the fault of retailers. There is NO ONE holding a gun to ANYONE’S head here.

[SoldierDad]

There once was a time in this country that Americans were people who rolled up their sleeves, went to work, and got things done, regardless of whether that meant losing some “family time” on this or that holiday. Today America appears to be full of whinny little brats who want to have their cake and eat it too. In my parents day they had to work on holidays, and neither one worked in Retail. In my grandparents day they had to work nearly year around, and neither worked in Retail. Going back to the days of the Frontiersman, there were no retail shops, and everyone had to work every day just to have food on the table, a roof over their head, and heat in their home. Perhaps Obozo is right after all. We have gotten soft and lazy.

[dfwgator]

In my parents day they had to work on holidays, and neither one worked in Retail. In my grandparents day they had to work nearly year around, and neither worked in Retail. Going back to the days of the Frontiersman, there were no retail shops, and everyone had to work every day just to have food on the table, a roof over their head, and heat in their home.

Life was a carnival! We entertained ourselves! We didn't need moooovin' pitchurrrres. In my day, there was only one show in town -- it was called "Stare at the sun!" ... That's right! You'd sit in the middle of an open field and stare up at the sun till your eyeballs burst into flames! And you thought, "Oh, no! Maybe I shouldn't've stared directly into the burning sun with my eyes wide open." But it was too late! Your head was on fire and people were roastin' chickens over it. ... And that's the way it was and we liked it!

[SoldierDad]

Oh darn, yet another episode of which ever program that is that I missed/s

[VaRepublican]

10-4 good buddy, just don't mention it here on this hypocritical website. we hate anti business but don't let a fool work thanksgiving!

[gman992]

I don’t know what’s worse-—having to work that early or those embassasing scenes of shoppers trampling each other to death trying to get in....people get a life!

[SoldierDad]

10-4 good buddy, just don't mention it here on this hypocritical website

Too late! Besides, I'm wearing my flame-retardant suit. LOL

[VaRepublican]

You asshats espousing yer service to our country as an example of the hard times of serving. Every year I served covered the “holidays” Get over it and get a brain. I defended what WE do NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SoldierDad]

I have NEVER gone shopping on “Black Friday”. The primary reason for me is that no amount savings is worth putting up with the animals who ransack retail stores.

[VaRepublican]

Man if only we were more like europe.

[SoldierDad]

Interesting, you posting this attached to my post #88. I hope there’s no hidden message in this directed to me.

[buccaneer81]

I notice you left out the rest of my first paragraph which mentioned the necessity and fair compensation of medical personnel and first responders.

Try being honest when you attempt to argue a point, regardless of how poorly you do it. Comparing retail work on a holiday to emergency services is ridiculous.

[VaRepublican]

nope no hidden meaning. sorry about any inferances. Inference is the act or process of deriving logical conclusions from premises known or assumed to be true.
I was just saying that if we only acted like europe then we all could be broke together. My point being whining about a job during a busy time seems silly. If you don’t make enough then leave... If you cannot leave then sorry, improve youre lot in life, but wait...that requires more work. DAMN!

[wbill]

We need doctors and police to work

All of the Paramedics that I know say that New Year's eve is usually pretty quiet.

However, they say Christmas is awful, and Thanksgiving is worse. Family get togethers bring out the worst in people.

[Allegra]

I personally boycott Black Friday....I hate everything about it.

I hate shopping and I hate crowds.

I haven't been anywhere near a store on Black Friday since I was a college kid working part-time in a department store.

That's probably what did it for me.

[MissouriConservative]

In this economy, those people should feel blessed they have a job in the first place. I’m sure there are countless thousands who would take their place in an instant and not complain about working.

[who knows what evil?]

I ignore the holidays...it’s great...no mess, no fuss.