Ironically in 1994 we had (in my opinion) better High Streets, more choice, more quality and more variety!
Look at any of our European neighbours and none of them have streets full of pound shops, bargain clothes shops and charity shops. Nor are they full of coffee shops. Shopping in Europe is actually better without Sunday hours, massive Tescos and endless retail parks!!
The fact that Germany closes from Saturday at 8pm until 10am Monday says a lot.
Particularly as they haven't all died of starvation!!
Ironically in 1994 we had (in my opinion) better High Streets, more choice, more quality and more variety!
Look at any of our European neighbours and none of them have streets full of pound shops, bargain clothes shops and charity shops. Nor are they full of coffee shops. Shopping in Europe is actually better without Sunday hours, massive Tescos and endless retail parks!!
The fact that Germany closes from Saturday at 8pm until 10am Monday says a lot.
I didn't think all of Europe has some form of Sunday opening restrictions. I don't see why Germany has the right idea.
The carer I mentioned she starts at 7am and that means she has to be in that persons house at 7am she she has to be up and out by 6.30 am she is often still working at 10.30 pm so after all that she is supposed to go on a shop and the delivery hours don't start until after she's gone or stop before she's back.
If her only day off is sunday and she is working those hours thats the least of her problems she will die at 60. Carers and those who work for services that are 24/7 generally work shifts which gives them time for shopping. Generally if someone works 12 hour days as you describe they will only work 3 days for 3 weeks and 4 days for the 4th week so they will have time to shop
The supermarkets intake wont change btw people will still spend the same so what you demand means higher prices for groceries as if they werent expensive enough. We already work some of the longest hours for least pay in europe but apparently this isnt enough. I think we should scale back and relax a little bit personally not bay for more hours
IS it beyond reason that we could possibly have just one day per week without shops being open? Other countries manage, we used to. Do we have to be able to shop every day?
Of course we could.
However its would be a bit selfish on those wanting to shop on a Sunday.
If her only day off is sunday and she is working those hours thats the least of her problems she will die at 60. Carers and those who work for services that are 24/7 generally work shifts which gives them time for shopping. Generally if someone works 12 hour days as you describe they will only work 3 days for 3 weeks and 4 days for the 4th week so they will have time to shop
They get out of that by giving them brakes in between but the brakes are not long enough to do the shopping and they can still be phoned up (they have to have a mobile with them at all times) to cover others.
It's normal all the carers I know work like that I feel sorry for them they have to work the same hours Christmas day though we cancel Christmas week to try and help give them a brake.
Lets be clear, if people want to go shopping on Sunday its because they want to go shopping on Sunday. No further "justification" is needed. No going cap in hand making a business case to some self righteous dick who says "can you not do it on another day?"
The fact they are choosing that day suggests its the best day for them. I am sure most don't HAVE to go, but its the best day for them.
However its would be a bit selfish on those wanting to shop on a Sunday.
Isn't it equally selfish that we expect folks to work in shops on a Sunday? Time was when shop workers had the option plus 'time-and-a-half' pay. No more. Folks are expected that Sunday is just another working day.
You are forgetting USDAW the UK's fourth largest Union who are the biggest opponents of extending Sunday hours. Christian groups are a much smaller opponent and many of those oppose it for reasons non religious people can agree with as well, time for rest and family time etc .
If this is really all about guaranteeing workers time with their families, surely all non-essential businesses (large and small) should also have legislation in place. I'm wondering why shoppers in Tesco should be more protected than shoppers in a Tesco Extra, or British Gas plumbers, or Virgin Rail workers, or Restaurant staff, or Car Mechanics... you get the idea.
Isn't it equally selfish that we expect folks to work in shops on a Sunday? Time was when shop workers had the option plus 'time-and-a-half' pay. No more. Folks are expected that Sunday is just another working day.
Not at all. If shops don't want to open or can;t get the staff then I would not expect them to open.
The carer I mentioned she starts at 7am and that means she has to be in that persons house at 7am she she has to be up and out by 6.30 am she is often still working at 10.30 pm so after all that she is supposed to go on a shop and the delivery hours don't start until after she's gone or stop before she's back.
If this person is really working 15 1/2 hours per day, 6 days per week, then the problem is with their working conditions, not Sunday trading hours.
If this is really all about guaranteeing workers time with their families, surely all non-essential businesses (large and small) should also have legislation in place. I'm wondering why shoppers in Tesco should be more protected than shoppers in a Tesco Extra, or British Gas plumbers, or Virgin Rail workers, or Restaurant staff, or Car Mechanics... you get the idea.
Not everyone has families though or if they do they live hundreds of miles away.
Isn't it equally selfish that we expect folks to work in shops on a Sunday?
Wow. Do you make use of absolutely no non-essential services on a Sunday? Never use a bus or taxi? Never go to the theatre? Never use the corner shop? Never listen to the radio or watch the TV? Never have a take-away? Never go to a restaurant?
If you genuinely live your life in a way that doesn't expect others to work on a Sunday then I say fair play to you.
Wow. Do you make use of absolutely no non-essential services on a Sunday? Never use a bus or taxi? Never go to the theatre? Never use the corner shop? Never listen to the radio or watch the TV? Never have a take-away? Never go to a restaurant?
If you genuinely live your life in a way that doesn't expect others to work on a Sunday then I say fair play to you.
Hold your horses, Sunshine!! My comment was in answer to a particular point made by another poster!!
*Good grief! Talk about taking comments out of context!!*
Every year, come 4pm, packed stores have to close. It's ridiculous, especially on this Sunday. It really is time they were scrapped, why the hell should religion dictate how business works in this day and age?
Why should religion dictate the opening hours during a time that is busy because of......religion?
They get out of that by giving them brakes in between but the brakes are not long enough to do the shopping and they can still be phoned up (they have to have a mobile with them at all times) to cover others.
It's normal all the carers I know work like that I feel sorry for them they have to work the same hours Christmas day though we cancel Christmas week to try and help give them a brake.
Seems a strange way to work? All the carers are on call? How do they decide who to ring? Is it like an agency you mean and she works anywhere at any time and the agency ring when they want someone? She needs to leave the house and do things. You cant just sit indoors and wait for a phone call from an agency you need to go and do the things you need to do. If its like that the agency doesnt need you within 20 minutes you will have time to finish shopping and go home surely you get a couple of hours notice
Comments
Particularly as they haven't all died of starvation!!
I didn't think all of Europe has some form of Sunday opening restrictions. I don't see why Germany has the right idea.
If her only day off is sunday and she is working those hours thats the least of her problems she will die at 60. Carers and those who work for services that are 24/7 generally work shifts which gives them time for shopping. Generally if someone works 12 hour days as you describe they will only work 3 days for 3 weeks and 4 days for the 4th week so they will have time to shop
Of course we could.
However its would be a bit selfish on those wanting to shop on a Sunday.
They get out of that by giving them brakes in between but the brakes are not long enough to do the shopping and they can still be phoned up (they have to have a mobile with them at all times) to cover others.
It's normal all the carers I know work like that I feel sorry for them they have to work the same hours Christmas day though we cancel Christmas week to try and help give them a brake.
The fact they are choosing that day suggests its the best day for them. I am sure most don't HAVE to go, but its the best day for them.
Isn't it equally selfish that we expect folks to work in shops on a Sunday? Time was when shop workers had the option plus 'time-and-a-half' pay. No more. Folks are expected that Sunday is just another working day.
If this is really all about guaranteeing workers time with their families, surely all non-essential businesses (large and small) should also have legislation in place. I'm wondering why shoppers in Tesco should be more protected than shoppers in a Tesco Extra, or British Gas plumbers, or Virgin Rail workers, or Restaurant staff, or Car Mechanics... you get the idea.
Not at all. If shops don't want to open or can;t get the staff then I would not expect them to open.
If this person is really working 15 1/2 hours per day, 6 days per week, then the problem is with their working conditions, not Sunday trading hours.
Not everyone has families though or if they do they live hundreds of miles away.
France - next to nothing open on Sunday. Some small supermarkets open until lunchtime.
Belgium - all shops closed Sundays apart from in tourist areas on the coast.
Netherlands - shops open only in towns & cities defined as 'tourist' areas.
Luxembourg - little open apart from a couple of shopping centres on the Belgian border. Small supermarkets open until lunchtime.
Switzerland - virtually nothing but bakeries open until lunchtime.
Austria - like Switzerland
Denmark - nothing much open apart from small food shops up until lunchtime.
Major European countries, big economies. Yet they survive without mass Sunday trading!!
Wow. Do you make use of absolutely no non-essential services on a Sunday? Never use a bus or taxi? Never go to the theatre? Never use the corner shop? Never listen to the radio or watch the TV? Never have a take-away? Never go to a restaurant?
If you genuinely live your life in a way that doesn't expect others to work on a Sunday then I say fair play to you.
But that would also apply to large shops wouldn't it? Tesco supermarkets don't recruit from separate labour market.
Hold your horses, Sunshine!! My comment was in answer to a particular point made by another poster!!
*Good grief! Talk about taking comments out of context!!*
*Grumble. grumble, grumble!!*
It's not religion-it's shop workers unions.
But this is not what you stated earlier, Keio.
I'm confused!!
No need to be confused.
I have never demanded a shop be open just because I want to shop. In fact I even said
Seems a strange way to work? All the carers are on call? How do they decide who to ring? Is it like an agency you mean and she works anywhere at any time and the agency ring when they want someone? She needs to leave the house and do things. You cant just sit indoors and wait for a phone call from an agency you need to go and do the things you need to do. If its like that the agency doesnt need you within 20 minutes you will have time to finish shopping and go home surely you get a couple of hours notice