It proves everything. I claimed that seasonal shopping was important for retailers and without it there would be job losses.

If you banned trading on Boxing Day, staff would still be required to work on Boxing Day to prepare the store for the sale starting the next day.

Obviously different families do different things. Those who want to go shopping, shop. Those who don't, don't. Those who want to work, work.

The patronising, patrician, I-know-how-you-should-spend-your-time-better-than-you-do arrogance on this thread is unbelievable.

Though not remotely surprising.

Yes - Some have Christmas and Boxing Day off whilst others get New Year's and others still get the days in the middle.

What you're suggesting is exactly what happens already in retail.

I suggest you'd find more workers in Aldi & Lidl being much more appreciative of being paid for all the hours they work whilst clocking-off at the right time rather than two hours later regularly throughout the year, than getting one forced day off a year.

Well the people working can't get together to do anything. What I'm saying is your need for shopping is stopping others being able to do what they want over Christmas. You seem to be saying your shopping need should trump other people's Christmas get togethers. At least if everyone possible had Christmas/boxing day off then they'd get to have a relaxing couple of days with family. Yes they couldn't go shopping, but it will all still be there the day after.

But not every retailer opens on Boxing Day. Appears it is more important for some than others.

They can do what they want over Christmas - on the days they don't work. If, for some of them, they're working on Boxing Day then that's unfortunate. But remember that all year long many retail workers do shifts and may spend one week starting work at 7am and the next week finishing at 1am. That means they can't always watch Strictly with their families or go to the pub. What's so special about Boxing Day? Shift work interrupts their lives far more than one day over Christmas.


Yeah, profitable ones. And how do you know no one's working on Boxing Day in some of those stores? You keep not understanding the difference between working and trading. I know for a fact that some people were inside a branch of Aldi on Boxing Day a couple of years ago despite it being closed. There's lots to do beyond merely operating the tills.

As I said Christmas is usually when families get together, because most people have the two days off. Any other time of the year and most people are at work. I would have thought it was obvious really.

Well the few people I know who work for Aldi/Lidl are quite happy with not working on Boxing Day. I am sure there will be some who are not happy. However, by your logic they can always get a job at stores which do open on Boxing Day, I suppose.

I don't agree with people not getting paid for all the hours they work either. However, it does happen in the NHS. I rarely get off on time, am not paid overtime - just time in lieu. However, you never get the time off as we are always short of staff. Not complaining - just stating the facts.

Doesn't make it right - but retail workers are not the only one's who work for no pay.

Well at least they might get Christmas Day off then which by your argument they would currently need to work to get ready for Boxing Day opening!

My whole point is this.

It is not essential for stores to open on Boxing Day. IMO. Therefore, why should employees who do not wish to work Boxing Day have to work? Many stores manage to close on Boxing Day and not go into liquidation.

Aldi not profitable?

By closed I mean not open for trading. I am well aware some people may be working but the vast majority of the workforce would not be. We have about three Aldi's and two Lidl's near me - maybe I should spend my Boxing Day (I'm not working) peering into their windows to see if I there is anybody about? I can ask them if they're on double pay??

I think the answer would be the same for them as for me - no.

The original reply you responded to with the link was this:


In the link it was Asda were cutting jobs because of much lower than expected sales over a 12 week period. In that context not opening Boxing Day would have made little, if any, difference.

In that respect I wouldn't say anything was 'proven' at all.


Some staff may need to be in, but it wouldn't be all the employees necessary for an open store.

Nothing there to suggest Asda had a weak Christmas because they didn't open for Boxing Day. In fact they did open for Boxing Day and are open again this year.

It's not essential for stores to open on Sundays either but they do. Welcome to capitalism

Ye-es but no one should go into retail without understanding the likely working hours. Shop staff complaining about working on Boxing Day seems a lot like a computer programming complaining about having to stare at a screen all day.

There are 52 Sundays in a year. Not opening on a Sunday would result in the loss of 52 days trading.

Boxing Day is just one day a year.

Well clearly people don't always behave in a way that's best for them.

Otherwise no-one would smoke, there'd be no obesity, the UK wouldn't be about to leave the EU and the US wouldn't have just elected Donald Trump. And the shops would be closed on Boxing Day.

I'll now retreat a safe distance to try and avoid the expected onslaught...

There are quite a few stores both small and large which choose to close on Boxing Day. Those retail staff who would prefer not to work this particular day should do their research prior to application to establish if their potential future employer expects them to work on Boxing Day or not - and make their choice.

Businesses should be allowed to open whatever time they please, so long as they operate within the law and treat their staff fairly.

That aside, I don't know why people feel compelled to shop all the time.

Also, having spent Christmas in France, Sweden and the US, it's interesting to see how different countries treat the festive season - you find in many countries, it's actually Christmas Eve that tends to be very quiet, with both Christmas Day and Boxing Day having plenty on offer.

Well, yes. So then they are not working 'against their wishes' as per your post above, are they?

No need to retreat to a safe distance and no onslaught from me.

I am not anti Boxing Day opening - I simply believe those who do not wish to work on Boxing Day should not be forced to do so. It is not an essential job.

Ah yes culture......it changes from place to place and over time. Maybe in time we will have just a few shops (in out of town shopping malls perhaps? hopefully) which open on Boxing Day. Those who wish to shop can make their annual pilgrimage to the almighty Tesco et al. Those who don't can do....well other things! Like work, for example. The choice is endless.

I had a dream.....................

Why the confusion? Just further explaining a point. That is, until said company decides they wish to open on Boxing Day. Welcome to capitalism.

The shoppers get all the choice....the only choice the retail worker gets is to quit retail work......or work on a day against their wishes.

Hail the almighty shopper!

Asda was not cutting jobs because of not enough shopping hours, they were cutting jobs because places like Lidl and Aldi was taking thier business because people choose to shop in a different place. And because you work over xmas in retail does not mean getting new year off as the shops are open new years eve and new years day