Hellobee Boards

No. I even feel bad for the gas station attendants that have to work holidays. I used to work holidays in the hospital so I know how big of a bummer it can be.

Yup, I would if there was something I wanted/needed. I don't see anything wrong with businesses being open on holidays.

Nope! Unless I needed to run for a last minute item, medication, much needed necessity.

If I needed something last-minute then sure, but I probably wouldn't just shop for leisure on a holiday. That being said, I don't really think it's right for states to require stores to close. That seems a bit intrusive on private business. Also, I do know people who work retail and volunteer to work on holidays for the holiday pay. Not everyone working on Thanksgiving is there under duress. I actually had a friend who was a store manager who said they had to pick and choose who to staff the store on holidays because so many people would volunteer for the extra cash. Personally I don't enjoy working holidays (and I've worked plenty) but not everyone feels that way.

not shop shopping- i'd run in the pharmacy or minimart if i really needed something, but i wouldn't go to the mall or other stores. we have blue laws here preventing most stores from opening on thanksgiving anyway. i think it's terrible when store employees are forced to work holidays.

Does going to the movies count?

I don't go retail shopping.

No, I support workers who want the ability to be home with their families.

I think I would if I needed something last minute for cooking but I would feel bad about it.

I run to the grocery store if I need to... But other than that I prefer to spend my time with my family and friends.

But I always find it interesting when these conversations turn to blaming the big bad retailers for making their employees work. The stores wouldn't be open on holidays if people didn't shop at them. So it's really the consumer that's the problem (if you see holiday hours as a problem) not the retailer.

@MamaMoose: "...The stores wouldn't be open on holidays if people didn't shop at them." Totally agree. Supply & demand.

My husband is the store manager of a big box retailer and is going in tomorrow afternoon. It sucks. He is actually putting on a Thanksgiving dinner for his employees (who all volunteered to work because they want the $)...they actually seem really into it

I thought I never would but now that dh has to work we might! I wish no one had to.

@MamaMoose: Yup, very true. Given how many people shop on and around the holidays, it just makes sense to be open. I know there's a whole movement to get people to sign petitions not to shop etc., but I just don't see there ever being enough people "boycotting" holiday shopping for it to not be worth being open.

No. Nothing should be open (other than hospitals, police stations, fire departments, etc.) on thanksgiving so employees can be with their families. I won't support any stores who think they are doing me a favor by being open by shopping there.

Maybe they are open because of supply and demand but I won't support the demand of it.

I worked at target for 6 years and will never EVER shop Black Friday or on a major holiday. It was a nightmare. I'd be scheduled Wednesday night for close then everyone had to open on Friday, it was so exhausting. Luckily back then they never opened ON thanksgiving. I feel bad for the workers if it's not an emergency, it's not worth someone making $10/hr and being away from their friends/family...I feel pretty strongly about it though...

I am really bothered by the stores that are open til like 6 PM on Thanksgiving. I feel like if a grocery store is going to be open, it should only be open til 12 or 1. Who is honestly going in after that? Most people eat earlier on Thanksgiving. It just doesn't seem fair.

As for the stores that open at 8 or 9 PM... I don't know. I worked Black Friday a few years ago at the mall (that shift is required), and I actually volunteered to work at 10 PM on Thanksgiving because of the extra pay (and all my family would be back at home by that time anyway). The shift was so popular/requested, I didn't get it. I ended up being stuck working from like 7 AM - 2 PM on Friday. I would have preferred that Thanksgiving shift, because the crowds weren't nearly as bad!

Yeah, I'm not a fan of stores opening up on Thanksgiving. I worked retail, too. When I worked at the movie theatre, it wasn't that bad. It was easy money. It wasn't as busy as weekends where blockbuster hits are released. It's crazy.

Now, I worked at both Target and American Eagle. AE was fine. Both jobs set us up with free food but Target was complete madness once the store opened. I still have imprinted in my head seeing shopping carts RUNNING down the aisle and headed right for me. When I worked at Target, the toy department was not a strong suit for me and guess what department I was assigned to? Toys on freakin' black friday!! Ahhhhh!!! Target had a nice setup where I was responsible for my 2-3 aisles. Basically it was lot of people asking the same question… where is [insert doorbuster item]? Overall, Target did a good job with the logistics and making sure the employees were taken care of (food and break wise). It's just the people is what makes it so bad. Are you really going to argue over who touched that toy first and who gets to put it in the cart?!? Really?

There is one thing to think of. When I worked at Target and AE, there would be prep time needed to set up displays and signage. I always volunteered to do that stuff because it was less interaction with customers, plus it was super early and I didn't mind as a college student. So when we were open on Black Friday, there would be about 10 people who would have to come in on Thanksgiving anyway. Now that there are Thanksgiving deals, it would make these prep people come in on the day before. Although, the number of people required to prep the store is tiny compared to the number of people needed to be there when the store opened. Lastly, working in retail, you were REQUIRED to work both holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas). If you are hired as seasonal staff, you pretty much gave your holiday season away and could not take off. THAT SUCKS!! You had limits on when you could take off, too. I'm thankful that I don't have to work another holiday season.

Just one thing to those of you who do shop… be ultra nice to the employees that are working. Don't give them crap about long lines, item not being available or out of stock, not being able to find your item, not being able to get rain checks and the list could go on. Be grateful that you don't have to work and are lucky enough to be shopping.

*Steps off the soapbox* Ok, I'm done.

No thanks. I would rather spend the holiday with my family at home.

I was going to vote yes because I'm in the UK but I didn't want to skew your poll! But if we did Thanksgiving - no, I wouldn't. Family time is precious and it's being stolen away from so many people.

I'm not in the States for Thanksgiving this year, but if I were, there is no way in the world I would be shopping! I think it's appalling to have unnecessary stores open on a holiday that is meant to be spent with family. Sure there are probably a small percentage of workers who want the extra cash or don't have families to spend the holiday with, but I think the vast majority of people who will be working are those who have no choice due to job security or financial constraints. I worked in retail when younger and I remember around the holidays it was "you will work your scheduled hours or you will not have a job". Awesome. As for time and a half holiday pay - right, with min wage being $7 per hour, that extra $3.50/hr is really going to make up for the loss of a holiday with one's children, right? Right.

Ugh, the greediness and ridiculous consumerism overtaking our society just disgusts me. Let's get back to the things that really matter, ie spending time with family, and forget about scoring a 'super awesome deal' on the biggest tv or newest video game on a day meant for family.

I disagree that it's a supply and demand. If the store was closed, no one would shop. The end.