Sunday Trading Laws

[Gilly]

Totally understand it can be difficult especially with young kids but as one poster has mentioned above there needs to be some degree of prioritisation that you decide. How will people working longer hours in the shops on Sunday get their downtime with their kids or do their hobbies/other commitments.

We do manage as I've said. I was trying to give a balanced view against those frothing at the mouth at the evil people advocating extended hours

As you've said, there would be a small number of people that would need to work extra hours, but there are already many people doing so in the same supermarkets and elsewhere in the supply chain. Where do they get their downtime? Why are we protecting a handful of till staff and not their colleagues?

Not in retail, but I've worked in a 24x7 environment for 15 years and in that time period have worked shifts and done call out. We didn't moan that we needed to work weekends because hours can be planned around. My wife and I in a situation at the moment now both kids are at school full time where we're trying to develop ourselves for the good of the family to ensure that we can provide the very best for all of our futures. It means that midweek time is precious.

As for small shops, I did mean local independents stores rather than the small express branches of the large supermarkets. Sunday trading laws do infact help to support them quite a lot. My in-laws have a shop and finding staff it a nightmare on Sundays so they then do put in the long hours themselves but it keeps the business afloat.

I suppose a lot of that would be down to locality. Almost every independent near me has closed, yet I could just about throw a stone at two mini Tesco stores and a co-op. The first Tesco is open 5am til midnight, the second is 6am til 11pm, the co-op is 7am til 11pm. No-one is protecting those retail staff.

 

[[TW]Fox]

So it's fair that because it's an inconvenience to you and your family, trading hours should be extended which will inconvenience a lot of retail employees who also like to spend time with their families?

Funny that.

Why does no other industry benefit from this legal 'protection'?

Why is there no law to help other workers have a 'special day' (Funny special day though given you still end up working 6-9 hours, but then the logic from the retail workers side of this is hilarious at best anyway)?

 

[Semple]

I think it's a shame that the bill didn't pass, the way of life has changed from what it would have been 40-60 years ago. I can't think of many industries that don't operate on a weekend in one form or another.

All i can see happening over the next 10, 20, and 30 years is that people's behaviours will shift to a more dominant online shopping presence. Which will mean a shop full of works will no longer be needed, only those in a warehouse for picking items - assuming this part isn't automated too. Then shopping will be available around the clock.

 

[[TW]Fox]

All i can see happening over the next 10, 20, and 30 years is that people's behaviours will shift to a more dominant online shopping presence. Which will mean a shop full of works will no longer be needed, only those in a warehouse for picking items - assuming this part isn't automated too. Then shopping will be available around the clock.

Exactly this. Traditional retail needs all the help it can get to stay relevant and convenient in the modern age.

Plus can we stop pretending the current situation gives shop workers some sort of special amazing family day? It doesn't! I used to have to work 10-6 some Sundays when I worked in retail, for a store that only traded in-line with Sunday trading legislation. So where is this magic family time really? Many shop workers still do basically a full shift on a Sunday anyway!

 

[Gilly]

Won't somebody please think of the children?

To expand on Fox's point I imagine the cashing up of the registers and so on happens after 4pm, the clean-up operation happens after 4pm, lots of work is still required, why aren't we closing even earlier to protect magic funtime family day for those people?

The argument is invalid. We might as well have a bunny with a pancake on it's head.

 

[MooMoo444]

 

[Gilly]

That's the one

Right image anyway, the one I was thinking of is here

Could've gone with hair like a bird also

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

Won't somebody please think of the children?

To expand on Fox's point I imagine the cashing up of the registers and so on happens after 4pm, the clean-up operation happens after 4pm, lots of work is still required, why aren't we closing even earlier to protect magic funtime family day for those people?

The argument is invalid. We might as well have a bunny with a pancake on it's head.

Exactly.

I've worked in various shops over the years and on Sundays you are never out the door at 4. Usually you are scheduled in until 5 or 6 just because there is still work to be done after the doors shut, like you say, cashing up and tidying up.

People are complaining that Sunday trading should remain as it is for family time, then telling Gilly he and his wife should do jobs / chores separately.

This to me says, you don't actually care for family time you just don't want to have to work a little later on a Sunday.

 

[Gilly]

When I worked in retail we were lucky to be out of the door before 2am some nights even though the doors closed at 11pm. Burger King

The operation was 7 days a week, but I was part time working to pay for beer whilst at college.

 

[Semple]

Exactly.

I've worked in various shops over the years and on Sundays you are never out the door at 4. Usually you are scheduled in until 5 or 6 just because there is still work to be done after the doors shut, like you say, cashing up and tidying up.

I would say you were lucky there.

I remember working in Currys back in my late teens and i was paid till 16:30 the same time the shop shut. But that didn't mean i was allowed to walk out the shop at 16:30. You'll always end up with one straggler who gets into the shop at 16:25 and then wants to browse/purchase well after 16:30.

 

[Freakbro]

I would say you were lucky there.

I remember working in Currys back in my late teens and i was paid till 16:30 the same time the shop shut. But that didn't mean i was allowed to walk out the shop at 16:30. You'll always end up with one straggler who gets into the shop at 16:25 and then wants to browse/purchase well after 16:30.

Sorry, that was me

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

I would say you were lucky there.

I remember working in Currys back in my late teens and i was paid till 16:30 the same time the shop shut. But that didn't mean i was allowed to walk out the shop at 16:30. You'll always end up with one straggler who gets into the shop at 16:25 and then wants to browse/purchase well after 16:30.

Don't get me wrong, that would happen almost every week too!

Some people I swear get off on knowing everyone is waiting for them while they just casually stroll around the entire shop not even picking up anything specific.

 

[Rroff]

Exactly.

I've worked in various shops over the years and on Sundays you are never out the door at 4. Usually you are scheduled in until 5 or 6 just because there is still work to be done after the doors shut, like you say, cashing up and tidying up.

People are complaining that Sunday trading should remain as it is for family time, then telling Gilly he and his wife should do jobs / chores separately.

This to me says, you don't actually care for family time you just don't want to have to work a little later on a Sunday.

Most places I've worked most of the staff will be out the door at 4 (using your times) and a member of management staff and 1 normal member of staff (which would rotate) would be scheduled to stay on to close up.

 

[tom_e]

We used to have people try and pull that when I worked at a swimming pool, they'd float around until 2 minutes before closing then try and spend half an hour in the changing room.
Unfortunately for them almost the entire staff were teenagers with little in the way of gently does it CS skills, so if they weren't moving quick enough they got a warning then the lights went out. Usually got them moving pretty sharpish.

 

[norm]

How else would you plan it?

Online shopping with a 1 hour delivery window.

 

[Randomface74]

Yet another sunday of clock watching until the shops open...

 

[englishpremier]

People in retail sometimes have to work 12-14 hours a day esepcially if its a smaller store and someone has called in sick. Some week you might not get a day off until 6-7 straight working days. Holidays are a joke as you can only take between a certain time meaning December - Jan are no holiday months and between June and July now you tell me what other industry does that??

No only are we customer service people but we have to be marketing, admin, councillors, PA's (to managers), cleaners all on top of trying to hit sales targets, store card targets UPT targets, ATV targets and with a measly hourly rate of around £7 - £7.50 an hour!!

Just sounds like bad management to me. Have enough staff to cover the hours you re open and don't have people 12-14 hour days. If your boss tells you to sign a contract stating you have to work longer, you are equally within your right to tell them to go and do one. No-one if directly forced.

 

[AhhBisto]

Is it 2016 again?

 

[adidan]

Yet another sunday of clock watching until the shops open...

Looks like you managed to fill your time with a bit of digging

 

[Rroff]

Just sounds like bad management to me. Have enough staff to cover the hours you re open and don't have people 12-14 hour days. If your boss tells you to sign a contract stating you have to work longer, you are equally within your right to tell them to go and do one. No-one if directly forced.

Reality is retail ain't doing great and many shops are trying to do more with less staff with little contingency for staff absence, etc. in the resources budget.

I work in retail albeit not store side and we have an even wider range when we can't take holiday covering the end of October through Jan.