LL
London Lite
Founding member
I'd let the market dictate if Boxing Day should be a day off for retailers. Certainly in London, it's one of the busier days and the tube timetable has been increased in recent years to meet the demand of shoppers.
I've been to the supermarket on Boxing Day a couple of years ago, it was quiet with more staff than shoppers, last year was busier.
I've been to the supermarket on Boxing Day a couple of years ago, it was quiet with more staff than shoppers, last year was busier.
DV
The petition has been promoted by some retail staff organisations, significant numbers of staff wanting to be able to have a 'proper' Christmas Day, without the need to be up to go to work on the following morning.
I don't understand having a petition to close stores on Boxing Day - surely if the majority of people are in agreement, the best thing to do is not to shop on that date?
The petition has been promoted by some retail staff organisations, significant numbers of staff wanting to be able to have a 'proper' Christmas Day, without the need to be up to go to work on the following morning.
IS
Remember though that John Lewis is a workers co-operative, so it's up to their employees that decide whether to open on Boxing Day.
Until fairly recently they didn't open on Mondays
Don't John Lewis shut on Boxing Day too normally?
Remember though that John Lewis is a workers co-operative, so it's up to their employees that decide whether to open on Boxing Day.
Until fairly recently they didn't open on Mondays
WH
The petition has been promoted by some retail staff organisations, significant numbers of staff wanting to be able to have a 'proper' Christmas Day, without the need to be up to go to work on the following morning.
I understand the reasoning behind closing on Boxing Day, and agree with it. I just don't know that a petition is an effective way of making the argument to retailers.
Whataday
Founding member
I don't understand having a petition to close stores on Boxing Day - surely if the majority of people are in agreement, the best thing to do is not to shop on that date?
The petition has been promoted by some retail staff organisations, significant numbers of staff wanting to be able to have a 'proper' Christmas Day, without the need to be up to go to work on the following morning.
I understand the reasoning behind closing on Boxing Day, and agree with it. I just don't know that a petition is an effective way of making the argument to retailers.
LL
The problem is it's the staff and (some of) the public who agree to it. Those who won't will include the big companies that own the shops and look forward the money that's to be made.
Then again, IIRC, the petition is aimed at the PM to encourage her to prohibit opening on Boxing Day.
Then again, IIRC, the petition is aimed at the PM to encourage her to prohibit opening on Boxing Day.
AN
That's an annual rolling of eyes at my parents house, when we watch the Boxing Day news, and there is the annual report showing people running into a generic Oxford Street department store, running as if the stock is being sold for 99% off.
Andrew
Founding member
I'd let the market dictate if Boxing Day should be a day off for retailers. Certainly in London, it's one of the busier days and the tube timetable has been increased in recent years to meet the demand of shoppers.
I've been to the supermarket on Boxing Day a couple of years ago, it was quiet with more staff than shoppers, last year was busier.
I've been to the supermarket on Boxing Day a couple of years ago, it was quiet with more staff than shoppers, last year was busier.
That's an annual rolling of eyes at my parents house, when we watch the Boxing Day news, and there is the annual report showing people running into a generic Oxford Street department store, running as if the stock is being sold for 99% off.
BR
Watching the news - that almost gets it back on topic.
Sadly suspect with Boxing Day falling on a Monday the TV schedules will have a familar feel to them too - I'd be surprised if the soaps vary from their usual Monday night slots, with the BBC beginning their 3 part Christmas adaptation of whatever they're doing this year at 9pm and I wouldn't be surprised if ITV put Birds of a Feather in the slot, unless that's all they've got for a Downton less Christmas Day.
Would be nice to see Outnumbered get a prime Christmas Day slot this year - indeed that's probably the only comedy they've got other than yet another Mrs Browns' Boys Christmas special.
Sadly suspect with Boxing Day falling on a Monday the TV schedules will have a familar feel to them too - I'd be surprised if the soaps vary from their usual Monday night slots, with the BBC beginning their 3 part Christmas adaptation of whatever they're doing this year at 9pm and I wouldn't be surprised if ITV put Birds of a Feather in the slot, unless that's all they've got for a Downton less Christmas Day.
Would be nice to see Outnumbered get a prime Christmas Day slot this year - indeed that's probably the only comedy they've got other than yet another Mrs Browns' Boys Christmas special.
GL
Mrs Brown's Boys is pretty much all the BBC have right now in terms of current, primetime comedy, and that's stretching it.
I guarantee the Christmas Day schedule will be almost identical to last year. Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, Call the Midwife, Mrs Brown's Boys, Michael McIntyre's show and EastEnders, plus probably Frozen as the film premiere.
Yes, I'm sure it pulls in fairly decent ratings (although under 10m now and constantly dwindling due to DVDs, on-demand, other channels and better things to do), but then we'll get the usual self-congratulatory press release by the BBC about how everyone "chose" BBC1 for Christmas. Those sorts of statements really annoy me, since the schedule desperately needs something new in it, plus viewers don't "choose" any channel. Besides, none of those shows are new or exciting any more. How can a Christmas special be "special" if it's the only episode on in the year, in most of those cases? It's a cliché, but schedules of yesteryear definitely had a lot more variety and effort in them, even if there were fewer channels and devices to watch them on.
Urgh...
I guarantee the Christmas Day schedule will be almost identical to last year. Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, Call the Midwife, Mrs Brown's Boys, Michael McIntyre's show and EastEnders, plus probably Frozen as the film premiere.
Yes, I'm sure it pulls in fairly decent ratings (although under 10m now and constantly dwindling due to DVDs, on-demand, other channels and better things to do), but then we'll get the usual self-congratulatory press release by the BBC about how everyone "chose" BBC1 for Christmas. Those sorts of statements really annoy me, since the schedule desperately needs something new in it, plus viewers don't "choose" any channel. Besides, none of those shows are new or exciting any more. How can a Christmas special be "special" if it's the only episode on in the year, in most of those cases? It's a cliché, but schedules of yesteryear definitely had a lot more variety and effort in them, even if there were fewer channels and devices to watch them on.
Urgh...
JB
They can put up my tree anytime.
They can put up my tree anytime.
BA
Digressing here but interesting to see acampaign today for shops to remain shut on Boxing Day too.
It's reached 185,000 now - I see that many are disillusioned by the fact that Christmas has been commercialised to a point that it begins to lose it's spiritual meaning and workers who are pushed to the limits during the last week of the year.
Ah, the original meaning of Christmas... celebrating a fictional deity's son's birthday.
This sort of idiocy from (some) retail workers only pushes more people online and quickens the death of the high street. The idea that they're being so hard done by, having to work Boxing Day, rankles as well. Think of the chefs (some of which cooking dinner for some of the people signing this petition), the nurses, the emergency service workers, and the many other people who work Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
But what about the origins of Boxing Day? Its origins lie in the tradition of giving servants, who were obligated to work Christmas Day, the day off to visit their families - not for an extra day off for retail workers, for example.
To be fair they get Christmas Day off and New Year's Day in most cases. It's not an advert for the people that work there.
Digressing here but interesting to see acampaign today for shops to remain shut on Boxing Day too.
It's reached 185,000 now - I see that many are disillusioned by the fact that Christmas has been commercialised to a point that it begins to lose it's spiritual meaning and workers who are pushed to the limits during the last week of the year.
Ah, the original meaning of Christmas... celebrating a fictional deity's son's birthday.
This sort of idiocy from (some) retail workers only pushes more people online and quickens the death of the high street. The idea that they're being so hard done by, having to work Boxing Day, rankles as well. Think of the chefs (some of which cooking dinner for some of the people signing this petition), the nurses, the emergency service workers, and the many other people who work Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
But what about the origins of Boxing Day? Its origins lie in the tradition of giving servants, who were obligated to work Christmas Day, the day off to visit their families - not for an extra day off for retail workers, for example.