Any stores open today?

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Dion

A friend of mine quit her job at 7-11 so she could spend Christmas mornng with her kids. Seems her boss wouldn't give her the time off. Maybe you don't see a problem but she sure as hell did. Her kids were more important than the all mighty buck capitalism strives for.

Fine, thats her choice. So was the choice to work for 7-11. What about all the people that are essential services like myself. How do you explain that my friend? We signed up knowing that working holidays and weekends were part of the job. Working at 7-11 where they are open 24 hrs a day 7 days a week 365 1/4 days per year......well......you might think that someone would have to work Christmas day?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Fine, thats her choice. So was the choice to work for 7-11. What about all the people that are essential services like myself. How do you explain that my friend? We signed up knowing that working holidays and weekends were part of the job. Working at 7-11 where they are open 24 hrs a day 7 days a week 365 1/4 days per year......well......you might think that someone would have to work Christmas day?

I can understand essential services, but there's no way you can convince me that convience stores need to be open today.

It wasn't a choice on her part. She doesn't live in Calgary where jobs are plenty. Now the family will suffer until she finds another one. And yeah she knew it was 24/7 - 356 days a year, she just thought she had a compassinate and understanding boss.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Dion

I can understand essential services, but there's no way you can convince me that convience stores need to be open today.

It wasn't a choice on her part. She doesn't live in Calgary where jobs are plenty. Now the family will suffer until she finds another one. And yeah she knew it was 24/7 - 356 days a year, she just thought she had a compassinate and understanding boss.

OK...ok. So she knew it was year round job. She signed up but didnt think the rules applied to her? It was her choice so dont give me it wasn't her choice. It was her choice to work there. No one put a gun to her head and said....you must work there. I am also assuming (which can get me into trouble) that since she is working at 7-11 she doesn't have a whole lot of education. Therefor it was her choice to not obtain advanced education AND have children. What did she expect? That the government would provide everything for her? If she was soooo desperate for a job and to make ends meet then she shouldn't have quit. What do you think is more important for her kids? Spending a morning with them OR being able to provide food, shelter and clothing?

This is typical NDP LIberal mantra. People join a group or job knowing what the responsibilities are but once they start working then the rules dont apply to them. Oh, I don't like working on holidays any more....you need to change that for me. Sorry my friend I but there is a thing called responsibility.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

OK...ok. So she knew it was year round job. She signed up but didnt think the rules applied to her? It was her choice so dont give me it wasn't her choice. It was her choice to work there. No one put a gun to her head and said....you must work there. I am also assuming (which can get me into trouble) that since she is working at 7-11 she doesn't have a whole lot of education. Therefor it was her choice to not obtain advanced education AND have children. What did she expect? That the government would provide everything for her? If she was soooo desperate for a job and to make ends meet then she shouldn't have quit. What do you think is more important for her kids? Spending a morning with them OR being able to provide food, shelter and clothing?

WDF?

Yeah you are in trouble. I'll be sure to pass on your assumptions and comments to her. I'm sure she'll wish you a Merry Christmas - not!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I celebrate Christmas, I work Christmas and I will probably (correction) I have already purchased several things today. Big woop.





It is called capitalism. And the employee that desperately needs the money will get the money. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with that picture. If you have to work Christmas morning, do your presents the night before or when you get back from work. It's not the end of the world.

Hooray! Leave it to Calgarypuck to feature the word (and discussion of) capatalism on Christmas day, lol.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Dion

I can understand essential services, but there's no way you can convince me that convience stores need to be open today.

It wasn't a choice on her part. She doesn't live in Calgary where jobs are plenty. Now the family will suffer until she finds another one. And yeah she knew it was 24/7 - 356 days a year, she just thought she had a compassinate and understanding boss.

I think the problem is that 7-11 adheres to their 'code' of being open 24/7 - 365 days a year.

Someones gotta work Christmas in order for that to happen.

[krazycanuck]

Some jobs require people to work on Christmas day. When you take that job at that business/organization/institution you should know if you may have to work Christmas Day. If you don't like working Christmas day, then by all means, Quit and find some other job that doesn't require it. But I'm not going to feel bad if it was your choice to work Christmas Day or quit and you decided it was more important to spend 8 hours with your family instead of provide for them.

My sister works in Health Care, I work in the Media...I'm working today, she worked today. We had our Christmas activities Yesterday instead, and I still had the morning to be with family and she still has the evening. I'm not going to cry over it. I knew that there was a possibility of me working Christmas Day...I suck it up, work the shift and enjoy the 2 1/2x OT.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Azure

I think the problem is that 7-11 adheres to their 'code' of being open 24/7 - 365 days a year.

Someones gotta work Christmas in order for that to happen.

Where I live that code has been broken on ocassion. Finding a sign on the door saying the store is closed for the evening due to a staff shortage and employee sickness.

For sure someone has to work.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by Dion

I can understand essential services, but there's no way you can convince me that convience stores need to be open today.

something has to be open...

[Flames_Gimp]

just another day to some people

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Dion

Where I live that code has been broken on ocassion. Finding a sign on the door saying the store is closed for the evening due to a staff shortage and employee sickness.

For sure someone has to work.

I think thats a different situation though.

I know what you're saying, but I'm sure there are people out there that 'need' the work to provide for their family.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Azure

I think thats a different situation though.

I know what you're saying, but I'm sure there are people out there that 'need' the work to provide for their family.

For sure. My arguement was that places like 7-11 don't need to be open on Christmas day. It's not a necessity like essential services are.

[krazycanuck]

Originally Posted by Dion

For sure. My arguement was that places like 7-11 don't need to be open on Christmas day. It's not a necessity like essential services are.

True, but stores also don't NEED to open up on Sunday, either. They used to all be closed. The fact is there is a market for something to be open on Christmas Day, the same as there is now a market for businesses to be open 7 days a week.

I wish that no one had to work Christmas Day, but lets face it...there is a hunger from the common consumer for stores to be open, television and radio stations to be broadcasting, computer systems to stay running, websites to be updated...etc. If all of a sudden everyone stayed inside on Christmas Day and didn't turn on a tv, or a computer...alot of people wouldn't have to work, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by Dion

For sure. My arguement was that places like 7-11 don't need to be open on Christmas day.

i disagree... police, ems, taxi drivers, bus drivers might want/need some food/coffees/crack whatever during their shifts.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

i disagree... police, ems, taxi drivers, bus drivers might want/need some food/coffees/crack whatever during their shifts.

Even regular people who didn't realize they're short on snacks OR... they need something for a party and they forgot/didn't get it...

[Flames_Gimp]

at we can still get hookers & blow.... hookers are always "open" for business

[krazycanuck]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

at we can still get hookers & blow.... hookers are always "open" for business

...and God bless Canada.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by krazycanuck

True, but stores also don't NEED to open up on Sunday, either. They used to all be closed. The fact is there is a market for something to be open on Christmas Day, the same as there is now a market for businesses to be open 7 days a week.

To me it's a sign of people not being able to organise their lives better.

Where we will disagree is on wether there is truely a market need for something to be open Christmas day. People could survive that day without a retail store being open - I know i can.

I wish that no one had to work Christmas Day, but lets face it...there is a hunger from the common consumer for stores to be open, television and radio stations to be broadcasting, computer systems to stay running, websites to be updated...etc. If all of a sudden everyone stayed inside on Christmas Day and didn't turn on a tv, or a computer...alot of people wouldn't have to work, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I agree that consumer hunger is growing. When I worked for Safeway there were whispers of them opening on Christmas day. Of course employees were none to happy when they heard that. Sadly I feel it will be coming in the not to distant future.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

i disagree... police, ems, taxi drivers, bus drivers might want/need some food/coffees/crack whatever during their shifts.

Pack a lunch and fill a thermous with coffee.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

It is called capitalism.

Yes, yes, let's allow capitalism to dictate everything people do and to justify every corporate decision that is good for companies and not for people.

Personally I'd be ecstatic if the government legislated that holidays are for essential services ONLY to work, and that everyone else has them off. Not everything has to be about what the market demands, or what is efficient, or even what people *think* they want to do with their time off - even 15 years ago there was practically nothing open on Xmas day in Calgary, including convenience stores, gas stations, drug stores, etc - and I don't remember feeling especially deprived because I couldn't get a slurpee.

I DO remember being happy that I didn't have to work my crappy (at the time) job for ONCE on a holiday so I could actually visit my family for more than a few snatched hours.

I guess the question is - do we want to live in a society like the USA, where everything is about creating a servile population to ensure the rich don't ever have to miss out on their morning latte; or more like Europe, where people still actually have the upper hand on the corporations? (Or even better, a society more efficient than mainstream Europe and more fair than the USA...)