Sunday Trading Laws... Beginning of the End?

[Talksteer]

I for one hate the shops not being open for reasons related to somebody's imaginary friend. However it appears the Olympics will be used as a trial to suspend these laws.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17419351

Does anyone actually think this won't result in the Sunday trading laws being scrapped?

[sooperscoop]

Nah, too many self-righteous tools around who think they know what's best for everyone "I think there should be a day of rest, therefore everyone has to have one, it's for your own good!". God forbid we should have freedom to do what we want instead of being sat at home listening to Radio 4 or pruning our roses, or whatever these mongtards want us to do.

[B Huey]

The current rules are stupid, I'm all for Sunday being treated as just another day of the week.

It's not that long ago when nothing opened, Pubs where only open 12-2 then from 7-10.

What did people used to do on Sundays?

[0000]

You're not likely to catch me making much use of it, but on the off chance that I do want to do a run to the shops on a sunday evening I see no reason why I shouldn't be able to if the shop wants to open.

Hopefully the 'trial' goes well.

[Use Psychology]

where i live now, nothing is open on Sundays.

I sort of like the quiet feeling of the day but I do find it very annoying not being able just to pop to the shops if i need or want to.

[ExChrispy Porker]

Ant system where you can call an ambulance but cannot buy a first aid kit in a shop is ridiculous.
Even more so when this anomaly is down to some bearded bloke in the clouds.

[MentalSarcasm]

I'm a bit torn on this, and I'm well aware that I'm probably going to be slaughtered by the PH masses. On the one hand it would be useful to know that the shops are open "properly" on a Sunday and that you can wander down there at any time. On the other hand it's going to be hard on the staff in the supermarkets, there's already pressure on staff to work Sundays over and above their contracts and frankly, there are plenty of times when overtime pay doesn't make up for the fact that you're working when everyone else is enjoying the weekend (epsecially if you've already had to work Saturday when friends and family don't work weekends). For those staff members that are parents it's difficult enough to get a Saturday off to spend time with children, to be pressured into working Sundays as well will be even worse. Nor can you staff an entire shop with Sunday-only staff, you will need people there that work during the week so that any changes that have been made during the week are known about on the weekend.

I know there are plenty of PHers who will say "they can get other jobs", but with the economy the way it is there AREN'T that many jobs out there, not everyone can work in an office and if you fill the gaps in supermarkets with people that don't want to be there then don't be surprised when customer service suffers.

I've visited various European countries where shops are completely shut on Sundays, or are only open Sunday mornings, and it doesn't seem to cause any problems over there. It only takes a little bit of forward thinking to make sure you have what you need on a Sunday before the shops close. As a society we demand so much and we demand it instantly, is it really so bad to have things slow down one day a week?

[0000]

They should be pleased for the extra hours if they need the work they way the economy is then?

[XDA]

I guess those saying that Sunday should be treated like any other day of the week, probably have a comfy 9-5 Monday to Friday job?

I like the reduced hours on a Sunday. Surely we can all manage to survive for a day while some shops are closed?

I don't fancy working even more extra hours on a Sunday, even if it is for double time. Some of us actually want a break from work...

[collateral]

I'm in favour of chucking out the regs. The shops are already open on Sunday anyhow, it'd just make for less anarchy at 15:55. "24 hour" except Sunday afternoon is insane.

I'm still waiting for 24 hour drinking to destroy the country

[Mr_B]

I quite like the fact the most shops are closed on a Sunday. Sundays have a slower pace , which I like.

[Mojooo]

ExChrispy Porker said:

Ant system where you can call an ambulance but cannot buy a first aid kit in a shop is ridiculous.
Even more so when this anomaly is down to some bearded bloke in the clouds.

I imagine a lot of support for Sunday trading laws will also come from people who know their work ocntracts will eventually be changed to make them work Sundays and people (like me) who like slower paced Sundays.

Maybe it is a bit self righteous of me to say/think that shops should be closed on Sundays so people can do other things - but there you have it. I suppose my sympathy really is with the workers (of which I have been one, for a Supermarket) who are most likely to be affected.

[0000]

XDA said:

I guess those saying that Sunday should be treated like any other day of the week, probably have a comfy 9-5 Monday to Friday job?

I generally work 7 days a week, albeit that it's much easier to duck out for a bit late on a sunday than other times. Not that it's much help when the shops are closed.

[F i F]

To my mind, people who are saying that people need a rest and therefore shouldn't be expected to work Sunday as well are in a bit of a 9-5 Mon-Fri mindset.

If you have a 7 day operation then you man up, as in the organisation mans up not the staff having to man up , and then you sort out a shift / working week rota to keep a balance of all the required skills on duty. Coupled with workers having some job flexibility across skill sets, then it isn't too hard.

Agree that it gets difficult for single parents with kids of school age who are below the age where they can be left alone for some hours.

Example Mrs F i F covers a 7 day operation, open 16 hours a day, 6 on Sundays, she works two Saturdays a month and one Sunday, so two weekends in four therefore are completely free unless she agrees to provide cover, at double time.

She has also had to take her turn and work Christmas Day, Boxing Day etc. I think once in about 7 years or so.

Implemented properly and fairly this is no big deal, the problem may come that for these eight weeks employers will just have a big push to get staff to work many many extra hours, without having thought it through properly, so it might not be a fair test.

It might be more of a burden on smaller enterprises compared to big operations, but many of the small outfits can open anyway, no?

[MentalSarcasm]

F i F said:

To my mind, people who are saying that people need a rest and therefore shouldn't be expected to work Sunday as well are in a bit of a 9-5 Mon-Fri mindset.

I used to work for a supermarket and in customer service for the National Trust, I have been in my "Mon-Fri" job for less than a year and can safely say that when I worked on a rota I HATED working weekends, and I worked every weekend. Friends and family all worked Monday to Friday so having weekdays off meant that I couldn't spend time with them, and then when events were arranged for the weekend I constantly had to decline because I was constantly working.

If you're on 35k a year then it might be easier to stomach, but when you're earning 5.50 an hour it wears thin quite quickly, even with overtime pay.

[matchmaker]

Up here in Scotland shops have been able to open on Sunday for many years. This does not seem to cause any problems. It's handy for me and SWMBO as we both work Monday to Saturday.

[B Huey]

XDA said:

I guess those saying that Sunday should be treated like any other day of the week, probably have a comfy 9-5 Monday to Friday job?

I like the reduced hours on a Sunday. Surely we can all manage to survive for a day while some shops are closed?

I don't fancy working even more extra hours on a Sunday, even if it is for double time. Some of us actually want a break from work...

Surely if you work the weekend you get days off in the week.

[ExChrispy Porker]

I worked a 7 day a week rota 365 days a year for 25 years or so.
I used to enjoy having days off during the week.
I really can't see what all the fuss is about.

[Hooli]

matchmaker said:

Up here in Scotland shops have been able to open on Sunday for many years. This does not seem to cause any problems. It's handy for me and SWMBO as we both work Monday to Saturday.

Its one of the things that makes scotland good

[Funk]

Yep, Sunday trading rules are archaic and pointless. If there isn't enough trade to warrant opening 'full-time' on Sundays for a business, they don't have to. Life should be about freedom of choice. Why can't I do my weekly shop on a Sunday evening just because religionists say so?