Luckily I don't work in retail...

[Mr $quandaŁot]

Chancellor Osborne's plans to move responsibility of regulating Sunday trading to local councils and mayors looks like a good idea at first. In fact, many other decisions in the UK could be taken at local levels, including minimum wage and even taxes.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...new-plans.html

However, it's clear that Osborne's intention is to deregulate Sunday trading completely.

Many people say that as they are able to shop online at anytime, they should be able to do so in actual stores. This argument is weak in a sense that shopping online does not increase traffic and force people to work even longer hours on Sundays.

My main reason for opposing these plans is fear of ever-increasing traffic. Luckily, I live in a Jewish area where everything is closed on the Shabbat. At least this will remain whatever this lovely Government does. It's delightful to drive on empty roads at least once week, though less traffic on Sunday mornings and evening could soon become history.

Having less family time won't affect me personally, but I can see this being a great concern for many families. Don't be fooled by those that a total deregulation is not going to affect families. Of course it will!

Not long ago, someone posted on this forum about having to work for Asda on Good Friday. Soon they will be working on Easter Sunday, followed by Christmas Day. In theory, retail staff have a right to refuse to work on Sundays but does this actually work in practice?

For some time I've been thinking about packing my packs and not I would say that this is it!

[Kati]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

Sunday trading won't affect us either ... everything here is shut on a Wednesday

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

Personally, I've always found it annoying that everything should shut at 4pm on Sundays. Having said that, I also find it annoying that everything in the UK should shut at 5pm every day (supermarkets excepted), especially when it comes to holidays/day trips/sightseeing visits. When you go abroad all the shops are open late so you get a chance to look around after a day sightseeing, on the beach, walking, etc. It's nice to have a choice.

When I went to Bangkok I asked a tour guide whether the downtown mall would be open on Sunday, she gave me a funny look and said "of course", then I asked what time the shops would close on Sunday, she said "uhmm, eight, nine..."

Maybe I should pack my bags and move there... now that's an idea... :bounce::bounce::bounce:

[wales01man]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

I don't see a problem having been self employed allmy working life I used to work seven days when I had to if someone in retail works 5 days a week surely sat and sunday wont be a problem they get other days off

[Mr $quandaŁot]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

I don't see a problem having been self employed allmy working life I used to work seven days when I had to if someone in retail works 5 days a week surely sat and sunday wont be a problem they get other days off

I have worked many weekends myself, including silly times like 4am on a Sunday morning.

I can see this being a problem for those with young children etc. Of course, emergency services operate 24/7 as do many others, like some departments in investment banks.

My main objection is due to traffic and it will be a shame to lose Sunday as a special day. Why can't we have one day a week to take it easier?

To say that 24/7 shopping will boost economy is total crap. People have certain amount of money they can spend, longer opening hours won't change that.

When it comes to tourism and visitors, many European countries have far more restrictions for Sundays and other public holidays. Shops do not open on Sundays in most parts of Germany or Switzerland, all you get are the ones at stations and bakeries. This issue isn't even discussed there. Somehow those countries are doing quite nice economically. Just explain that, Mr Osborne!

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

I have worked many weekends myself, including silly times like 4am on a Sunday morning.

I can see this being a problem for those with young children etc. Of course, emergency services operate 24/7 as do many others, like some departments in investment banks.

Why? You'd have more time to go shopping with the kids. If you work every day of the week, there's not that much time left for family shopping at the end of the week.

My main objection is due to traffic and it will be a shame to lose Sunday as a special day. Why can't we have one day a week to take it easier?

Sunday trading has been around for more than 20 years, they are just thinking of allowing shops to open a little longer. I am old enough to remember all the arguments surrounding Sunday shopping in the 90s, including the one about the "spiritual health of the nation". We are all free to do what we want and we don't all have to go shopping on Sunday. If people want to 'take it easier' they are free to stay in bed all day. If you are religious you can go to church instead. Some will no doubt, prefer a boozy Sunday lunch. It's good to have a choice.

To say that 24/7 shopping will boost economy is total crap. People have certain amount of money they can spend, longer opening hours won't change that.

I read that about America over 20 years ago. People don't necessarily spend more, just spread their shopping and change their habits. In the end, it's all a question of making it pay for the businesses to stay open, if it's not worthwhile to stay open late, they wont do it.

Out of interest, did you oppose the relaxation of licensing hours for pubs 10 years ago? I would have thought that would have more of an impact, especially since many pubs are located in residential areas and you'd have drunken people making noise and causing disturbance much later than before when they were all supposed to close at 11.

When it comes to tourism and visitors, many European countries have far more restrictions for Sundays and other public holidays. Shops do not open on Sundays in most parts of Germany or Switzerland, all you get are the ones at stations and bakeries. This issue isn't even discussed there. Somehow those countries are doing quite nice economically. Just explain that, Mr Osborne!

I used to go to Switzerland a lot, mostly in the winter, to the lovely mountain resorts. Everything was open on Sunday, and even on Christmas Day! :3560_7606: They probably didn't open in the cities but they certainly made the mo$t of the touri$m in high $ea$on. It could never be said that the Swi$$ don't understand bu$ine$$!

[Mr $quandaŁot]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

That's why I said "in most parts".

[Mr $quandaŁot]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

I was in favour for relaxing the pub opening hours.

Having said that, not much has changed where I live. Prior to the legislation, many pubs already had a licence to open later on Fridays and Saturdays as they do now.

Surprisingly many still close at eleven on weekdays and half ten on Sundays.

Councils have powers regarding pub opening, hence in principle devolving Sunday trading hours for them to decide is not all bad.

Perhaps Barnet Council could ban trading on the Shabbath and all Jewi$h religiou$ holiday$ instead!

[jon1965]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

Personally I prefer what I have seen when on the continent , shops open later and shut later 7 days a week but close for and hour or two in the afternoon. Of course what would be needed is protection for the workforce but with a chancellor that makes Maggie look like a liberal wet there is no hope of that

[MIKE770]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

No law for one & no law for another - no wonder this country is in a mess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

I was in favour for relaxing the pub opening hours.

Having said that, not much has changed where I live. Prior to the legislation, many pubs already had a licence to open later on Fridays and Saturdays as they do now.

Surprisingly many still close at eleven on weekdays and half ten on Sundays.

A one size fits all policy doesn't work well. I was silly for pubs to close at 11pm in, say, Central London, where people just moved on to the clubs instead, however, they shouldn't stay open late in residential neighbourhoods. I believe in personal freedom and I'm not in favour of the Nanny State, it's not for the government to make sure people don't drink too much, however, legislation should be in place to prevent noise and disturbance.

Councils have powers regarding pub opening, hence in principle devolving Sunday trading hours for them to decide is not all bad.

Perhaps Barnet Council could ban trading on the Shabbath and all Jewi$h religiou$ holiday$ instead!

That would be direct discrimination against non-Jews under the Equality Act 2010.

Personally I prefer what I have seen when on the continent , shops open later and shut later 7 days a week but close for and hour or two in the afternoon. Of course what would be needed is protection for the workforce but with a chancellor that makes Maggie look like a liberal wet there is no hope of that

In Spain it can be three or four hours, between 1pm and 5pm. Not that bad in the summer if you are on the beach at that time but they keep much the same hours in the winter and it's not that great to have to wait until late to go to the shops when it's already dark and temperature close to freezing (yes, it does get cold in Spain but they don't want you to know that! ). Also, would you really like to work those weird hours if you were in retail?

[jon1965]

Re: Luckily I don't work in retail...

No I wouldn't like to work those odd hours but the whole lifestyle is different