• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Target employees upset about working on Thanksgiving…

So - we stayed up 'til 1:00am . . . I woke up at 9:00. I was so nice to stay up and sleep in. Some of the kids are still asleep. There's so much food I don't have to cook for days.

I'll have to leave the house to buy cat-litter which sucks - gas station's getting the money on that. . . and then I'll come home and do a bunch of gaming.

All those insane shoppers can have Black Friday
 
Who in their right mind goes shopping at midnight? Was there really public demand for this apparent trend? It seems to me that the whole "Black Friday" thing is stirred up by retailers to drag even more money out of the ignorant.
 
HonestJoe said:
Who in their right mind goes shopping at midnight? Was there really public demand for this apparent trend? It seems to me that the whole "Black Friday" thing is stirred up by retailers to drag even more money out of the ignorant.
Click to expand...

I've always thought it stupid - but this year it's worse. There are actually commercials ABOUT shopping on Black Friday. Yeah - absolutely stirred by retailers and a lot of people are willing to go along.

More women than men, though - as I've noticed all such commercials are geared towards women.

When did women become the shopping fiends like this. At least if they're shopping on BF they're not spending as much money - but to me that's just not worth it.
 
1Perry said:
I work nights 7 days a month. It's not going to kill you. I've had jobs in the past where you were expected to come in and work all night doing inventory. (for minimum wage).

Most retail employee's do or should know that you are going to have to work extra hours during the holiday season.
Click to expand...

In some orgs, the only guaranteed days off are T-Day and Christmas. It's not right to expect employees to give up these days. I'd think that those who are single and have no nearby family would want to seize the opportunity to be paid at least time-and-a-half and work while others with family enjoyed that family day.

Maybe it's time for us to do that carpe diem thing for just a lousy 24 hours. I mean, "Black Thursday" it is now? Really? As individuals we can't stop spending money for 24 hours? Big-box orgs can't turn down the profit, I suppose, but we can choose not to pitch a tent outside Best Buy. ;)
 
Bob Blaylock said:
On those occasions when they make me work on holidays, I get 2½ times my normal rate of pay.
Click to expand...
All the union jobs I've ever been around this is standard compensation for all paid holidays.

(in reality you're only getting 1 1/2 time extra pay because you're getting a regular day's pay anyway, whether you work or not)
 
BWG said:
All the union jobs I've ever been around this is standard compensation for all paid holidays.

(in reality you're only getting 1 1/2 time extra pay because you're getting a regular day's pay anyway, whether you work or not)
Click to expand...

For retail:with the incentive to work to earn a paycheck as your only option it makes sense as to why they wouldn't want their workers to Unionize.
 
nota bene said:
In some orgs, the only guaranteed days off are T-Day and Christmas. It's not right to expect employees to give up these days. I'd think that those who are single and have no nearby family would want to seize the opportunity to be paid at least time-and-a-half and work while others with family enjoyed that family day.
Click to expand...

I had to work Thanksgiving last year because demand called for it. That's the way things work. I'm reminded why companies take their jobs overseas in times like this. We remained partially running this year also. I happened to have enough seniority where I didn't have to. While I wouldn't have liked it, I would have worked if need be.

Maybe it's time for us to do that carpe diem thing for just a lousy 24 hours. I mean, "Black Thursday" it is now? Really? As individuals we can't stop spending money for 24 hours? Big-box orgs can't turn down the profit, I suppose, but we can choose not to pitch a tent outside Best Buy. ;)
Click to expand...

Seems that there are many who enjoy it. :shrug:
 
1Perry said:
I had to work Thanksgiving last year because demand called for it. That's the way things work. I'm reminded why companies take their jobs overseas in times like this. We remained partially running this year also. I happened to have enough seniority where I didn't have to. While I wouldn't have liked it, I would have worked if need be.
Click to expand...

I would've too. That's called "professionalism."

But I'm not talking about slackers or justifications for outsourcing. I was actually thinking about the person I love most in the world and her professionalism and her need for two guaranteed days off a year. She frequently works for 14-16 days without a day off. She deserved to make a short trip out of town to spend time with family. And even then she was on call and did end up stopping by one of the stores on her way back into town. So not even a full 24 hours.

1Perry said:
Seems that there are many who enjoy it. :shrug:
Click to expand...

That's true. I feel sorry for some of them. It's not all about getting and spending.
 
nota bene said:
I would've too. That's called "professionalism."

But I'm not talking about slackers or justifications for outsourcing. I was actually thinking about the person I love most in the world and her professionalism and her need for two guaranteed days off a year. She frequently works for 14-16 days without a day off. She deserved to make a short trip out of town to spend time with family. And even then she was on call and did end up stopping by one of the stores on her way back into town. So not even a full 24 hours.
Click to expand...

We can't make policies over the example of one person. I get to work New Years eve night just as I did last year. I'd rather not but.......

That's true. I feel sorry for some of them. It's not all about getting and spending.
Click to expand...

Who am I to feel sorry for those doing something they enjoy?

With so many unemployed I simply do not understand the complaints.
 
MaggieD said:
You'd actually think Target, and all the rest of them, could incentivize their employees with double or triple time...or offer the ones who work a bonus of X% of total sales for the store during their "strange hours." I'd think employees would be standing in line.
Click to expand...

No doubt they get a bonus for working a holiday--probably double time--bit in this ecnomy, you would think that they would be happy to just be working.

They can always quit; go find another job.
 
nota bene said:
I mean, "Black Thursday" it is now? Really? As individuals we can't stop spending money for 24 hours? Big-box orgs can't turn down the profit, I suppose, but we can choose not to pitch a tent outside Best Buy. ;)
Click to expand...

That's what I think we are headed towards. It was unimaginable only a couple years ago, but it certainly looks more probable now.

How far are we from this:

Ebenezer: I suppose you'll be wanting the whole day tomorrow.
Bob Cratchit: If quite convenient, sir.
Ebenezer: Every Christmas you say the same thing. And every Christmas it's just as inconvenient as the Christmas before. Good night.

Bring on a return to the Dickensian era.
 
1Perry said:
We can't make policies over the example of one person. I get to work New Years eve night just as I did last year. I'd rather not but.......



Who am I to feel sorry for those doing something they enjoy?

With so many unemployed I simply do not understand the complaints.
Click to expand...

I specified "some" and meant those who have nothing else.

And even those who are employed have the right to expect two guaranteed days off a year. I am very grateful to have a job too, but I also expect to have human rights too. Do you disagree that two guaranteed days off a year is reasonable?
 
Gina said:
That's what I think we are headed towards. It was unimaginable only a couple years ago, but it certainly looks more probable now.

How far are we from this:

Ebenezer: I suppose you'll be wanting the whole day tomorrow.
Bob Cratchit: If quite convenient, sir.
Ebenezer: Every Christmas you say the same thing. And every Christmas it's just as inconvenient as the Christmas before. Good night.

Bring on a return to the Dickensian era.
Click to expand...

Well, there won't be a return to child labor, anyway. At least I hope not!

But wait--maybe for those who don't wish to learn in the formal educational sense, a return to apprenticeships such as a young Ben Franklin edured would be a good thing.

Just kidding. Mainly.
 
nota bene said:
I specified "some" and meant those who have nothing else.

And even those who are employed have the right to expect two guaranteed days off a year. I am very grateful to have a job too, but I also expect to have human rights too. Do you disagree that two guaranteed days off a year is reasonable?
Click to expand...

There is no "right". I've worked Christmas Day before. I had no "right" to have it off.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
My family is more important to me than being forced to work blitz hours at a store - quadrouple time wouldn't be enough to sucker me in.

Others don't mind and that's fine - but people shouldn't have to ruin one of their few real holidays just because they have to earn a paycheck. businesses should respect that and not stomp on everyone's toes.

It annoys me slightly that they value customers more than employees . . . even though the slogan is 'the customer is always right' it's just not always true and this is one of those situations where people - if they want to face blitz hours of shopping - should have to do so anyway. If it's inconvenient - then WHY do they do it?
Click to expand...

And now for a reality check. Remember the 9% unemployment rate in the USA? Customers keep Target in business. It's an employers market and anyone who doesn't want to work can be replaced immediately if not sooner. I've worked many times in my life when I didn't want to, but I chose to keep my job instead of creating a bad situation for myself.
 
nota bene said:
Well, there won't be a return to child labor, anyway. At least I hope not!

But wait--maybe for those who don't wish to learn in the formal educational sense, a return to apprenticeships such as a young Ben Franklin edured would be a good thing.

Just kidding. Mainly.
Click to expand...

Don't be so sure about child labor. I think there was some mention of it in Maine, adjusting them so kids could work longer.
 
MaggieD said:
You'd actually think Target, and all the rest of them, could incentivize their employees with double or triple time...or offer the ones who work a bonus of X% of total sales for the store during their "strange hours." I'd think employees would be standing in line.
Click to expand...
that would be ok....call me old fashioned, but i believe all but the most essential of services should be shut down on easter, thanksgiving, christmas, and new years day....but, if you insist on staying open , incentives would probably draw enough interest to cover your workforce needs.
 
jamesrage said:
Yeah all those poor doctors, policemen,firefighters, Airport workers and anyone else whose job doesn't stop because its the holidays shouldn't have one of their few real holidays ruined just because they want to earn a paycheck. The nerve of us tax payers, airport owners and businesses not respecting that and stomping on their toes.
Click to expand...

That is why unions came about, to collectively bargain for what was fair and proper in the circumstance. For those ignorant enough to believe that unions have outlived their usefulness, well Target is your rebuttal. There are plenty of people willing to cheerfully work on Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc., if the pay if they are compensated appropriately rather than the "do this or you lose your job" mentality that was characteristic of the pre-union late industrialization of America and seems to be returning today.
 
Last edited:
upsideguy said:
That is why unions came about, to collectively bargain for what was fair and proper in the circumstance. For those ignorant enough to believe that unions have outlived their usefulness, well Target is your rebuttal. There are plenty of people willing to cheerfully work on Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc., if the pay if they are compensated appropriately rather than the "do this or you lose your job" mentality that was characteristic of the pre-union late industrialization of America and seems to be returning today.
Click to expand...

The labor market is alot different now, than it was in the pre-union days. In the pre-union days, the company store system was still in place. That's no longer the case.
 
apdst said:
The labor market is alot different now, than it was in the pre-union days. In the pre-union days, the company store system was still in place. That's no longer the case.
Click to expand...

Greed has always been the motivation behind corporations. That was true in 1870, 1880, 1890 and every marker since that time. Nothing except the styles and verbage has changed in that respect.
 
haymarket said:
Greed has always been the motivation behind corporations. That was true in 1870, 1880, 1890 and every marker since that time. Nothing except the styles and verbage has changed in that respect.
Click to expand...

Anyone who starts a successful business in the United States of America is greedy. Got it.
 
MaggieD said:
It's not expected that suddenly a number of stores will decide to open on Midnight, Thanksgiving Day, for heaven's sake...working their employees all through the night. Have a little compassion, for God's sake. I owned my own business. It didn't take too long for me to figure out that when my employees were happy (and that might include their feeling they were just a bit overpaid), my profits went up.

Cheapskate. ;)
Click to expand...

Many stores last year opened at midnight for Black Friday and many of the big box stores are open 24 hours a day all year round.
 
upsideguy said:
That is why unions came about, to collectively bargain for what was fair and proper in the circumstance. For those ignorant enough to believe that unions have outlived their usefulness, well Target is your rebuttal. There are plenty of people willing to cheerfully work on Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc., if the pay if they are compensated appropriately rather than the "do this or you lose your job" mentality that was characteristic of the pre-union late industrialization of America and seems to be returning today.
Click to expand...

Unions were formed due to unsafe working conditions and workings being paid pennies a day for long hours.Not because of black Friday sales.
 
jamesrage said:
Unions were formed due to unsafe working conditions and workings being paid pennies a day for long hours.Not because of black Friday sales.
Click to expand...

Yesterday's pennies per day are today's minimum wage for graveyard shifts on holidays. The nature of capitalism is to exploit. Unions are a free-market, collective defense against the exploitation of labor. Given that all economic gains of the past 30 years have been going to the investor class, it is fair to say that exploitation of labor is alive and well in 2011.
 

Attachments

  • Uneven Income Growth.jpg
    Uneven Income Growth.jpg
    35.9 KB · Views: 49
jamesrage said:
Yeah all those poor doctors, policemen,firefighters, Airport workers and anyone else whose job doesn't stop because its the holidays shouldn't have one of their few real holidays ruined just because they want to earn a paycheck. The nerve of us tax payers, airport owners and businesses not respecting that and stomping on their toes.
Click to expand...

When working at the airport I got paid double when working on a holiday. I got paid 8 hours of holiday pay and 8 hours of normal work pay which equated to 16 hours of normal pay for 8 hours of work
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom