[Redway]

What are everyone’s opinions about non-essential services (aka non-emergency/healthcare) services opening on Christmas Day (restaurants, individual shops)? Should everyone be forced to have a day off or should business carry on for profit?

[Greg!]

It's vile! I could never go out on Christmas day, feel too bad for the staff!

[reece(:]

I would work Xmas day for extra pay

[Ashley.]

They wouldn't be getting much profit if they stayed open, and certainly not enough to pay their staff twice/triple the amount for giving up potential time with their families. Christmas Day is probably the quietest day of the year for non-essential services so no, seems like a bad idea all round.

[Mokka]

The facts are not everyone celebrates Christmas. If you want everything to shut down for a Christian/Western Secular holiday... then you should also shut down for all the other religions major holidays. Where I work... more than half the staff don't celebrate or even understand the traditions surrounding the day. I had to explain stockings to several people this year. It doesnt make sense in modern society to shut everything down.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Mokka

The facts are not everyone celebrates Christmas. If you want everything to shut down for a Christian/Western Secular holiday... then you should also shut down for all the other religions major holidays. Where I work... more than half the staff don't celebrate or even understand the traditions surrounding the day. I had to explain stockings to several people this year. It doesnt make sense in modern society to shut everything down.

Aside from all that retail workers deserve a day off too. It’s all about common humanity this time of year.

[michael21]

Originally Posted by Redway

Aside from all that retail workers deserve a day off too. It’s all about common humanity this time of year.

What are you on about most shop are shut Xmas day and the one that are open will be run by management or owners

[Redway]

Originally Posted by michael21

What are you on about most shop are shut Xmas day and the one that are open will be run by management or owners

Most but not all. And shops aren’t the only non-essential services open on Christmas. At least read the OP.

[michael21]

Originally Posted by Redway

Most but not all. And shops aren’t the only non-essential services open on Christmas. At least read the OP.

You said shop in your op

What your point People work on Xmas day to make money get over it and have fun

[Mokka]

Originally Posted by Redway

Aside from all that retail workers deserve a day off too. It’s all about common humanity this time of year.

I don't know how it works in your country... but here in Canada if you don't get Xmas day off... you will still get a paid day off within that week... or you will get compensated with double time and a paid day off... which many people who don't celebrate Xmas appreciate... extra money for working a day they would have worked anyways on a holiday they aren't invested in.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Mokka

I don't know how it works in your country... but here in Canada if you don't get Xmas day off... you will still get a paid day off within that week... or you will get compensated with double time and a paid day off... which many people who don't celebrate Xmas appreciate... extra money for working a day they would have worked anyways on a holiday they aren't invested in.

Do you honestly think most people who work Christmas Day want to?

[Mokka]

Originally Posted by Redway

Do you honestly think most people who work Christmas Day want to?

I think the world isn't as you perceive it anymore... and far less people celebrate xmas than you are implying... and many of those people like a restaurant or a shop on just another day to them.
I generally ask which employees celebrate Xmas and give them that day off in the schedule... and I would say 70% of my staff volunteer for xmas day.

[Oliver_W]

I always try to avoid the shops on Eve and Boxing Day, it's just not fair on the poor kids who have to work there.

Originally Posted by Mokka

. I had to explain stockings to several people this year.

Do you work in a mosque or something? Or maybe an outreach program for neglected children?

[Mokka]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

I always try to avoid the shops on Eve and Boxing Day, it's just not fair on the poor kids who have to work there.



Do you work in a mosque or something? Or maybe an outreach program for neglected children?

Nope

[michael21]

Originally Posted by Redway

What are everyone’s opinions about non-essential services (emergency/healthcare) services opening on Christmas Day (restaurants, individual shops)? Should everyone be forced to have a day off or should business carry on for profit?

Are you saying (emergency/healthcare) are non-essential

[Redway]

Originally Posted by michael21

Are you saying (emergency/healthcare) are non-essential

It’s just funny how much effort you put into trolling.

[Scarlett.]

I've worked the past 9 Christmases, I don't mind too much, would love to have it off one year though

[Cal.]

They get paid double/triple time so I don’t see the issue working that day! I’m working Xmas day this year and I’m not too fussed!

[Amy Jade]

I am working Christmas day and get paid double and only work between 7 and 12 in the morning. I am a home care assistant so it's part of my job.

My friend works in co-op and it's one thats co-op named but ran by somebody else and they are open christmas day and their manager offered them double time and an extra day paid holiday. Nobody wanted it and so the owner is running it, which in my view is how it should work, i.e. optional.

[smudgie]

You can’t shut everything down for a day.
Most places that can shut will.
Large supermarkets etc.
A lot of shift workers etc used to work it between them, if you had kids you would swap with the younger ones, have Xmas day off and maybe do the night shift, then on New Year’s Eve let the younger ones without kids off to celebrate.

[Underscore]

Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Let people who don't celebrate work Xmas then take other holidays such as Eid off

[armand.kay]

I really don't mind doing a shift on xmas morning because I like the extra pay. so don't stop my bag with your sympathy

[parmnion]

Do we all believe in God now?

[Redway]

Originally Posted by parmnion

Do we all believe in God now?

Atheists and agnostics can enjoy a day off just as much as anyone else.

[Twosugars]

In these secular times, Christmas has been wisely rebranded as a family festival, getting together etc.
I don't believe getting rid of Christmas, its symbology or days off is a good idea. Though the West is largely secular now, Christianity is part of our tradition.
Denying our traditions to accomodate others is not the way to do it. Instead we should make room for their traditions where applicable. So for example employment law that allows them take time off for their religious holidays and allowing them space to celebrate in public arena.
Golders Green in London is a good example. Home to a large Jewish community, it has a large menora (Hannukah candelabra) next to a large Christmas tree in December.
In the past some miguided local councils tried to secularize Christmas and it didn't go down well. Such ideas only lead to resentment of immigrants and their traditions and fuels extreme right.
Live (Christmas) and let live (other religious festivals).