R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Reading on BBC News and other sites that Osborne plans to have Sunday trading laws relaxed during the Olympics to help boost the economy.

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

_________________________

I agree with the relaxation to a point....as long as sunday working is optional for those who it affects (mainly in retail). Some people can't/won't work a Sunday due to personal beliefs, and whilst I am no fan of religion there should continue to be an opt out, in fact I feel it should apply to everyone the option of an opt out.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

I could see this continuing after the Olympics, but maybe the hours might be 9am - 5 or 6pm? Supermarkets and other retailers having to pay shop workers double time which could put pressure of them, plus is the demand there after 6pm on a Sunday?

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Sunday is now the second busiest day of the week for the retail trade, all crammed in to six hours and, since public transport hasn't caught up, everyone uses their car and the traffic anywhere near a shopping centre or supermarket is horrendous.

I suppose that in what they like to call a free, secular society there should be no objection to full seven-day trading. But, having been brought up in the 50s/60s, I was used to and quite liked the quiet, reflective and relaxing Sundays we used to have, with or without family (and irrespective of any religious convictions, of which I have none that are that strong).

The danger of making Sunday just like any other in the week, from a family point of view, doesn't have to be spelled out, and from an employer/employee/union point of view, one can envisage the premium which may currently be paid (reluctantly) for Sunday working will soon evaporate.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I presume that members of certain faiths are allowed to opt out from working on Fridays and Saturdays so in order for the Christian religion not to be marginalised even further in this country I think the same rights would have to be afforded to Sunday workers

Having said that my neighbour works for Tesco five days per week but is currently working every Sunday from 8am to 6pm which I didn't think was allowed but as he tells me he does it simply because he needs the extra money

I suppose thats what they call the market economy in operation Sad

_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Yes you might be right Helen - I was thinking that there might be agreements with the shopworkers unions over Sunday hours but I suppose those would apply only to union members and many workers won't be bound by them

I know there was a lot of overtime worked last Sunday because of Mother's Day but as far as the Olympics is concerned for people outside London I think it will be a complete non event and I can't see stores wanting to open extra hours unless they're trying to provide a retail alternative from what will no doubt be wall to wall Olympics Rolling Eyes

_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?