Quote:
Originally Posted by lrt's friend
Do you really want holidays to be like every other day?
You know, there is really no choice anymore. With razor thin margins, if your competitor opens, you have to as well.
Why don't we cancel all holidays if that is the preference of corporations? They do interfere with business.
Maybe we should start working 7 days a week if that is the wish of our employers. After all, isn't that free enterprise too?
Or do away with the minimum wage. In a way, we are already doing that, with unpaid internships. In our office, someone is doing a job and is not paid for it. A disturbing trend of unpaid work.
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If you're not Christian, Easter is like any other day, as are most religious holidays. Labour Day? Victoria Day? Boxing Day? Usually they're like a regular day, except you can't get your shopping chores done because nothing is open (except Boxing Day).
I work at the Civic, and as an essential service we're open all the time. And people
want to work holidays because it's time-and-a-half. So much so that the more seniority you have the more likely you are to get to work holidays. Holidays are just like any other day. But if you're not someone who does shift work, I guess you wouldn't understand that perspective.
It's ridiculous how enraged people are that Whole Foods or any other business would stay open. People have a day off to go shopping or to restaurants if they want. And the people serving them get compensated by being paid 50% more that day, which for those who haven't done shift-work or tried to make ends meet on barely more than minimum wage is great!
If you're so concerned about corporations trying to make as much of a profit as they can, then I believe your anger is misplaced. People choose to work holidays because they can't afford to get by. The cost of living is too much for most people to handle, and wages aren't keeping up. People can't afford groceries, rent, transportation, clothes, etc. But whose fault is that? Corporations? Nope! It's just a consequence of our capitalist system that affects just about everything that we do. And if you're so concerned about big corporations taking advantage of holidays, I hope you're opposed to Boxing Day. That's really just a holiday for greed as people go to stores to spend tonnes of money on discounted items. Same can be said for Christmas (unless you're into Midnight Mass and never exchange gifts) or Valentine's Day.
Also, your suggestion about working 7 days a week? Japan does, as do other countries. Lots of people used to do that in the past as well. In fact, many people still do that in Canada. I used to pick up shifts and worked 14 days in a row. But now the maximum I'm allowed to do is 6. Even still, I have to work most days of the week that the typical weekend is rather meaningless - though I enjoy working weekends. Saturday and Sunday as days-off is rather arbitrary (and perhaps a reflection of Christian society having at least Sunday to "rest").
Honestly, if a business wants to stay open, let them. Their employees get compensated for it, and those who aren't earning much to begin with are happy to be given those shifts. They may also be providing a service that others can appreciate. Whether it's Museums (people have to work to keep those open), movie theatres, bars and restaurants, hotels, etc. people still have to work to keep things available for those fortunate enough to get those holidays off (office works and administrative staff). Personally, working holidays and weekends are usually more enjoyable to work anyway.
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