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Tuesday
20Nov2007

Retailers Screw Over Employees on Black Friday

Black_Friday_Madness.jpgAn open letter to stores that feel they have to push the envelope this shopping season, specifically on Black Friday:

Dear Kohls/JC Penney,

Congratulations!  You're one-upped your retail counterparts by opening a whole 60 minutes earlier.

As if your employees weren't thankful enough for the crappy pay, lousy uniforms and non-stop Christmas music - now they have the pleasure of reporting for duty at 3am.

I'm sure they'll have plenty of nice things to say about you over Thanksgiving dinner.

Retail giants won't be happy until the PR nightmare hits.  The headline will read something like this:

Family of 3 Killed When Soccer Mom Careens Off Road Rushing to Save 10% on an Irregular Pair of Levi Jeans

Have you guys ever even been out at 4am?  It's dark and lonely.  A time reserved exclusively for silence and 9-1-1 calls.

I get it.  We're a capitalist nation and our economy relies on hardcore holiday shopping.  Or at least that's what the media tells us.  It's up to the folks making $48k a year and $9 an hour to shop 'til they drop.

Maybe this year I'll eat straight through until 4am.  With a tummy full of turkey giblets and cranberry Jell-O, I'll take the maximum number of items into the dressing room and jam a hanger down my throat.  That'll teach these stores a lesson.

Nah, it'll just be the unlucky bastards at work who'd have to clean it up.  I'm sure the only place the CEOs of these companies will be at 4am on Friday is in their beds - where everyone belongs.

I say do your shopping online, and actually enjoy the extended weekend.

Sincerely,
Andrew G.R.
Jobacle.com
AuthorAndrew G.R. | Comment9 Comments | DateTuesday, November 20, 2007 at 07:21PM
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Reader Comments (9)

EVEN MORE OFFENSIVE ARE THE MALLS AND SHOPPING CENTERS PROMOTING "MIDNIGHT MADNESS". PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP TIRED AND HALF DRUNK. IT'S COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. IN A FEW YEARS WE'LL ALL HAVE TO WORK ON THE HOLIDAYS.
November 20, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterD
I'm working at a store that I don't want to name. They have me working early but I am getting paid holiday pay which is twice what I normally make. Having to work stinks but at least there is extra money. Our manager told us that if anyone calls in sick they will be fired since it's a busy day.
November 20, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterRegister Girl
i happen to work for one of those companies mentioned above. i got the lucky scheduled shift of 4am-2pm, which used to be 4am-12pm until last minute revisions. With a half hour break, and normal rate of pay I'm pretty sure. Even if we were getting holiday pay that day it would only be time and a half. All we get is food that we probably won't even be able to take our breaks to go eat, and the ability to wear tennis shoes that day. All I feel like suggesting to customers is please just stay home that day and save the money you probably don't even have for something more meaningful/important than a bunch of cheap materialistic gifts from a bunch of stores, but unfortunately I can't/nobody would listen anyway.

I could go on, but I have to be up for work tomorrow morning because we're opening two hours earlier than normal...

Awesome blog btw!
November 21, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterfrickina
You better boycott Starbucks too. Those greedy bastards are opening their doors at 2am.
November 21, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterDavis
it is certainly not the store's fault if people show up. the blame lies solely with them. i do agree that stores appear to be opening earlier and earlier each year. they should just cut to the chase and open 24/7. as for me, i'll be sitting this black friday out. in fact, i'm off to do some shopping right now. many stores will extend their discounts early if you ask the right people.
November 21, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterrebecca
Why Work Sucks on Black Friday

- You're tummy is stuffed and your work pants are tight

- Parking lots and roads are filled with crazies

- Reminder of how little money you make because you can't afford to buy anything

- Buses and trains are packed with people holding bags and packages

- The commute is busy since the stores are open early and open late

- A 4-day weekend is VERY different then a 2-day weekend

- 78% of people have the day off and you don't

- Nothing gets done since the bosses are off

Work sucks!!
November 21, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterGeorge Teller
Notice it's the ghetto-tailers that are opening extra early. What could they possibly sell that would make people form lines at that time in the morning? Shampoo and hunting jackets?
November 21, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterAman
Some of us are talking about calling in sick. So when the lines are extra long on Friday, accept our apologies.
November 21, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterWork Sucks
This morning the stores in my area were pretty dead. I'm predicting "weak" sales. The media will beat their drum to warn us we better shop or face a recession.
November 23, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterRED Friday

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