I'm pretty sure the employees don't work 7 days a week. They have days off all of the time. There are a lot of people that have to work on holidays. Movie theaters, airline/airports, theme parks, many fast food places, etc, etc, etc. You don't hear them complaining every year.

If you have to work on a holiday then celebrate the day after or before, many people do this. If you don't want to work on a holiday then quit your job and let the next person in line looking for employment collect the OT pay.

I've worked retail, at a movie theater and Starbucks. Sometimes you miss family gatherings and holidays, but that's what you should expect when working those types of jobs.

Piranha,

Excellent comment. Retailers are keyed to profit (ok, greed) and customers are keyed to saving (ok, gotta get the latest and greatest for less). Unfortunately the economy is such that people have to buy for less. So blame is on both sides with the majority going to retailers for feeding so heavily on money, money,money.

I signed this petition, but I realize there are some significant factors:

1) Target is only doing this because the consumer demand is there. We're at the root of all of this.

2) Not everyone celebrates these types of holidays, I'm sure there are Target workers who are happy to work the time-and-a-half pay shifts.

3) We can't make everyone happy I think the best solution is to make working these shifts voluntary, but that puts the burden on Target to make sure they have enough workers.

Big difference between working a job that requires 24 hour coverage and working at a place that really doesn't need to be open on the holiday. The idea of the holiday is to give people the opportunity to spend time with family. Lord knows with the demands placed on families these days it is difficult enough. I have worked in jobs that required 24 hour coverage and well understand the necessity, but today there are more and more businesses that are doing it just because they can. Gee, is it any wonder the traditional family is in trouble, broken homes, latch key kids, etc. Here is the thing, if a few people have to work on a holiday you usually can work around their schedule, but when everyone is in on the act, nobody can coordinate their time off, to work around it. More is not always better. I am really tired of people like you that provide the time worn excuse, "just quit then". You are offering a simplistic solution to a complex problem. As a manager, I worked hard to try to accomodate my employees, and it is really tough, especially when most of my peers had the same opinion as you. The difference, my employees were high performers, while theirs looked for any opportunity they could for payback. You reap what you sow.

Most of the workers are temps, they actually want to work

Every comment, like a little baby. Who asked you? No one cares what you think, surprise!

Having worked retail, and worked the horror that you call "Black Friday", I say it's up to the business. She knows she has family in the East Coast. She has worked for Target for 6 years. She didn't request off at all? She could request it off months in advance.

A lot of people like working the holidays, as you get compensated a lot more.

Target has never cared much about the meaning of the Holidays. Several years ago they banned the Salvation Army bell ringers from in front of their stores and don't support Toys 4 Tots. They are in it for profit, plain and simple. If they won't support organizations helping others during the holidays than they won't get my money.

The Black Friday weekend is the busiest shopping time of the year. That's not because stores make people shop its because that's when people choose to get in the "Spirit" of throwing their money away. If other stores as mentioned in the article are moving up the times for Holiday shopping, Target has to follow suit to be competitive. Iv'e worked retail and its not a big issue.

It's simple....This is happening due to a decline in family values in America toward a secular agenda. Plus, there are millions of morons ready to go shopping and run up their credit cards and make themselves poor worshipping stuff. Then they'll whine about the greedy bankers that charge them interest.

It's no secret why this is happening. Anyone who goes out Thursday are losers.....Look how many of them are loose in America.

there was a time not all that long ago when NOBODY was open on sundays then a few started, and a few more and more and now it is the exception rather than the rule. what are the benefits vs. the costs? people still have the same amount of disposable income regardless of whether a retail establishment is open six days or seven, regardless of whether they open at ridiculous hours or not. businesses however by being open more have substantial increases in their operating expenses, e.g. utilities, labor, maintenance and upkeep. so why do they do it? because of the herd mentality, if affects not only consumers but ceo's and coo's as well. the gains absolutely do not justify the means in this instance be it target or any other company even my own. i choose not to be open on sundays, on thanksgiving and christmas. i have tried one year but to be honest after expenses, never mind the hassle and loss of quality time with family and friends, i made maybe a few hundred dollars on those days, when i looked at my totals for the month/s NO DIFFERENCE. my decision thereafter was simple. also one major difference between myself, my business and places such as target, i never asked an employee to work a holiday unless i was there too. how many of the board members at target will work the holidays, NONE. lastly and most important, we all here the talk everywhere that nothing is more important than family, family first, family this, family that yet actions speak far louder than words. to all those who go out on the holidays to shop no matter what the "bargain" may be you have no right to ever say you put family first because you chose to shopping instead of spending time with your family, let alone the terrible example you set for your children. in effect teaching them that nothing is more important than buying things. where we are now on this issue is the result of decades of slow and insidious creep and sadly as each year passes the ethic, the tradition of family and friends first and foremost on holidays is very much an endangered species. the classic "ebenezer scrooge" who made his employee work christmas day until he saw the light, juxtapose that book/movie against what target is doing and see a true modern day scrooge with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. sadly in the end the blame lies mostly with consumers and they are the key. we have but ourselves to blame for the sad state of priorities in this nation. my baby sister died from cancer this past january. her, our last holiday together was thanksgiving. it was sudden, no one saw it coming, her cancer, and had we not put family first those final memories would not be there for any of us. life is short and the precious moments we have together are too valuable and scarce to turn our backs on for a discounted tv etc. remember too it is not only your family but those of the people, our fellow americans that must give up precious time with their families as well.

empathy, try it out and remember WHY we have holidays to begin with!

One more thing....I don't blame the workers for being upset.

I blame the losers willing to shop on Thurs creating the demand for it. Shows the level of their family morals and personal subjucation to the almighty dollar and stuff.

I pity people like them who have nothing more important in their lives.

If a retailer has product you want on black Friday, it doesn't matter what time they open. Customers will come.

This is all driven by ignorance and greed. People want to buy their crap and have bragging rights about, for ex., a flat panel t.v. that cost them 50% less. So they'll camp out for a week in a tent by the front door to be the first one to run in and find they have to take a rain check: The t.v. isn't even there! Companies are desperate for profits so they cater to the madness. People will trample their own mothers just to save a tin penny while they could wait, order something online at a price cheaper than the store price, have it delivered to their home & enjoy.

My mother works for CBS Sports. She hasn't spent a Thanksgiving or Christmas with our family in as long as I can remember. She's never complained about it. It's a job, and if it wasn't for her (and her colleagues) nobody could watch Turkey Day Football.

If these workers don't like it, they are free to find another job and let someone who is currently unemployed enjoy the time-and-a-half holiday pay.

Black Friday has to be the stupidest phenomenon of mass lemmings i have ever seen... never does a day come any other time of the year where you can see adults all across america trample each-other to save marginal amount of money on things they have no need for.

As a person who works 2 jobs taking my time 6 days a week, there is no way I will shop on Thanksgiving, or Black Friday for that matter. It is far more important to me to have that time off. Even if you paid me, I wouldn't go. I've seen the crowds and the hype and it is simply a big waste of time for a few bucks here and there.

Legally-they can open whenever they want.

Morally-how sad is it that we are cutting a holiday dedicated to gving thanks for what we have short to mob stores to get cheaper stuff?

However-stores only do it because the demand is there. The best way to protest is to not support these stores. Even better-support small business who wll never be able to compete with the retail giants in terms of hours.

However-stores only do it because the demand is there. The best way to protest is to not support these stores. Even better-support small business who wll never be able to compete with the retail giants in terms of hours.

Exactly. Instead of being one of these dimwits who busts in a store at exactly eight o' clock on Thanksgiving night, enjoy your dinner get together with your family and friends and have a couple of martinis. I certainly intend to. Trust me, you won't miss ANYTHING important by wandering aimlessly in a stupid big-box on the holiday anyway.

I work at Target, and don't get me wrong, I love it. But from November 20th until December 30th, we are not allowed to schedule any days off of work. That means if we get scheduled on Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve, unless we can get someone to cover our shift, we have to work.

Business is business. People that can't abide their work requirements should find other employment.

Remember, if nobody shopped on these days, the stores wouldn't be open, so who's fault is it? We've all seen video's of people rushing into the stores like rampaging beasts as soon as the doors are unlocked.

Great comment, Wet Willy! But, I've seen videos of the store opening rush, and I think you just insulted the animal kingdom.

Stores should be closed on Thanksgiving and allow everyone the full day off. I know stores want to capitalize on the extra hours of operation, so open up xmas hours the Friday before Thanksgiving, there are a lot of people off from work that weekend for deer hunting and many are off work that whole week. problem solved, next!

I won't go to any of these stores anymore. Sears was already on my boycott list, because they are selling knockoff tools made by a company in China owned by, yes, you guessed it, BAIN CAPITAL. Vulture Capitalist Romney strikes again, not only infringing on a recent U.S. patent, but putting American workers out of a job as a direct result of their greed.

I tell my wife that I'd rather drive twice as far and spend more than support Walmart. Target, you are next.

I dont celebrate any holidays anymore...its been 10 yrs and I spend more time with my family now than ever...because we can afford a family dinner more than 3x a year, without all that plastic we thought we needed.

Our soldiers overseas in combat zones have to work as well. Alot of people have no jobs and would be greatful to work any days of the week. My god people our unemployment is 7.9% and people are bitiching because they have to work on a holiday.

I think I have a cure for this Black Thursday,

DUI check points at the driveway entrance hehehe

However-stores only do it because the demand is there.

why do you believe what some analyst working for THEM tells you?

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying

Waiting in line for hours or few days just to save a few bucks is not worth it. Like the comments above me, businesses do it because the demand is there. You can vote for this rediculous black friday with your wallets. I heard the next hot thing for Black Friday next year is Pre-Black Friday. It will open 8am on Thanksgiving.

And yes the demand is there, guarrantee it. There will be huge lines and they will wait hrs just to save few bucks.

FYI, smart shoppers shop all year round and not just on Black Fridays. You get better deals and don't have to hassle with long lines. My time is worth more than wasting my time in long lines and crowds.

I would be very upset if I was one of the thousands of temp workers hired for the holidays and then then have the business not open for me to work.

It depends on how you look at spending that time in line. I did a black friday sale last year at best buy to get a new laptop for my wife (were in college, so got a cheap one). I set up shop after thanksgiving lunch, around 1:00 where I brought my homework, and my wife and son (who was 2) took a post dinner nap. At around 5:00 or so they and brought leftovers, and we hung out for several hours, playing games, talking, etc. It was great. At 9:00 she took my son home as he fell asleep. In the between time I made friends with several other people there. She then came back around midnight as I was just going in, was in for 5 minutes, and was out. We had a lot of fun doing this. It depends on how you use that time in line to determine if it is wasted or not.

Doesn't matter to me really I work in a profession that if it falls on your schedule you have to work it. I will say opening on Thanksgiving because some shoppers say they prefer that makes little sense. They'll go when you have the big sale, why pay 1 1/2 times on all wages to get the same sales a few hours earlier? You watch, sales will be up the usual 2%- 3% yet they'll pay millions more in salaries to people that didn't want to work that day anyway.

President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving as a day to honor The Almighty and to give thanks for everything we have.

Sadly our once great country is going backwards on everything.

The Target employees are correct.

Anyone who goes shopping before 7am on Black Friday is to blame for this...not just the company. It's a disgrace that those people are so anxious to buy their crap that they ruin Thanksgiving for others. But this is what America has become...

This constant complaining about everything by everyone is getting out of control. First we have the people affected by Sandy who started complaining the morning following the storm that they didn't have power. Give me a break!!! Power is not automatically restored after that amount of destruction. Exactly how do you think trucks and rescue vehicles are supposed to get around the devastation? I've been through several hurricanes in Florida when it took longer that two weeks for power to be restored. No one complained. We all knew things would eventually return to normal.

Now we have people who are fortunate enough to have jobs who are complaining about working on Thanksgiving. Give me a break...again!!! You have a JOB. Be thankful for that.

No one here is "special", no matter if you are a victim of Sandy or a Target employee. Be thankful for what you have. Millions of people on this planet have it much worse than being without power for a couple of weeks or having to work on a holiday, heaven forbid! Stop being such a bunch of cry babies.

If somebody actually wants those few more hours on Thanksgiving Day to spend money, their priorities need to be revamped. This decision is for Target's stockholders' benefit, certainly not the consumer. It's all about c-o-m-p-e-t-i-t-i-o-n for your wallet.

Some employees are "excited" for the chance to work extra hours,

Should read, Some employees are going to give up time with their family's because at time and a half they will be getting $10.88 an hour and have to take any opportunity to catch up a tiny bit financially, but will still live below poverty levels.

She didn't request off at all? She could request it off months in advance.

You do realise that most retailers forbid time off on Black Friday.

Just like my company doesn't allow for time off requests either.

The busiest shopping day of the entire year and you think they will let their employees request that day off?

Beffore we know it, stores won't even closed at all on Thanksgiving. What a pathetic nation we've become.

@ comment 1.2 "thesign"

I worked for a Target a good chunk of time a couple of years back. I remember working 8 or 9 days in a row. Usually followed by a day or two off. Then I'll work 4 or 5 in a row. Then 2 days off. Then 8 or 9 in a row again.

I also remember the constant "clopenings." Closing at 10 p.m. one night. Usually staying an extra hour at night to help clean the store up, an extra 2 hours during the holidays, so not letting us go home til midnight. A 20 minute drive home. In bed at 12:45. Then getting up at 6 to work 8 to 5.

Retail giants like Target and Walmart have no compassion for its workers. It's all about how quickly and efficiently work in the store can be done. They don't care if you're tired, if you haven't spent a few days with your family, if you're sick. If you weren't an ETL (Executive Team Lead) they couldn't give a rats ass. Cashiers, Sales Associates and Logistics workers are the backbone of any retail company. don't let anyone tell you otherwise. They work a thousand times harder than any executive for seemingly pennies a day.

I hope none of you who are willing to boycott the stores who partake in opening on Thanksgiving are planning on ordering ANYTHING from Amazon. I can tell you from personal experience from working there for over 7 years that they normally do not close the warehouse for Thanksgiving - and this was 5 years ago before anyone else was opening on Thursday night. They let day crew folks leave a few hours early, and let night crew folks come in a few hours later. "Blackout", meaning no using vacation time (personal time can be used, but most people have used it up by then), and mandatory overtime begins. It's not unusual for people to rack up 70 hours in a week, and for about 6 weeks one year I averaged 75 hours per week.

If it is that much of a concern for you then make all your gifts, and only shop at small local shops that are open during hours you find not to be objectionable.

I work in retail as well and thankfully, my employer will be opening at midnight. To be honest, I don't think that my location would have enough people to staff the store if we opened earlier. We barely have enough coverage for the evening and afternoon shifts, so about a third of the staff is doing double shifts. Some of us, like myself, don't have to work the rest of the weekend, but there are those who have to work Saturday and Sunday too. Not too many of my co-workers are very happy with their schedules that week, but there's not much we can do.

A lot of black Friday merchandise isn't the best quality. It's the cheaper electronics brands for the most part. Also, I've seen deals at my employer that are equal or very similar to the black Friday door busters. There's less than ten promotions in my department that are better the previous sales. I've seen Target and Wal-Mart's ads online already and there's nothing worth standing in line for IMO.

Unlike Christmas or Yom Kippur where workers can be replaced with non-celebrants, Thanksgiving is one of two holidays (the other the 4th of July) that we ALL celebrate. And, unlike the 4th when most festivities can be enjoyed if you just have part of the day, Thanksgiving is a family oriented, traditionally all day event. Let's all think of our own families and our own enjoyment and STAY HOME on Thursday. That will fix it!!

I was just wondering, where employees of a company, got the idea that they could work just the hours that they wanted to? If they aren't interested in working the hours that they are needed, they know where the door is at.

Ah, remember "the good old days"?

We used to watch movies like The Christmas Carol and thought that people like Ebenezer Scrooge was despicable because he made poor Bob Cratchet work on Christmas day...

NOW days, we have snotty republican "conservative" types that say "yeah, make 'em work... If they don't like it they can leave."

So much for the "family values" these hypocrites spout off about - they never seem to apply to other's families, only their own I guess.

Tweet

Something tells me you've never worked in retail.

Thanksgiving is one of 3 days of the year Target employees, hell, most retail employees get.

You could be an @!$%# and go shop on Thanksgiving after spending time with your family and friends and stuffing your face with Turkey.

Or you could get up early the next morning, like they've always done in the past and THEN go shopping.

It seems pretty inhumane to let Target employees have up until 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving to spend time with family (again, one of the 3 days of the year) and THEN expect them to work all night.

Americans are getting as bad of a reputation as whiners as the Brits.

You have a job - Do your job.

So many Americans are always patting themselves on the back, claiming how "Hard Working" they are, then they whine about things like this.

It reminds me of how after 9/11 there was all the talk about Americans being brave, but then they weren't brave enough to fly: A bunch of pining wussies.

There are other western countries whose stores shut their doors completely for a month or more on end. And the US and its rabid consumerism can't slow down for a DAY to give people a day of rest and to give thanks? It's nothing but greed. I understand that necessary service industries are open on holidays, but a department store? It's just tacky.

...and enough about what the customer wants. The customer is not always right, they're just always selfish. Companies need to start valuing their employees as much as they do their customers.

Right on amynoelle - the most intelligent comment I have read. There is no need for any retail store to be open on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day. Fine that they pay overtime, but if an employee chooses not to work those days they should not have to. Stores do not need to open the day before Black Friday. By the way, I DO work in retail at a major department store chain and am working Black Friday but certainly not Thanksgiving. They too should be closed on Thanksgiving giving employees a chance to spend with family. So what if they offer bonuses and time and a half. If they can afford that then they can afford to shut their doors on Thanksgiving and give their employees a break. We do NOT receive extra pay for working Thanksgiving but we are not forced to work that day either. Still, there is no need for these retail stores to be open on these 2 holidays.

We need to return to the values of the 19th Century. Make people work 12 hour days, 6 days a week. Then you could reduce wages because the extra hours they work would make up the difference in weekly pay.

Family? You shouda though of that before you got a job.

Got your lash out there Robert ?

It used to be that on any of the "real" holidays (New years, Easter, Independence day, Thanksgiving, Christmas) companies would either be closed or would only be open until early afternoon. Many companies still follow that tradition.

There is no need to open on any of the holidays. Its worthless greed.

BTW: severed head - love the sarcasm... I hope :)

so if they didnt open until Saturday...would there be no sale? .....its weird to me to think someone gets all proud and bloated when they catch a sale, as if they just saved their family from extinction.

Want to know what I give my family for presents: Nothing, and they still love me. Want to know what my family get for me: personally canned apricots from our very own tree!

Guess what parent my kids want to spend the holidays with: not me. I had to start with my own kids in order to try to change my own family values...sadly, an ipod is still more important.

Can you name some of these companies that "whose stores shut their doors completely for a month or more on end."

my husband is a fire captain after 30 years this is the first time he has all the holidays off, he retires next year, so stop your whinning, fireman, policeman, hospitals, air lines, air ports, our MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN do not have it off. You ought to be ashame of yourselfs the people i listed above all have to work for all you selfish idiots.

If these retailers continue their rapacious consumption of national holidays, there won't be any at some point! This year it's 9pm. If not opposed, next year it'll be 6 pm. Are you not willing to draw a line anywhere?

It's not the retailers, it's the consumers. If people line up at 6pm, I'm sure it will happen.

I'll go at 9 or 10pm to save some cash, but if they start opening at 6pm I won't go because it will cut in to family time. Simple as that. Supply and demand. They're retailers, they're just catering to the consumer.

pbinCA,

From reading some of the above comments, I guess they won't or can't draw a line in the sand. Pathetic that people put money before family or the ordinary person.

777,

Family time ends at 9 PM? Good grief, Charlie Brown!

You're making a judgement on how I spend my time with my family?

I spend all day with them, cooking, cleaning, eating, talking, laughing. There's usually about 30 of us gathered together. My parents and in-laws live within 3 miles of me, same with ALL of my siblings. We spend tons of time together every week.

On Thanksgiving, we eat a mid-afternoon meal, which I believe is what many people do. We eat a lot and drink some good wine. I have two small children, they're usually dead asleep by 8pm after a long day like that and my wife is ready for bed by 9pm after doing her part with the festivities.

I myself usually drink some caffeine and then go shopping to find great deals on gifts for the family that I just spent my entire day with. Before it got to Friday nights I used to stay up till 9-11pm on Tday with my family and then wake up at 3am.

Shame on me, I'm a horrible person for trying to save some cash on gifts for my family when I could be spending time in a house with all of them asleep.

Sign-No one cares what u do, surprise!

pbinCA,

I assume the CA stands for California. Don't lecture on econmoics, you have the most screwed up state in the nation.

All of you:

For tens of thousands of years, except for maybe the years between post WWII and the late 80's, mankind has had to work to survive. Men, women and children worked 7 days a week (except maybe if you were Jewish). It is only in this brief interlude mentioned above, that man has decided he is entitled to a 40 hours work week with holidays. Most of mankind through its existence would LAUGH at you.

I have worked 6 and 7 days a week my whole life to pay my bills and support my children. I don't get holidays off, I am a First Responder. I put my life on the line on holidays.

Boo hoo! You have a retail job that requires you to work holidays.

Give Thanks.

The AirDog,

Thank you for finally mentioning those of us who really do not have any choice in whether we work the holidays or not - nurses, doctors, first responders, police officers, etc., etc. While the retail workers are having to succumb to the greedy demands of the consumer, they have to adjust their working schedules accordingly and get used to it. All those who work in public service/healthcare always have to work several holidays every year because people don't get sick or need help during business hours only. So we get to spend our holidays looking after other people and their families instead of spending it with ours. We don't complain or sign petitions to change things, we just get on with it because it's part of the job. Unfortunately, the obscene displays of shopping frenzy that we see every year at this time will continue, because apparently that's what people want - and until that changes, retail workers will have to get used to working even more unsociable hours. Welcome to our world!!

Slaves had jobs and got free meals...Rejoice!

thesign777

I myself usually drink some caffeine and then go shopping to find great deals on gifts for the family that I just spent my entire day with. Before it got to Friday nights I used to stay up till 9-11pm on Tday with my family and then wake up at 3am.

Shame on me, I'm a horrible person for trying to save some cash on gifts for my family when I could be spending time in a house with all of them asleep.

Smart shoppers shop year round for sales, only have to get out of bed if the order is pickup. I'm almost ready done with christmas shopping with very little effort. Just saying........

for those of you saying it not the retailers, it the consumer:

what exactly are these people going to the stores for, that they cant any other day of the year.....THE SALE

since when did consumers decided what is going to be on sale and when?????????

your saying we make the sales that make us to crazy? We advertise the sale, we open the doors, we turn on the lights, and help each other check out??? I dont think so

btw...how many TV's does a family need!

Hard, sometimes you can get an amazing deal that can only be found on black friday. I know. I bought a laptop last year for $179. Before it was $500-$700, depending on where you live. As a married graduate student with a child, it makes all the difference.

thesign777 you make your family babysit so you can go shopping on a holiday?

Don't lecture on econmoics, you have the most screwed up state in the nation.

Guess you didn't know that CA has the 6th largest economy.

i see a lot of people saying so what, do what your emplyer tells you and be happy, but I truly wonder how many will wish they were home come Thanks-for-stores day, and the sudden realization they support never having a holiday off again.

if you worked last year, then you are the reason you had to work it again this year....cant blame that one on anyone but yourself.

Sorry spaceman, but these stores wouldn't be open if people didn't come. I've heard it said before, the rich aren't the job creators, it's the middle class. It's the middle class having income to spend that creates jobs. Well, guess what, this is a case where the middle class is willing to spend money, so jobs are then created to meet that demand, right?

You are right oppie. I don't go shopping on holidays. Even though most of the stores are American owned, most of the products sold are made in China, so we are really lining the pockets of the stores owners and the companies who have shipped our real wage earning jobs to China.

We don't spend much on gifts anymore. We try to make most of what we give and just enjoy the time spent with family and friends.

Yes, they should be required to sit in their offices in order to field calls from irate shoppers about the poor service and lack of products and other problems the customers are seeing at their stores.

These idiots do all the China bashing and then go out and buy iPhones and iPads made in China

They also support Walmart where 99% of items are made in China and shop there for their "lowest prices"

Then go complain that we ship jobs to China but they love their low prices

All of you whiny asses need to remember 1 thing: we have troops - sailors, airmen, soldiers, and Marines - forward deployed in a war and other operations...not only do they not get to enjoy time with their families, they have to "work." And they're not dealing with pushy idiots trying to get a flatscreen for $100....just remember that as you whine about your job (something 23 million other Americans DON'T HAVE)!!!!!!

I was in desert storm from aug 90 to april 91. I had to work every holiday between those dates. Be glad you have a job to be able to work.

mixedpie,

Kind of evolved into a cultural holiday? Sorry, but it should read commercial holiday. We nolonger celibrate holidays for what they originally were, we celibrate them as shopping days or days off from work.

Our consumerism and consumerist holidays are unfortunately a cultural trait.

America has lost all its family values that why Obama won

I'm already sick of the Christmas gimmicks.

I'm old enough to remember blue laws. Most everything was closed on Sundays and holidays. So peaceful.

Move to Texas....they still have blue laws

jw101: Do you live here in Texas? About the only thing still covered under the "blue laws" is liquor/alcohol sales. You can't buy hard liquor at all on Sunday and no beer or wine before noon.

A car dealership also cannot sell cars on both days of the weekend, they must pick either Saturday or Sunday. Note, the law says "sell", they can still be open and show you around the lot or take a test drive, but the sale has to occur on another day. Fortunately, most dealerships close the day they can't sell, but I've known some to do everything but process the paperwork on a Sunday.

Otherwise, I think you can get just about anything you might want, except a Chik-Fil-A sandwich, on a Sunday in Texas. For a while, there was a law that a store had to close by 6:00pm on Sundays, but I think that got repealed, or at least isn't enforced.

When I was shopping for Halloween decorations, I was somewhat appalled to find that one of the stores I went into had a BIGGER Christmas decoration section set up... and this was about a week or two before Halloween!

I am glad blue laws are almost extinct.

Why should religion dictate if I can or can not purchase beer on Sunday?

If we were not meant to drink on Sundays, God would not have invented the NFL.

/s

Great attitude, Bryan - I so agree with you. It isn't like family time is disrupted for the entire day - the staff probably has to report about 6 or 7 PM. Work around the schedule people - have the turkey a little earlier and dvr the games.

Feel BLESSED that you have a job above all.

Amen Bryan, amen.

Bryan, et.al., I understand that Target, WalMart, Sears, and the others have plenty of part-time, seasonal jobs still available for the Christmas buying season. Have you guys put your applications in yet? I'm sure you could volunteer for one of those primo time-and-a-half overnight spots on Thankgiving Day and let one of the hard-working regulars spend some time with their families.

Bryan-354411 - Who on planet Earth doesn't complain when they're disappointed?

MYOB--some of us no longer have family and the craziness of cruising the stores during that time makes it less lonely.

SpyBear,

One year I was unable to make it home for the Thanksgiving weekend. Really enjoyed hanging around the apartment complex and relaxing, doing whatever i wanted. Also managed to make a few new friends among some neighbors in similar circumstances.

Of course, these days, if I found myself in need of some company to make the day less lonely, I think I'd just go down and volunteer at my church or whatever other organization in town is holding a "Community Thanksgiving Dinner". Most of the larger cities and towns have at least one. And spending some time just conversing with someone who's current situation is at least the same, if not worse, than yours can be a very fulfilling way to spend a day for all involved.

and the craziness of cruising the stores during that time makes it less lonely.

So getting pepper sprayed, knocked down, punched or robbed in a parking lot is a pick me up for you?

There has to a less violent activity that would suit your tastes. However, if you do go, please shoot some video. You're bound to see some type of outburst or fit of aggression.

I am so with you Roger. While sitting at home with the family - are ya watching football? What about all the concession folks? Think those camera men and women don't want to be home? Knowing that families are together while they run around. Did you know that every radio and tv station has 10+ employees making sure the game is on for you and your family? That doesn't count the other jocks at radio/tv stations who are working. I've worked every holiday btw so I am speaking from experience. How about on the way to grandma's house - need gas and diet coke? Bet that convenience store employee loves being there for you. Oh and that famous Thanksgiving parade - how many people do you think it takes to pull that off? So many are hypocrites - whether you shop or stay home - there are hundreds of thousands working if target is open or not And when you go by Crackerbarrel or Shoneys on Thanksgiving - remember they would rather be home as well. People have been working on holidays for years. And right now - I think a lot of folks would like the job to pay their bills. If companies don't make $$ then there will be no jobs to complain about.

Employees are not pulling double shift and if they were they would be getting a huge amount of over time pay

It is retail, get it, that is why you will never be at the corporate office.......

Everyone that works at the corporate offices should be required to show up at their local Target branch and work during the Black Friday sale. Show solidarity with the workers! Help control the crush of customers, bag purchases, work a register, etc.

Or will those at Target's corporate office be enjoying a relaxing evening with their family, followed by a good night's sleep?

They don't like it, let them get another job. You work in the service industry, you get crappy hours on weekends and holidays and so forth. That is life, get over it. I worked all sorts of horrible hours on all sorts of days when I was in high school and college. But I did it because that is what I needed to do. Life isn't fair, deal with it...

As they say in Russia, tough s@#tski.

That's why you haven't gotten a job in 18 months, you've been sitting on your ass waiting for someone to give you a job.
How's this, get up off your ass and go down to your local store (Target, Sears, whatever) and fill out an application. Just be sure you change your clothes first. You don't have to wear your Sunday Best, but at least look and act like you want to work there.

I am disappointed at the scrooges out there who seem to have no heart and just tell me people to lump for asking for some guaranteed time to spend with their families. As an ex retail manager, I don't feel this is an unreasonable request to have 3 guaranteed days off a year - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Yes, as retail manager I did work 7 days a week from the day after Thanksgiving and the week after New Years. There is no guarantee that any employee will have a day off. The shifts are done to accommodate the company and the sales goals not the employees. Yes, you can ask for time off. I did my last year. I got Dec 24th, 25th, and 26th off an had to be back to work on the 27th. I got that because I had proven myself with banner sales in the past otherwise no one was allowed off. For everyone who is being a scrooge, I am sure you would be pissed off if your company told you had to work Thanksgiving (and don't give me you would be happy just to have the job because that isn't reality.). At least Target is paying time and half for the opening. My question is WalMart and every other retailer doing that, my bets is that they are not.

I welcome everyone who is out of work and wanting a job to apply for retail position this season and find out what it is really like.

Keep Christmas and Thanksgiving as true holidays. We don't need to consume on these days.

Like Corporate America, the decision makers are going to sit at home for a long holiday weekend while the low level employees work. Frankly its now about customer convenience or stockholders enjoying the profits...its the executives who make the decisions based ont he lucrative bonuses they receive at year end! Its their greed that drives the process! If it was about clients and profits for stockholders- they would expand their online shopping systems since you dont have to use a whole lot of manpower in that arena- compared to the stores- and the convenience for clients is right in their homes. Just create a system that doesnt crash down due to a "surprise excessive use", we all know it will be bombarded on Thanksgiving weekend. As a matter of fact profits will surge if you strongarm your suppliers (like Dell Computers and Sony tv's etc) to help pay for the cost of advertising their products during your sale on your website---after all they win too that weekend. Too often corporate America hides behind the veil of clients and stockholders when its the executives getting richer than the stockholders and they inconveneince the clients by running out of product, not enough help or pricing/fee increases.

Rincewood - WakeUp said he/she has been looking. That to me implies that they have been proactive and not just waiting for someone to call them. Also, most stores only do online applications anymore. When my (then) 16 year old daughter was having a hard time getting a job, my husband insisted she go to the store in person instead of just filling out an application online. She was routinely told that is the ONLY way to apply for a job. I'm sure this allows employers to use some kind of filter and weed out anyone who doesn't fit certain specifications.

To Rincewind: Two college degrees, computer literate, applied for at least 5-10 jobs per week, and a grand total of three interviews in 18 months. Previously a teacher and an accounting specialist. Clean, neat, and motivated to go back to work. Problem...I'm over 55 and no one wants to hire someone that near retirement.

Be careful getting down off of that highhorse you're on...

College degrees in what, just out of curiosity? Because an "accounting specialist" is a fancy term for a job that a Target employee could probably do. So you probably have degrees in history or theatre or some other useless topic. Too bad someone didn't warn you in your college days about that...

I work at target.

I come in thanksgiving morning at 4am till 9am for our truck that we will get.

I come back at 8:45pm till 5am they give me a hour off then i clock back in at 6am till 2:30pm.

I come back the next day at 3am for a truck.

If people dont like it find a new job and ill take some of your hours...

Tim-874396: Everyone is so judgmental! AA in Liberal Arts (pre-reqs for BA), BA in Education. 16 credits shy of my Masters Degree in Education. "Accounting Specialist" was an AP position for a Fortune 100 company. Taught in the public schools for 17 years. Not everyone who is out of work is happy about being on the public dole, nor are they all just a bunch of deadbeats. I've worked steadily since I was 16 years old, excepting the last 18 months.

My point is that people are complaining about getting holiday pay for a job I'd be glad to have.

haha... thanks to the government, employers are scared to hire people!