I hope everyone had a great weekend. As we all get ready for the Thanksgiving holiday this week, I thought it necessary to address / re-address an issue that we discussed last year this time that has now apparently gotten even worse. That issue of course is the annual retail extravaganza that has become Black Friday.
Kids, I'm not going to even try to sugar coat this one. Black Friday has become a staggering load of wankalicious bullshit and somebody has got to do something about it!
Now before you immediately write me off as someone who's getting all butthurt because his wife works for the almighty Wally World and is directly affected by their Thanksgiving policies this year, let's take a step back. Folks, I am all for business and the ability to make the all mighty dollar. My entire professional career has been in retail management and executive management. Believe me, I get it. But since when did the pursuit of Ben Franklin and company take total precedence over the ability of your employees to enjoy their families?
For those of you unfamiliar with the whole brew-ha-ha, this year Wal-Mart and Target are both opening on Thanksgiving Day instead of the usual Black Friday sales to kick off the holiday buying season. Target I believe is opening at 9pm, while Wal-Mart is opening at 8 but requiring their employees to be in as early as 2pm!! Now believe me I understand that not everyone keeps the Thanksgiving holiday in their family. We live in an incredibly diverse society so it's completely counter-intuitive to expect everyone to find import in every single calendar-mandated social activity, but for chrissakes people whatever happened to a good ol' fashioned day off just because everyone else gets one? Let's get real for a second here people. I'm all about the Christmas season and all it represents since I was raised as a good little Southern Baptist. However, I'm also all about the right of those who don't keep that holiday for whatever reason to get Chinese food and chillax with their family, pet, or favorite inflatable companion.
The next thing out of most people's mouth when it comes to this discussion is usually either "well they're going to be open anyway" and "that's when the best deals will be on sale." Kids, I don't know if you realize it or listen to the news all that much but as I type this there are large scale walkouts and protests scheduled in over 1500 Wal-Marts across the nation by employees' groups and unions and in over 1000 Target stores by family groups. Now, and again remember that I do have unfortunately first hand experience with this because of my wife's job, Wal-Mart is notorious for using bullying tactics on employees who try to take part in their family life such as cut hours and even termination. Look, I've been in retail for over 20 years now (oh dear God) and I get that crazy hours and schedules come with the gig but come the fuck on people! I have no problem with the two or three city mad dash we usually have to make on Thanksgiving Day to get to see our families, or even having Thanksgiving early or late to accommodate ye olde job, but to flat out force your workers to give up their private time for increased incremental sales opportunities is just asinine!
The sad thing is that there is abso-friggin-lutely nothing that any amount of protests and walkouts and even large scale quitting will do to discourage these companies behavior. There is only one thing that will get anything done about it and force them to realize this might just be a really shitty idea: DON'T SHOP THERE ON THANKSGIVING DAY! I know this concept is going to get a lot of you all up in arms because you're going to miss the $150 32" Emerson piece of shit LCD television that Wally World is selling at 8pm Thanksgiving night, but come on people. I swear to you Old Navy is giving away free Nintendo Wii U Mario games when they open at midnight. It will be okay! Don't you think it might just be worth it to express your support for the families of those that have to work throughout what should be a family holiday by waiting a few extra hours to spend your hard charged money? It's a simple concept people: if we don't spend money at a business on Thanksgiving, they may not be willing to open for the day next year.
But then again, that's also the same reason I get gas the day before major holidays. I don't think those poor folks should have to work on a holiday either.
As always, this is all just my humble opinion. I sincerely wish that more of you shared it. Look back in your memories and in your heart of hearts. I'm not wrong.
But then again, that's also the same reason I get gas the day before major holidays. I don't think those poor folks should have to work on a holiday either.
As always, this is all just my humble opinion. I sincerely wish that more of you shared it. Look back in your memories and in your heart of hearts. I'm not wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment