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In all fairness, Target is not the only retailer that decided to use this technique this year. Other holiday-snatching companies include Wal-Mart and Sears who are opting for an even earlier open, 8 PM. Now, similar petitions for the other stores are also going viral. This story reminds the public of an interesting way to engage in discourse; petitions are an often useful method to show disapproval of an action. In this case, Target responded to their employee by informing her that she will not be punished for her action (i.e. creating the petition) and offered her the evening off on Thanksgiving. She respectfully declined with the reason that it would not be fair to her fellow team members. The petition was enough to catch the attention of the corporate office, but not enough to change the time of opening on Thanksgiving.
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I remember hearing something about this last year and thinking 'how sad'. I believe it's cruel to both employees and shoppers. Employees are forced to leave their families (and most likely holiday traditions) to go to work, when they should have it off like everyone else, and shoppers are forced to feel like they have to leave their families as well to get 'the best deals' before everyone else. I think it's a real shame all around. The reason it's called Black Friday is because it starts on FRIDAY. If shoppers weren't so eager to shop then I believe stores wouldn't strive to open earlier than everyone else. Sad to say, I think the corporates are going to win this one. So sad.
ReplyDeleteI worked at a retail outlet store one year who opened their store at noon Thanksgiving Day, and gave employees 4 hour shifts with the idea "that gives decent time to see families."
ReplyDeleteI don't get how corporations can trade higher sales and neglect the sense of humanism, family, and traditions.