Shoppers want longer hours on Sundays

[matriarch]

Shoppers 'want long Sunday hours'

More than half of consumers want shops to open for longer on Sundays, research suggests.

The findings come from a YouGov poll carried out for the My Sunday My Choice campaign, which wants the Sunday trading laws to be deregulated.

The government is currently reviewing the restrictions on trading, which let shops open for six hours on a Sunday.

A rival campaign called Keep Sunday Special says it wants to see the day return to a family day of rest.

Law change

Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, large shops over 280 square metres may only open for six continual hours between 10am and 6pm on Sundays, excluding Easter Sunday, when they must remain closed.

David Ramsden, chairman of Deregulate, the group behind the campaign, said: "A change to the Sunday trading law is something that both consumers and shop workers want. When Sunday opening was originally permitted in 1994 the opening hours were more than adequate. But society has changed over the past 12 years and today's consumer lives a busier life and needs more flexibility and choice."

The campaign claims that deregulation would generate an extra £1.4bn for the UK economy and bring England and Wales into line with Scotland.

But a relaxation in the current rules is opposed by the Church of England and Usdaw, the union representing shopworkers.

In addition, a cross-party group of MPs has warned that extended shop opening times on Sundays could give some parents less time to spend with their children.

John Alexander, who runs the Keep Sunday Special campaign, said: "We would like to see this country return to a day of rest, to have a day when families can be together, have the Sunday dinner, go out and go to the seaside, play in the park."

The YouGov poll questioned 2,331 people for the My Sunday My Choice campaign. Of those questioned, 57% said they should be allowed to shop when and where they want, while 23% disagreed.

The Department of Trade and Industry has asked consumers, businesses and religious groups for their views on longer hours. The findings of the consultation have not yet been published.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

In South Africa, Sunday is the day to shop... It has been quite a mindset change not being able to do that in England.

 

[matriarch]

In South Africa, Sunday is the day to shop... It has been quite a mindset change not being able to do that in England.

I personally find it ridiculous. Especially with people working longer and longer hours, most of us can only get shopping done at the weekends.

Those 'family preservation' bods, should get into the 21st century. There aren't many families that want to spend Sunday together, especially if the kids are teenagers. They have their own friends, their own likes and dislikes, and want to do their own thing. And for many of them, that means the shopping centres and malls.

It's time for it to be scrapped.

 

[Just-Legal]

I personally find it ridiculous. Especially with people working longer and longer hours, most of us can only get shopping done at the weekends.

Those 'family preservation' bods, should get into the 21st century. There aren't many families that want to spend Sunday together, especially if the kids are teenagers. They have their own friends, their own likes and dislikes, and want to do their own thing. And for many of them, that means the shopping centres and malls.

It's time for it to be scrapped.

I'm going to have to disagree with you Mat. Because of my parents working away (usually all over the country) we only get to see them on weekends. My sister works extremely odd hours, and the only day she's guaranteed to have off is Sunday, so we organise things we need to do together on Sundays.

If they increase the working hours on Sundays, J will have to go in to work. The only reason she has it off at the moment is because it's too quiet to warrant her working in either of her capacities (she does two jobs in the same shop).

 

[Liar]

I don't want longer hours. 60 minutes is just about enough.

 

[minsue]

I don't want longer hours. 60 minutes is just about enough.

. .

 

[oggbashan]

It's all about profit

My wife works for a large multiple supermarket chain.

As a long standing employee who wasn't contracted to work on Sundays, she gets paid double time when she signs up for overtime on a Sunday. More recent employees get time and a half. The most recent employees and those contracted to work on a Sunday as part of their normal weekly work are paid at standard rate i.e. just about the basic national hourly minimum wage.

If Sundays become a 'normal' trading day by national legislation, all employees will be paid at the basic hourly rate, no overtime, no enhanced pay. The supermarket will make more money for the shareholders and the employees lose.

Many small local convenience stores that can stay open for long hours on Sundays will lose custom and those corner shops that still exist will vanish. If you can't get to the out-of-town supermarket you won't be able to buy groceries, not just on Sunday mornings or evenings, but on any day.

If Sundays are changed, new employees will be expected to sign contracts that include a liability for Sunday working if required by their employer. Those who have school age children may find planning family outings impossible because their employer's needs come first. That isn't unusual in the emergency services, but for low paid shop workers that would be a real loss - and for no more pay than for working during the week.

You can shop in smaller stores early and late on a Sunday. Is the convenience of being able to shop all day and night on Sunday IN A SUPERMARKET worth destroying the family life of hundreds of thousands of low paid workers? If you really need a supermarket on a Sunday it is open from 10am to 4pm and many are open 24 hours a day from Monday morning at Saturday evening.

IF the legislation provided that it was illegal to require employees to work on Sundays if they didn't want to - that would be more acceptable. The proposed legislation does not.

Og

 

[English Lady]

The shops can open 24 hours a day for the other 6 days of the week. Leave Sunday's be.

 

[neonlyte]

Anyone who has lived in a country where shops remain closed on a Sunday will tell you what bliss it is. There are pro's and con's, when I had my patisserie, before the UK change in allowing shops to open on a Sunday, people said I was mad. We used to have queues down the street for fresh bread, we officially closed at 12.00 but invariable stayed open until 2.00 just to meet demand.

I've spent a good deal of time in Norway. Shops close on Sunday, many used to close Saturday lunchtime. On weekdays, grocery shops are open until 10.00pm or later. In Bergen, one supermarket opens on a Sunday, everyone knows where it is if you need it, but they only employ a skeleton staff, if you need something, you join a very long check-out queue.

 

[arienette]

And you know what I say to those people?
Retail workers need the break, thanks.

Borders is open until 11PM every night and on Sunday we close at 9...I look forward to my Sundays.

 

[Guest]

But hasn't anyone been in the situation of desperately needing something from a drug store late on a Sunday?

Tylenol? Feminine products? Diapers?

Perhaps needing a prescription filled?

Unexpected emergencies happen, especially in households with young children. Babies don't care that it is Sunday.

 

[arienette]

But hasn't anyone been in the situation of desperately needing something from a drug store late on a Sunday?

Tylenol? Feminine products? Diapers?

Perhaps needing a prescription filled?

Unexpected emergencies happen, especially in households with young children. Babies don't care that it is Sunday.

And when they grow up and have a job in retail, they'll love their Sundays too.

 

[Guest]

And when they grow up and have a job in retail, they'll love their Sundays too.

- -