Truthfully, I will never understand how this mass amount of retailers have decided to be open on Thanksgiving evening, or even morning, and stay open straight into Black Friday. Not seeming to mind that they are completely obliterating any chance of their employees enjoying the holiday. Many huge retailers are actually opening right at dinner time; 4:00, 5:00, or 6:00 p.m., with some even opening at 8 a.m. ON Thanksgiving, and staying open through Friday night. This hurts my soul in so many different ways. It's a holiday, people. Not just any holiday, but a day that should inspire us to give thanks for all that we have, and in true American fashion we have managed to make it about money. Why allow workers to spend a relaxing day at home with their family making memories when you could make more money and beat out your competitors? Has everyone forgotten that America has actually set aside an entire day for these sales? It's called Black Friday. As ridiculous as it is, we have already turned the day after Thanksgiving, into a day of wanting more.
The concept of Black Friday itself can be pretty disgusting. We have all heard the horror stories. People trampled or shot over the newest video game console, or pair of tennis shoes. It is unreal to think this is what it has come to. As a culture, we are obsessed with having the newest and the best, and paying the least for it. I could rant about Black Friday for quite a while, but that's not really the point of this post. Black Friday is not a holiday, it's a day geared towards shopping. The last three years I've worked in retail, and I know what to expect from the day after Thanksgiving. It isn't pretty, but it's predictable. Each year I knew that I would have to work a crazy Black Friday, but I also knew that I wouldn't have to work the day before. I've never worked a Thanksgiving, and I don't plan on it. One day of greed fueled madness is enough for me.
(Enjoying the holidays, with my family)
However, by opening on Thanksgiving Day, in nothing more than an attempt to squeeze more money out of the public, retailers are encouraging this greediness, and throwing their employees in the cross hairs. Truthfully, if you shop on Thanksgiving, you're not much better. The stores only open because the people line up. Imagine if Target opened their doors on Thanksgiving Day and not one person was waiting outside. Imagine if not one single person shopped in the hours that fell on the holiday, if everyone waited until 12 a.m. when it was officially Black Friday. Do you think they would still open on Thanksgiving the next year? Why bother? What's a sale if no one shows up?
It's time for some of us to get our priorities in check. It's time to remember what the holiday is really about. You want the deals? It isn't just about you. By shopping on Thanksgiving Day you're encouraging retailers to open earlier and earlier, thus requiring employees to miss time with their family on a holiday, or even just enjoy a day off on their own. Trust me, they are already stressed enough about dealing with crazed deal-obsessed customers on Black Friday, likely during a really long, possibly overnight shift. At the very least they deserve a relaxing day off beforehand, and so do you. Forget about the deals, stay home with your family, take some photos, make some memories, and get a good night's rest before you head out for some shopping, on Black Friday.
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