Went to our little town today. Most of the few business we have here are owned by the same family--2 gas stations, grocery store, hardware store, newspaper, resturant and real estate office. He and his kids and their spouses manage them all with help from non related high school kids. I noticed a sign up the the 2 gas stations, grocery and hardware stores, as well as the resturant. They will be open regular hours on Thanksgiving. At the one gas station where I stopped, the help was complaiing-all the "family" members are off, only the non related high school help has to work. The do not get over time or holiday pay. One said if it were a school day he normally didn't come in until 4 p.m., but was scheduled 7-4 because it was not a school day.
Then I went to the next town over to get some things our town doesn't have. The grocery store there is open 6am-12pm tomorrow, along with most other businesses. Even Sonic had a sign up they were open regular hours.
I go to the grocery store there fairly often to fill in for what Aldi doesn't have. I said something to the owner/manager. He said he had so many people complain to him, he will not be open Christmas as a result. I also said something to the Sonic manager (had a craving for a route 44 cherry limade and he was the one working the drive thru). He said it was a corp office decision and stupid. He said last year they didn't even clear enough to pay the help.
The walmart in the city that we go to when we have to is open regular hours on all holidays.
All for the sake of the almighty dollar.
I think it is sad
November 27th, 2008 at 12:43 am
November 27th, 2008 at 01:17 am 1227748673
November 27th, 2008 at 05:00 am 1227762004
sorry, but that's my two cents worth. i'm only 21 but i've noticed changed in kids attitudes over the last few years...
November 27th, 2008 at 05:10 am 1227762651
They are viewing as if he says his family is more important.
I would rather be with my family, then at a min wage job, and so would these kids. One said he had worked here for 2 years, and had to work all holidays-Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving...if there were other jobs in the town he would take one of them, but there are not. But, since his dad passed away, he is trying to work to help his mom out. Yet, with his dad gone, family time means more to him.
10 years from now being behind that register won't mean didley. Time spent with your family creating a holiday memory will. You never know when the end of a family relationship can happen due to a death.
November 28th, 2008 at 05:17 am 1227849479