DGB Business: Should Stores Be Open On Boxing Day?

Well hello there. I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas so far. Eaten plenty, drunk and been merry. It's a fair old guess that you're all sick off food and drink now and actually craving some healthy eating. I know I am. Until New Years Eve that is.

One thing that always strikes me is how certain things continue to be open on Christmas Day and Boxing. For example, most pubs and pub restaurants are open for lunch on Christmas Day. It's never sat well with me. Do people really need to drink in a pub on Christmas Day instead of being with family and friends? What about the staff having to work that day, who won't get to spend a full Christmas Day with their own special people?

I get it, it's a British tradition to go have a drink at lunch time on Christmas. Not my tradition, but a tradition nonetheless. When it comes to Boxing Day though, I really don't feel as though stores should be open. I don't see the need.

Are we that bothered about commerce?

Think about it. We all bust our backsides all year long, looking forward to the end of the year where we finally get to have some quality time off with friends and family. Something that I don't believe we consider important enough as a society. Yet, on Boxing Day, many stores of all kinds are open from 9am. After just one day of closure, are we really that bothered about business that we can only bring ourselves to be closed for one day?

A prime example is supermarkets. Every year, in the run up to Christmas Eve, there is a rush of biblical proportions from home owners panic buying everything they need for Christmas dinner and beyond. Trollies are overflowing. Every car, back seat and foot-well is packed with absolutely everything possible. So consider this, people have bought so much food, do supermarkets really need to be open on Boxing Day at all? Do we all really run out of everything after one day? How about we give everyone in retail another much deserved day off?

Think about it, people will still spend the money they got at Christmas on the 27th. Prolonging the end of year sales for one more day won't stop people spending, and would have any effects on the economy as that money would still be spent anyway. People get another day off, which I think could be good for the national psyche.

Are we that obsessed about business that we can only have one day off during the Christmas period? Our industry is a bit different of course. Fabricators are closed for a solid two weeks. Home owners put new windows and doors on the back burner. There is very little point for installers to open during the holiday season. Yet, I did see one or two companies show that the only day they're having off is Christmas Day. Personally I think that is very harsh. Business or no business, the staff at our industry's installers work very hard all year. A few days off over Christmas I don't think is a lot to ask for.

Work to live

I think the fact many businesses open on Boxing Day is a symptom of our obsession with business and our demand for instant everything. I fully back the principles of working has hard and best you can for as long as you can. But, we must not let it rule every day and the things we should be holding most dear.

The very essence of work is to earn so we can live. To bring in money so we can afford to do the better things in life, like owning our own home, to go out to dinner, to go on vacation, to spend time with friends and family and as little time in work as possible. We have to work to live, because to live to work is a very depressing thought. To me at least anyway,

I know there is a campaign that grows every year that calls for business to remain closed on Boxing Day. I personally would like to see that come to pass. It would provide another valuable day off for those who work in food establishments and retail. It wouldn't impede on the usual end of year sales bonanza, only hold it off for one extra day. Will it happen? Probably not. The force of business is too strong and now overrides almost every aspect of life now.

In a few day's we're going to be hearing about New Years resolutions. It's become a very vain thing in modern society. However, one personal one I shall be making to myself and one that I have already told my better half is that I will be spending more time with her and friends and family, and making the most of our time and funds together. Life is for living. I like my work, sales, DGB and the NFAs, I take a great deal of pride in them all. But, I am very clear to myself that they are a means to an end. I won't be held ransom to my work. I'll get as much out of it as I can, and lead the best life I can with my loved ones.