Every year now, we all get story after story of the cruel practive of taking people away to work on Thanksgiving. While I was not raised to celebrate the holiday, and even after taking it on, I still see it as a dinner and at best a few friends and family members eating together. Yet for most Americans, it is not really that big of a deal to work on Thanksgiving. Most do not really have any time off around it, and most will not travel to see any relatives. Why is that?
Now I may be just speaking for myself and not this audience, but with those to whom I know and work with, this is something we see as the hidden truth to working on thanksgiving complaints. Who we see complaining are the older generation or perhaps people who have that time off. They make comments like, "It is not right," and we should "boycott these businesses." All sounds so noble and amazing, it nearly puts their passion on a level in which I believe they really mean it. But I don't and I won't.
Looking at Thanksgiving, it stands out that a lot of Federal businesses are closed on that day. Which is awesome, right? You can catch a plane, drive hundreds of miles or perhaps plan a huge amount of activity in that one day... and then be back to work Friday! Yes, back to work FRIDAY. As most jobs will only allow those with the most seniority and time with the company to have the day after Thanksgiving off. Most have to be back to work, and had to work to support those black Friday deals. Some how though, no one ever complained about that. But god forbid you work Thanksgiving!
Now lets talk pay, I have not found any companies that did not pay either time in a half or double time on the holiday and most people need money for that other holiday, Christmas. Which is supposedly about Christ, but we all know it is about decorations and presents. Pressure tells us to buy more, buy expensive and spend spend spend! So the more money we have the more spending we do. Which drives the economy and gets more corporations rich in time to cut jobs in January.
Anyway, I went to a Thanksgiving sale last year. I was met with huge crowds, witnessed unreal amounts of purchases being made and honestly it looked very successful. I waited in line with all sorts of hypocrites who mentioned their guilt, their feelings of thinking this was wrong and slid their cards to make great purchases and save on items they would buy anyway. So yeah, the guilt really got to them!
So each year I hear the complaints. Each year I see those post on Facebook and the disgust of thinking greed of those corporations are punishing families with their greed. But more than anything, each year I stand in these long lines with these people who spend spend spend, and make sure that more and more businesses will open on Thanksgiving each year. Eat your turkey early, with those relatives close enough to drive to your table and stop complaining America. We love it, it's fun and I am hitting Target and Walmart this year. Going to be great!