Angry Beatties staff are raising a petition protesting against plans by new bosses House of Fraser to open the store on Boxing Day for the first time in its 130-year history.
Many are furious at the new arrangements laid down for December 26, despite a pledge by bosses today that employees would receive perks including free parking and food in return for four hours’ work on the public holiday.
Staff contacted the Express & Star to reveal the scale of the opposition against the move.
One worker said: “Staff who have complained that it is either their day off or do not want to work that day have been told that is the way it is. So much for loyal service.”
Another, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: “Everyone is desperately unhappy about it. There’s been a petition raised against it but it will probably do no good.
“It’s not that people are lazy – it’s because a lot of the workers are older women with families and they want to spend their Christmas at home with them.”
A statement from House of Fraser today said: “Staff working on Boxing Day will be paid double time and have time off in lieu. The store manager is proposing split shifts of four hours.”
20 Comments
everyone should just boycott the store, its ridiculous that there forcing people to work boxing day, in parts of the store workers are being picked out of a hat! it shouldnt be allowed to open boxing day!
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This is what happens when the ‘unseen’ owners take over a once marvellous store.
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I think this is all wrong forcing people to work on such a festive day,when they would want to be spending time with their family, they’ll have them working christmas day next. I,m sure Mr Beattie would be turning in his grave.
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i think working boxing day is stupid becuse they will want to spend time with there family and will be upset to miss them.
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Many hundreds (if not thousands) of stores open in the UK on Boxing day now.
It’s all very well citing tradition but we ARE living in the 21st Century now so perhaps all the Beatties staff that enjoy all the perks of living in this wonderful day and age should remember that and act like the store employees that they are instead of wanting to be treated as special cases.
Or maybe they’d prefer to go back to the age of shoving small children up their chimneys to clean ‘em etc ……….
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I would like to know if Mr Wilson works in retail?
Which i’m sure he does not!
I work for Superdrug and do not wish to work Boxing Day or New Years day, these are holidays where all stores should be closed, get over your 21st century rubish!!!! I support the staff at Beatties in their fight to stay shut on Boxing Day!
Good Luck guys!
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are store in northampton has got a petion up has well,maybe all the stores should join together.double pay thats going to be half gone by the time you get to work,theres no busea,taxi double fair or you have to ask friends and family and they wont be abble to drink.i understand that some people will work,if the stores want to open then the bigger managers should come and work in there stores for the day.and what did people do years ago when the shops werent open on boxingday,bankhoiladays,sundays
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I was wondering if Mr Wilson works in retail?
It sounds to me, like he doesn’t!
And he probaly works in a business that get Boxing Day and all those bank holidays off!
Mr Wilson sounds like the kinda person who doesn’t have anything else better to do with his life than go shopping on Boxing Day!
Unfortunatly people who work in retail do have lives you know!
So I fully support thw workers in Beatties trying to keep their store closed on Boxing Day!
Good Luck!
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get a life people they won’t be the only ones working on boxing day police,fire,hospitals,pub and club landlords etc etc etc ,it is the year 2007 not 1807,plus in the retail business it’s dog eat dog you’ve got to keep up with asda etc so bring on the sales yep pee.
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I can’t believe the amount of whinging here about doing a days work. you get paid for standing around most of the time don’t you?
Be thankful you don’t work at Next on their first day of sale - or for that matter in the sweatshops where most of it is made!
Moon on a stick, some people.
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I would like to mention initially the lack of understanding on this subject with the ill informed comments above. Firstly in response to “ Besty”, how can Beatties and retail in general be compared to the fire and police service? These are sectors which are essential to be operational on Boxing Day, it isn’t essential for us to be open.
There is no way we can be compared to the likes of Asda as the product and the demand for the product is totally different. Simeon you clearly don’t shop in the store , if you did you would realize that staff don’t “stand around”, they pride themselves in keeping customers happy the “beatties” way.
Richard, Many stores are open in the country boxing day however the point is there are only two major stores in Wolverhampton one being Beatties and the other being Marks. Is there really a need to open when their is no competition .Footfall in Wolverhampton in general is poor as at present there are more desirable shopping destinations in surrounding towns and cities.
I would like to put across the staff’s thoughts on this matter. Firstly it is the way the announcement came that has annoyed many of the staff in the store. The store management has shown their total lack of respect for their loyal workforce by not addressing the staff but by finding others to announce the Boxing Day decision. It is not just about Boxing Day it is the lack of respect given to staff. Morale is at an all time low and the staff have had most things taken away from them since the take over so why should they jump to their tune once again. I would also like to remind people that store management several months ago said that the store wouldn’t be opening Boxing Day this year yet again another false promise.
People wonder why family life and children are going off the rails, decisions like this contribute to this. How many children won’t see their mothers this Christmas? How many people wont be able to see their grandparents this year? .And how many families wont sit together when having there Boxing Day meal.
Beatties always used to stand out from the rest by retailing in a loyal and professional manner why cant we carry this on and make a statement by remaining shut this year and shout out the fact that Christmas is a family time not a time for shopping .Is Richard aware of the low morale in the store does he think this decision will help matters? .I would also like to ask Richard why shouldn’t staff members be treated as “special cases”? Staff in Beatties treat customers as special cases don’t they deserve to have a Christmas with their families? Why does the world have such a self centered approach?
We appreciate that Boxing Day trading is the way of the world however the way it has been handled is terrible. With everything that has gone on over the last two years surely store management would rather have a happy workforce on their side than an unhappy workforce forced to work at Christmas. Give staff a little and you will find that the staff will give a lot more back.
I would like to put it to the people and families of Wolverhampton by asking you. Should we have a family Christmas this year? Or shall we have self centered money orientated Christmas. Sooner the name is changed the better as we can move away from the caring approach Beatties gave which all the staff prided themselves on as the new owners clearly don’t have this approach to their retailing.
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I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD IDEA, ESPECIALLY AS THEY WILL BE CLOSED ON XMAS, THE STAFF HAVE IT VERY GOOD AS IT IS AND FOR THEM TO BE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK EXTRA FOR MORE MONEY IS EXCELLENT, THESE BEATTIES STAFF SOMETIMES WANT EVERYTHING ON A PLATE AND NOT TO WORK FOR IT,
HMMM
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1.Retail is not an essential service.
2. People who work in retail work hard enough, i think they deserve just two day’s off!
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mrs Binsleydale.
I assume you dont have a family and you would be one of the sad customers who come out shopping on boxing day.
I would also like to remind you all that customers wont be able to exchange or refund items on this day.
GET A LIFE Im sure you can all manage for 2 days without shopping.
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very good points by the employee. why dont they give them a break and let them have two days off. I urge the express and star to act on behalf of the public and put these views actually in the paper this way the decision may get overturned, people should fight for what is right!
come on!!!
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Comments about poor customer service in Beatties, and one of your staff calls the customers (who pay your wages, I might add) “sad” and tells them to “GET A LIFE”?
If this is the “caring approach” old face of Beatties, roll on with the new!
Merry Christmas everyone.
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Beatties Employee.
“Get a life”? “sad customer”?
now THAT’s customer service!
We pay your wages!
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AAAARRRGGGHHHH! Its a shop. No-one forces you to work there, no-one forces you to shop there. If you don’t like it go elsewhere. Surely there are more pressing issues in this area like the lack of employment opportunities for
our young people!
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Actually Rhys, House of Fraser pay’s their wages!
I take it you don’t work in retail!
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you pay our wages i dont think so rhys. customers who shop on boxing day and new years day obviously dont have anything better to do with their time, and When we are on the shop floor it is customer customer customer, this doesnt mean i cant say how i feel once the doors are closed.
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