During the Thanksgiving holiday, some of these same family and friends are critical of businesses who remain open either on Thanksgiving Day or the day after, feeling sorry for the workers. Many of those friends and family who are complaining voted in this last election. Some exhibited a certain glee when their candidates won.
Were they re-elected or newly elected? If re-elected, they are the ones for the most part that have slowly been increasing taxes, fees, penalties, fines, insurance requirements, maternity and paternity rights and other regulations on businesses to mention a few, that all cost these same businesses a lot of money whether they remain open or closed. In effect, these policies are forcing them to remain open so they can pay all of the above (and others surely missed) because all a store can do to make money is to be open and hope shoppers come in and spend their money. Besides, on non-holiday days, these same “victims” are making $15/hour because of newly passed laws by politicians who should not try to force businesses to do or not do something such as regulate pay. The employees are probably now being paid time and a half or double-time by law for working holidays.
If a store like Walmart remains open, they are branded as the big, bad, greedy conglomerate beating up their employees. Or are they? Most get a holiday rate of pay to work on a holiday as well as benefits for even part-time employees. Granted, not all do, but again, politicians have passed laws requiring them to pay out the wazoo. And what of the person who works there simply because they need the money? It has to be a two way street requiring a little give and take. Having spoken to Walmart employees in Cortland, Oneonta and other locations and asked if working there was as terrible as the media likes to project, the answer has always been, "No."
While these same family and friends like to knock Walmart or any other big store for being open, I wonder if they have worked in a retail store environment to see what it is like? Probably not. But that's okay, you're still entitled to your opinion and can protest by not going shopping at Walmart on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday or any other day.
Just remember, there are a lot of other people working on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday and other holidays besides the Walmart staff. And, like the retail staff such as those at a Walmart or Macy's or Home Depot, they rely on their jobs by having shoppers come and spend their money there. How is it that these same people and politicians have no issue when retailers are open on Labor Day, Memorial Day or any other holiday?
In that respect, there are other workers beyond the obvious retail stores working on the holidays too. People like correction officers, dispatchers, firefighters - including volunteers, police officers, emergency medical personnel, hospital workers, military and more. Should they get the day off also? Our guess is most if not all would say, “No.” Hypocritical? You decide.
So while the headlines might grab your attention by bashing Walmart, and others, because it's easy, remember that their employees are our friends and neighbors and you may be affecting their livelihoods with your protest. Then, when Walmart closes shop such as recently happened in White Plains because it cost too much to be there with theft, parking and traffic, lack of profits, taxes, regulations, etc., it's a little too late to lament when and why they pulled out of the neighborhood. People complained when they were moving in and then they complained when they announced they were leaving. You can't have it both ways. So, instead of getting on your “high horse” and condemning retailers for staying open, realize that many are just trying to stay in business and this time of year can be a make-or-break time for them. Support your local retailers, big and small and instead of demanding they close for the day. Let them run their business. Don't like that? Then don't shop there on that day. They'll get your message.
We need to support our businesses as much as we ask them to support us through donations we ask of them. Just like our businesses are approached almost daily to support our Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, our Little Leagues, School Sports leagues, the Drama Club, the Chess Club, the fire department, police department and so on. The list of groups and organizations seeking donations from local businesses large and small can be staggering. And if they say, “No!” what then? Do you stop patronizing them? We hope not. We hope that you understand the bind they are in. Again, we need to support them as much as they do us. It's the only way to get A Better Greenburgh.
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