Stores that will be open on Thanksgiving, like KMart and Walmart, have been quick to reassure the public that
it's okay, workers love working on Thanksgiving because it means extra pay. No doubt when you work for poverty wages the rest of the year, the extra $50 or $75 we're talking about has some appeal. But you know what else might have some appeal? A paid holiday! In any case, who's open and who's closed on Thanksgiving?
In the open-on-Thanksgiving hall of shame: Walmart, KMart, Sears, Target, Old Navy, OfficeMax, Staples—which led to an online petition against the Thanksgiving opening asking "Do they honestly think people are going to be standing outside on Thanksgiving evening for bulk paper and pencils?"—Medieval Times, Toys "R" Us, Michaels, Macy's, J.C. Penney, Kohl's, Dollar General, Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, and doubtless others.
Staying closed on Thanksgiving: Perennial big box boss hero Costco, Nordstrom, BJ's Wholesale Club, Home Depot, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Burlington Coat Factory, Apple, Radio Shack, American Girl, Patagonia, REI, Dillard's, Ross, and Menards.
Sadly, we don't know if all of these count as real good guys by making it a paid holiday. And Yahoo's Rick Newman argues that one big factor in stores' decisions is that most of the ones staying closed on Thanksgiving are doing well, while the ones opening that day are underperforming. Whatever the motivation, though, the fact is this: You don't fight the race to the bottom by heading out on a holiday to shop at stores like Walmart and KMart, and workers shouldn't have to rely on having an especially good boss to get to spend Thanksgiving with their families.
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