Black Friday: In appreciation of those who work

[sms001]

The no break thing seems counter productive to me as well. Working Black Friday is bad enough, but extended hours plus no break? I don't shop that day, but I'm thinking that as a custy, the service of someone who's been on their feet for 10 - 12 hours plus might not be the most exemplary.

[Food Lady]

Edit to add:
I like that comment earlier about a company which had the break schedule pre-planned before Black Friday, and someone assigned to ensure that everyone got their breaks at their scheduled times. On a madness day like that, I can imagine how crucial such organisation would be.

My company does that. All breaks/lunches are written on slips with our names and we are to go when scheduled. When not relieved right away, cashiers are to let a supervisor know. Salesfloor people simply call out over the walkie to the sup to let him/her know. When we had the 11- to 13- hour shifts, we got two lunches. They aren't doing those anymore, though; I think the company saw the disastrous light on that one. I only have 4 hours on BF.

[Deserted]

I don't work on Stupid Consumerism Day. Not ever. There isn't enough money available for me to risk stupid people coming out in droves hordes, driving even worse than usual, all for the sake of saving a few bucks. I don't work, I don't go shopping, I don't do anything. Instead, I stay at home and take the day off.

Davan agrees with me: "Davan, what would it take to get you to run to the store?" "Oral sex skills not comprehended by mere mortals."

[taxguykarl]

Agreed with that, Destered. When driving back from my cousin-in-law's on Thanksgiving night (9pm-ish, IIRC), we passed an outlet mall on the other side and there was a traffic back up already.

[notalwaysright]

My company does that. All breaks/lunches are written on slips with our names and we are to go when scheduled. When not relieved right away, cashiers are to let a supervisor know. Salesfloor people simply call out over the walkie to the sup to let him/her know.

We always have a break schedule for the day, but it's very relaxed normally. Like if someone goes on break a little early or late it's no big deal. Nobody keeps track, either. Okay, for certain coworkers I take it on myself to make them go on lunch. This is because some always go super late and screw the rest of us royally. For example, two IDIOTS who wait until the last second to take their lunch, and they have to go before 5 hours, so now I'm all alone. This doesn't happen on Black Friday.

P.S. I get to be at work at 4AM the day before Thanksgiving, 4AM Black Friday, and 5AM Saturday. I'm tired just thinking about it.

[Android Kaeli]

You all are going to hate me but....

By decree of the Warehouse's SM, I am herby OFF for Black Friday. I'd say something for Random Craft Store, but I haven't stepped foot in there for about two weeks now -- besides, I can't work but one day a week there and Friday's aren't on the list of approved days. *evil laugh*

[Tama]

The one time I worked Black Friday, they started giving breaks when things started calming down. That was about three hours in, eg about 9 or 9:30.

[ralerin]

"How am I going to shave my balls?" from my Black Friday 2009.

[Catwoman2965]

Although I have to work, the only shopping I do on BF is online, or grocery. BEST time to go buy food! Since the mad rushes are over, and everyone is still working on their leftovers.

[Thana]

First Black Friday ever worked was in 2008 I believe. I worked at awful mart and I was on 3rd shift but they didn't make me work Black Friday when I first started in 2007. I wasn't officially on the schedule yet since that took about 3 weeks. So my schedule was hand written and since I was still learning... I didnt have ta work.All I had to do was guard a display starting at 4:30am because our sales started at 5. When 5am came and we were allowed ta open the displays... I opened mine, took two steps and was shoved away from the display. A manager was standing near me and I just looked at her and was like "can I just go home? I'm not needed on register since they have everyone available working register ( I was in a department at this point) and doing my normal duties won't really work since its insane." I fully expected her ta say no but she agreed and clocked me out herself. That was awesome.

Second Black Friday was in 2010, again at awful mart, the one in the city I currently live in (previous awful mart was when I lived in S. Florida)....I was scheduled a normal shift of 2pm-11pm. Mostly got ta help clean up the store.

Third Black Friday was in 2011. I worked from 6:30pm until 1am. It was effing insane. I started out on an express revister like a normal shift but shortly before the sales started.... I got moved to a regular register and it sucked. I had a mild reaction to an energy drink...dunno if it was the monster or a 5 hr energy drink but I barely had a voice and customers weren't paying attention to the DVD prices.

The DVDs on sales had diff colored stickers which it stated in the ad. Some colors were only a $1, some were $2, some were $5 and I think some were $10. All customers saw were the $1 & $2 dollar ones....so of course when they handed me DVDs and they rang up at more than $1 or $2....they got mad at me. It got to the point to where the managers were going by all the registers and repeatedly informing us that we COULD NOT do a DVD price override and that if any customer complained, to punch in the action code for assistance. I was so happy when 1am came and I was able to leave.

My final Black Friday was in 2012 and in was on 3rd shift again. I was scheduled from 7:45pm Thanksgiving night until 7:45am Black Friday morning because our sales started at 10pm on TG night. We had another sale at midnight and then the only sale we had actually on BF was at 5am. Guess which sale was a bust. I had my first break at like 11pm don't remember when I took lunch but I do remember getting in trouble for taking the full hour instead of 2 half hour lunches....despite having had it okayed by a manager and stocking until 4:45 am. When 5am came....we were busy for about 20 minutes. Then we died. Management started asking for volunteers to go home. I volunteered and ended up going home at 5:30am. They wanted to wait a little bit longer to send 3rd shift people home but on account of how dead we were, they told me to just go.

Happily this year I don,'t work Thanksgiving nor do I think I work on Black Friday. Even if I did though... I'm in fast food now not retail so I wouldn't have minded this year heh.

My apologies for the long post.

[Tama]

If you're near an awful mart you might just get hit with the backwash of black Friday shoppers.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I pulled a 12-hour shift for The Day this year. Joy.

At least it isn't a split shift like some people got.

[Catwoman2965]

And I am not happy. In spite of the fact that I know the schedule I can view in our online scheduling program is NEVER final until approved and posted, I was happy to see that while I was scheduled for BF, i was not the following day, Sat, when I normally work.

Don't you know, I'm now working Sat. I was soooo excited thinking I might actually have two FULL days off in a row, from both jobs. But its not meant to be. Which means I am now working M-W at my FT job, with my boss out. And T,W nights after, and BF and Sat.

Add to that a rumor that we are doing a PRE-BF promo; for store chargeholders, a huge promo M-W before Thanksgiving, which means insanity, and no one gets out until well after closing (normal is 30 minutes max after we close) UGH.

So I'm actually now working M-Sat, and I"m including Thursday since i am hosting, and cooking. GRRRRR. I am however, off this sunday, even though I had volunteered to work, so there is that.

[Food Lady]

If you're near an awful mart you might just get hit with the backwash of black Friday shoppers.

I feel like "Who isn't?" Malwarts are everywhere.

[notalwaysright]

I feel like "Who isn't?" Malwarts are everywhere.

Not in my home town. It's such a rich town that when Malwart wanted to come, they refused. Not sure how, but it stuck, and they built in the next town over. There is one in my current town, but not near me. We're a pretty spread out town, and I am closer to my favorite grocery/superstore. And (maybe due to proximity to the border?) the prices at this Malwart are not that great. For me, that is! I also have mini-disagreements about this. Though not so much anymore, since I haven't bothered to price check there for years.

People have already come in wanting doorbusters... Or wanting to put doorbusters on hold, or order it, or basically anything they can think of to get the good price NOW.