AARoads Forum

Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 06:53:04 AM

Title: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 06:53:04 AM
It's that time of year again where some turkey asks "Who is working Thanksgiving Day?" Lets see here, we have the Original (2013) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=10941.0), II (2014) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14048.0), III (2015) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=16895.0), IV (2016) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19145.0), V (2017) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=21620.0), VI (2018) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=23915.0), VII (2019) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=26004.0), Coronavirus (2020) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=28012.0), IX (2021) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=30596.0), and X (2022) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=32466.0). The original thread was created over a decade ago because people were complaining that "the retailers were open and making the retail workers WORK", not realizing that other people were also earning a paycheck during the United States Thanksgiving holiday. Plus, we have the following sports (All Times Eastern):
(https://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/nurses-paramedics-and-police-work-holidays-and-its-never-questioned-but-ask-a-retailer-to-work-thanksgiving-and-it-becomes-a-national-travesty-baf32.png)
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 07:04:30 AM
You remember the part where the critics say "Those who make the schedule don't work the holidays?" Guess what... I made the schedule for my team and... I have to work the morning (8 AM-2 PM Eastern) on Thanksgiving, plus the afternoons (2 PM-8 PM Eastern) on Saturday, November 25th and Sunday, November 26th. The Saturday and Sunday shifts had no takers, so I'm ending up working them. It's a contractual obligation that we provide support for the product even though most of the entities will probably not be calling in. Work on the holiday schedule for Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas through New Years, and MLK was started after Labor Day and completed in mid-October.

Having said that, I'm on badly needed vacation from Saturday, December 23rd until Sunday, January 21st. I haven't had a real vacation since September, 2018, and a planned vacation in late September, 2022 had to be cancelled.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on November 05, 2023, 07:19:56 AM
Guess what? Just another normal day in Spain. However I have workmates in the USA, and they will be off. Interestingly, it's going to be the only day that week in which I'll work, since I'll be out for a company meetup until Wednesday, and I don't work Fridays.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: 1995hoo on November 05, 2023, 07:39:15 AM
I have off both Thursday and Friday. I'm glad my direct boss is not in charge of that issue because he would not close the place on Friday if he were. He resents Thanksgiving being on Thursday because "nobody wants to work on Friday." (Duh!!!!! Except him!!!!!)
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Hunty2022 on November 05, 2023, 07:41:42 AM
I'll most likely be at my extended family's yearly Thanksgiving party watching the Cowboys game.

Something inside of me is telling me I should do the 2024 (XII) edition...
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: GaryV on November 05, 2023, 08:06:12 AM
Not me, but then again I'm retired.

Unless you want to count the support roles I'll have in hosting family members at our house.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Rothman on November 05, 2023, 08:18:53 AM
I'm not working Thanksgiving Day, per usual, but I will be working on Friday.  I'm also going to be working the week between Christmas and New Year's.  I'm doing this because it provides coverage in the office and staffers need to worry less about whether or not their leave requests get approved.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on November 05, 2023, 08:32:10 AM
Federal employees (except a few, notably TSA) are off Thanksgiving. The day after is not a Federal Holiday, but my position allows me to take it off nearly every year.

My wife is a respiratory therapist in a hospital and has had to work Thanksgiving in the past but now she's part time and isn't required to work any holidays. She usually works one of Friday or Saturday.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Max Rockatansky on November 05, 2023, 09:43:36 AM
Unless a building I manage sinks into the earth I won't be.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: SSOWorld on November 05, 2023, 09:50:24 AM
Quote from: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 06:53:04 AM
It's that time of year again where some turkey asks "Who is working Thanksgiving Day?" Lets see here, we have the Original (2013) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=10941.0), II (2014) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14048.0), III (2015) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=16895.0), IV (2016) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19145.0), V (2017) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=21620.0), VI (2018) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=23915.0), VII (2019) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=26004.0), Coronavirus (2020) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=28012.0), IX (2021) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=30596.0), and X (2022) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=32466.0). The original thread was created over a decade ago because people were complaining that "the retailers were open and making the retail workers WORK", not realizing that other people were also earning a paycheck during the United States Thanksgiving holiday. Plus, we have the following sports (All Times Eastern):

  • 12:30 PM - NFL on FOX: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (and Dallas is hosting the following Thursday as well)
  • 4:30 PM - NFL on CBS: Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
  • 8:20 PM - NFL on NBC: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (and Seattle plays the following Thursday as well)
  • Friday @ 3:00 PM - NFL on Amazon: Miani Dolphins at New York Jets
  • Multiple NCAA Mens and Womens Basketball Games
  • No NBA or NHL Games on Thursday, November 23rd
(https://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/nurses-paramedics-and-police-work-holidays-and-its-never-questioned-but-ask-a-retailer-to-work-thanksgiving-and-it-becomes-a-national-travesty-baf32.png)
ok zoomer ;)
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: formulanone on November 05, 2023, 09:53:26 AM
Quote from: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 06:53:04 AM
(https://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/nurses-paramedics-and-police-work-holidays-and-its-never-questioned-but-ask-a-retailer-to-work-thanksgiving-and-it-becomes-a-national-travesty-baf32.png)

Recognition is not taken away because others deserve it as well; another group's loss does not equate to lost valor for others' sacrifices.

That's because there's never been a shred of remembrance nor pause for thought for retail workers until very recently. When families and workers were annoyed that their annual traditions were being modified because of large businesses' continual need for greed that we noticed. When we realized the clerk making $8/hour was risking their lives in a pandemic so someone could yell at them for a lack of toilet paper, that suddenly many people straightened up. And when someone is modifying their wellness schedule so that you can get a discounted deal on some marginally improved piece of electronics, maybe there's a spare moment of reflection to go with it.

I intentionally took this week off this year because we're hosting family; I'm on-call for tech support on Friday. But I haven't actually worked on Thanksgiving...ever? (Though I have worked the occasional New Year's Day, Easter, Labor Day, et cetera.)
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Max Rockatansky on November 05, 2023, 10:49:18 AM
I don't know if anyone was per se "risking their lives" on any Black Friday.  That said, I usually have a crowd control plan implemented and in the past customers tended to be very aggressive when the front store doors were unlocked.  Swing doors in particular were problematic since the customers would push them up unexpectedly fast once the tumbler was unlocked. 

If I recall, the whole being open on Thanksgiving idea started when Sears/Kmart got desperate and implemented the idea.  I was fortunately on my way out of Sears at the time for new District LP position elsewhere and put my notice two weeks in before Black Friday.  Once every retailer started opening on Thanksgiving it became watered down.  Customers and employees started pushing back which led to most retailers mostly opening at midnight on Black Friday.  Seemingly Thanksgiving shopping was just one of those items that the majority of retail customers weren't willing to widely accept.  Online retail no doubt played a significant factor in the retreat from Black Friday and Thanksgiving in general. 
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Rothman on November 05, 2023, 10:53:44 AM


Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 05, 2023, 10:49:18 AM
I don't know if anyone was per se "risking their lives" on any Black Friday.

Covid has killed 1.2 million people in the U.S.

Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on November 05, 2023, 11:17:08 AM
This goes back to well before COVID. As I remember it retailers started becoming wary after a string of customer deaths in door-busting events so they pushed the start of Black Friday to Thanksgiving night in hopes it would mitigate the crowds.

I find the "but x group has to work" to be silly. An EMT is an essential service. You buying a TV is not an essential service.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Max Rockatansky on November 05, 2023, 11:20:40 AM
^^^

Which is what I was more or less trying to speak to.  Nowadays I don't need police assistance for crowd control, but I still put a crowd control policy in place nonetheless.  The big thing I always tried to do was stop the department managers from putting bulk stock near the entrance doors.  A lot of those bottlenecks you used to see in the news used to be due to poor sales floor planning. 

My first LP Manager back at Target had about 40 years of experience and taught me a lot about crowd control measures.  He had lots of stories about all sorts of incidents which led to customers and employees getting hurt in Black Friday mishaps. 

Quote from: Rothman on November 05, 2023, 10:53:44 AM


Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 05, 2023, 10:49:18 AM
I don't know if anyone was per se "risking their lives" on any Black Friday.

Covid has killed 1.2 million people in the U.S.

The further back in time you go, the more people were in stores on Black Friday sales days.  Most retailers (including mine) had a hard cap on how many people could be in the store during 2020 and 2021.  During 2020 we didn't even let customers in unless they were wearing masks.  The employee mandate for full masking had been in place since May of 2020.  The average wait time to get in the store was about 60 minutes but went up to about 100 in 2020.  Our sales ultimately were about 1/4 of what they normally were that year for the entire Black Friday weekend. 

Prior to COVID, one would likely need to be on their death bed (I wish this wasn't hyperbole) to be permitted to call out on a Black Friday.  In 2007 (at Sears) I had a severe flu and spent the bulk of the day throwing up in an office trash can.  I came in because I was the LP Manager and knew there was no point in even attempting to call out on a day where our sales were projected to be $2,500,000.  By contrast, I was out for Black Friday last year because I pulled a positive COVID test the Monday prior.  Our policy required (and still does) being out for five days past a positive COVID test.   

As an aside, probably the year that carried the most risk for me personally was in 2012.  I went to my store in Yuma for Black Friday that year because they had a robbery attempt the day prior to Thanksgiving.  I hired an armed contract security service, but they weren't able to start until Sunday.  Essentially, I was on robber watch the entire and was supposed to "something" if he showed back up.  The robbery didn't show back up, but I did have a quadruple shoplift case at about 7:30 PM which I needed help from Yuma PD on.  My thought was that having three Yuma PD cars outside for several hours was likely a strong enough deterrent.  I went home to Phoenix on Sunday morning and the robbery was caught the following Monday trying to hit a Bank of America.

Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 11:23:44 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 05, 2023, 10:49:18 AMOnce every retailer started opening on Thanksgiving it became watered down.  Customers and employees started pushing back which led to most retailers mostly opening at midnight on Black Friday.  Seemingly Thanksgiving shopping was just one of those items that the majority of retail customers weren't willing to widely accept.  Online retail no doubt played a significant factor in the retreat from Black Friday and Thanksgiving in general.

Once I realized that Amazon was price matching most of the major retailers on pricing, that's when I stopped bothering with the Black Friday sales, and that was over ten years ago. Plus, some of those "door buster" deals are either older technology or special makes of products with a reduced feature set (e.g. televisions with limited input ports, especially HDMI).

While I am looking for some deals this Black Friday, my list is delightfully short. I have already ordered some speedier and more spacious NVMe drives for my main computer, and will be transferring the slower NVMe drives to my secondary computer. I "need" a bigger external hard drive to back up my Plex media library. I will also keep an eye on some BluRays or 4K movies as well. But a new television, gaming console, Bluetooth device, tablet, or phone? Nope, waiting on phone upgrade until next year.

The other issue I have is the need to try and figure out what someone wants as a gift or, worse yet, giving someone some $5-$10 worthless bauble that ends up in next year's gift exchange. Yet, giving someone a gift card is somehow portrayed as "heartless and thoughtless". I would be very happy if someone gave me a Steam, Amazon, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, or Lowes gift card rather than try to figure out what I like. Plus, a gift card is much easier and cheaper to send through the mails than packaging that bargain gift.


Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Max Rockatansky on November 05, 2023, 11:33:29 AM
Quote from: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 11:23:44 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 05, 2023, 10:49:18 AMOnce every retailer started opening on Thanksgiving it became watered down.  Customers and employees started pushing back which led to most retailers mostly opening at midnight on Black Friday.  Seemingly Thanksgiving shopping was just one of those items that the majority of retail customers weren't willing to widely accept.  Online retail no doubt played a significant factor in the retreat from Black Friday and Thanksgiving in general.

Once I realized that Amazon was price matching most of the major retailers on pricing, that's when I stopped bothering with the Black Friday sales, and that was over ten years ago. Plus, some of those "door buster" deals are either older technology or special makes of products with a reduced feature set (e.g. televisions with limited input ports, especially HDMI).

While I am looking for some deals this Black Friday, my list is delightfully short. I have already ordered some speedier and more spacious NVMe drives for my main computer, and will be transferring the slower NVMe drives to my secondary computer. I "need" a bigger external hard drive to back up my Plex media library. I will also keep an eye on some BluRays or 4K movies as well. But a new television, gaming console, Bluetooth device, tablet, or phone? Nope, waiting on phone upgrade until next year.

The other issue I have is the need to try and figure out what someone wants as a gift or, worse yet, giving someone some $5-$10 worthless bauble that ends up in next year's gift exchange. Yet, giving someone a gift card is somehow portrayed as "heartless and thoughtless". I would be very happy if someone gave me a Steam, Amazon, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, or Lowes gift card rather than try to figure out what I like. Plus, a gift card is much easier and cheaper to send through the mails than packaging that bargain gift.

Amusingly I had no idea what Black Friday even was until I went into a Meijer's during one accidentally to get a Mountain Dew when I as 16.  I ran into someone I went to school with who explained to me what was going on and let me cut the lines.  It certainly reaffirmed that working part time for a garage was the correct choice. 
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: bing101 on November 05, 2023, 12:14:28 PM
I might be called into work on Thanksgiving day due to tourists making stops at my workplace during Thanksgiving week for the Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas celebrations on their way to their main destinations in the Bay Area or Sacramento. Yes I work in Fairfield.

https://www.jellybelly.com/jelly-belly-10-flavor-christmas-gift-box/p/94786





Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: vdeane on November 05, 2023, 03:28:22 PM
Quote from: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 06:53:04 AM
It's that time of year again where some turkey asks "Who is working Thanksgiving Day?"
I thought it was the time of year where we discuss DST for a few more hours before the thread inevitably gets locked.

Quote
(https://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/nurses-paramedics-and-police-work-holidays-and-its-never-questioned-but-ask-a-retailer-to-work-thanksgiving-and-it-becomes-a-national-travesty-baf32.png)
Crimes and medical emergencies happen when they happen.  People can shop another day.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: CtrlAltDel on November 05, 2023, 03:44:39 PM
I will be off from Tuesday to Friday. I can't quite yet justify taking Monday as well, but maybe next year.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: 1995hoo on November 06, 2023, 07:42:28 AM
While I'm supposed to have this Friday off (Veterans Day falls on Saturday this year), there's a pretty good chance I might have to work. I'm trying to decide which is the better day to ask to have off in return: the day before Thanksgiving or the day after Christmas. Normally I'd say that's easy—Christmas is a Monday this year, so take the day after Christmas—but my wife and I are hosting my mom and my next-door neighbor for Thanksgiving, so I'm thinking maybe having the day before freed up for advance cooking etc would be useful.

Practically speaking, though, the odds are that if I wind up working Friday I will get nothing for it (no compensatory day off, etc.—I'm salaried, so extra "holiday pay" won't happen).
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: ZLoth on November 06, 2023, 08:22:40 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on November 06, 2023, 07:42:28 AMWhile I'm supposed to have this Friday off (Veterans Day falls on Saturday this year), there's a pretty good chance I might have to work. I'm trying to decide which is the better day to ask to have off in return: the day before Thanksgiving or the day after Christmas. Normally I'd say that's easy—Christmas is a Monday this year, so take the day after Christmas—but my wife and I are hosting my mom and my next-door neighbor for Thanksgiving, so I'm thinking maybe having the day before freed up for advance cooking etc would be useful.

Day off before Thanksgiving. Accept no substitutes. Your wife will thank you.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: mgk920 on November 06, 2023, 11:56:08 AM
Aso, how many of us are planning on answering reveille at 0300 on Friday for shopping maneuvers?

(Ugh...)

Mike
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Flint1979 on November 06, 2023, 12:35:37 PM
Definitely not working.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: kphoger on November 06, 2023, 12:49:56 PM
Quote from: NWI_Irish96 on November 05, 2023, 08:32:10 AM
The day after is not a Federal Holiday, but my position allows me to take it off nearly every year.

I'm often the only one in the office on that Friday.  It's a corporate holiday as well but, if I'm not there to do at least part of my usual daily job, then our company doesn't get paid for two days' worth of work until the following week.  In the grand scheme of things, it would be no big deal, but they let me come in for a half-day anyway.  They let me either (a) get a full day's holiday pay plus the hours I work, or else (b) take a half-day some other time during the pay-week to even it out.




Quote from: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 06:53:04 AM

(https://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/nurses-paramedics-and-police-work-holidays-and-its-never-questioned-but-ask-a-retailer-to-work-thanksgiving-and-it-becomes-a-national-travesty-baf32.png)


Quote from: vdeane on November 05, 2023, 03:28:22 PM
Crimes and medical emergencies happen when they happen.  People can shop another day.

Very well put.  And, even then, a lot of medical staff end up getting either Thanksgiving or Christmas off, because it's recognized that having to work both holidays just ain't cool.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 06, 2023, 01:35:35 PM
Quote from: ZLoth on November 05, 2023, 06:53:04 AM
It's that time of year again where some turkey asks "Who is working Thanksgiving Day?" Lets see here, we have the Original (2013) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=10941.0), II (2014) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14048.0), III (2015) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=16895.0), IV (2016) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19145.0), V (2017) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=21620.0), VI (2018) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=23915.0), VII (2019) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=26004.0), Coronavirus (2020) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=28012.0), IX (2021) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=30596.0), and X (2022) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=32466.0). The original thread was created over a decade ago because people were complaining that "the retailers were open and making the retail workers WORK", not realizing that other people were also earning a paycheck during the United States Thanksgiving holiday. Plus, we have the following sports (All Times Eastern):

  • 12:30 PM - NFL on FOX: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (and Dallas is hosting the following Thursday as well)
  • 4:30 PM - NFL on CBS: Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
  • 8:20 PM - NFL on NBC: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (and Seattle plays the following Thursday as well)
(https://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/nurses-paramedics-and-police-work-holidays-and-its-never-questioned-but-ask-a-retailer-to-work-thanksgiving-and-it-becomes-a-national-travesty-baf32.png)

The ironic thing about that image...it doesn't remind people that tens of thousands of people will be working to provide the entertainment listed above for those sitting at home saying that Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day off as we appreciate the sacrifices made by nurses, paramedics and police that have to work.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: kphoger on November 06, 2023, 01:47:49 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 06, 2023, 01:35:35 PM
The ironic thing about that image...it doesn't remind people that tens of thousands of people will be working to provide the entertainment listed above for those sitting at home saying that Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day off as we appreciate the sacrifices made by nurses, paramedics and police that have to work.

For my family, Thanksgiving entertainment means putting on a music playlist while cooking, playing games in the living room, stuff that requires nobody to be working that day.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: epzik8 on November 06, 2023, 02:17:44 PM
Me, for the third time in my life with three different employers.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: hbelkins on November 06, 2023, 02:18:21 PM
Not unless it snows or there is some other sort of emergency that requires my presence (either in-person or virtually).
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: algorerhythms on November 06, 2023, 11:20:23 PM
I had Thanksgiving off last month.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: bulldog1979 on November 07, 2023, 12:14:16 AM
I have returned to retail this year after an absence of 13 years. I will not be working Thanksgiving though because Walmart is closing that day nationally this year. As for the day after, I'm scheduled in at 10 am.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Road Hog on November 07, 2023, 12:46:30 AM
My boss did me a solid this year. He gave me the Wednesday and the Friday off and I don't have to go in until close on Saturday.

Last year he had me closing on Wednesday and opening on Black Friday at 6 a.m. where I could not leave town. I bitched enough about it that he was good enough not to boof me again.

Christmas this year falls on a Monday, where I get boofed by my side hustle which is an all-day sucker on Tuesday. So short of an early shift Sunday, I might be stuck home eating Chinese again.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Rothman on November 07, 2023, 07:04:17 AM
"Side hustle" is such a euphemism.  It's interesting how nowadays it carries a positive connotation, whereas "Moonlighting" and other like terms from yesteryear implied one shouldn't have had to work two jobs to get by.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Max Rockatansky on November 07, 2023, 08:17:02 AM
I always refer to my wife's on-call job she does at the mental health clinic on weekends I work a "moonlighting gig."  Maybe that's my age showing that I call it that, I never thought to refer to it as a "side hustle."  She doesn't need that job to get by, she does more because she's bored and gets to talk to friends all day.  She does usually take Black Friday shifts. 
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: kphoger on November 07, 2023, 09:28:50 AM
I always thought of a 'side hustle' as more of an ad hoc sort of job—one that you just kind of came up with on your own, or for which you only interact with your boss by text message from another time zone, or that has you directly selling your product or service by word of mouth, or something like that.  I'm thrown off when people use the term in reference to a 'normal' second job.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: GaryV on November 07, 2023, 10:55:06 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 07, 2023, 09:28:50 AM
I always thought of a 'side hustle' as more of an ad hoc sort of job—one that you just kind of came up with on your own, or for which you only interact with your boss by text message from another time zone, or that has you directly selling your product or service by word of mouth, or something like that.  I'm thrown off when people use the term in reference to a 'normal' second job.

Or consulting. Anything that might be considered a 'gig'. Something you do from time to time, maybe only once, but not regular employment. Otherwise it's just a second job.

For me, moonlighting has the connotation that it is somewhat secret - it is done in the moonlight, not the broad daylight of daytime. Maybe something that if your primary employer knew about it, they wouldn't be supportive of you holding that 2nd position.

I retired, so has my 'side hustle' (scheduling soccer games) become my primary job? I don't consider it so. It's still just something I do for a little extra money.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: kphoger on November 07, 2023, 12:19:46 PM
Quote from: GaryV on November 07, 2023, 10:55:06 AM
For me, moonlighting has the connotation that it is somewhat secret - it is done in the moonlight, not the broad daylight of daytime. Maybe something that if your primary employer knew about it, they wouldn't be supportive of you holding that 2nd position.

And see, I've always just thought of moonlighting as having a second, evening job.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: ZLoth on November 07, 2023, 12:45:33 PM
Quote from: GaryV on November 07, 2023, 10:55:06 AM(I'm) retired, so has my 'side hustle' (scheduling soccer games) become my primary job? I don't consider it so. It's still just something I do for a little extra money.

It depends. Is it nice to have a little extra spending money on something that you are enjoying to do anyways? When my mother worked as a product demonstrator for a warehouse club, she was surrounded by people who were in their 70s and 80s who had to work to make ends meet beyond their social security check.

Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: vegas1962 on November 07, 2023, 03:57:19 PM
In my work life, both in the automotive sector and as a paralegal, I have always had Thursday and Friday off as paid holidays.

My wife is a (now-retired) RN. Her employer (a major hospital) recognized six "official" holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas) and the rule was that everyone in patient care had to choose two holidays to work each year, and preferably not the same two every year so that others could have some variety.  Seniority mattered in the selection process, but managers knew who got what the previous year and took pains to ensure that certain people didn't monopolize certain holidays.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: ZLoth on November 13, 2023, 12:27:07 PM
Quote from: vegas1962 on November 07, 2023, 03:57:19 PMMy wife is a (now-retired) RN. Her employer (a major hospital) recognized six "official" holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas) and the rule was that everyone in patient care had to choose two holidays to work each year, and preferably not the same two every year so that others could have some variety.

For holidays and weekends, there are two shifts that need one person each on my tiny-but-mightly support team: Morning (8 AM-2 PM) and Afternoon (2 PM-8 PM). There are two periods of holidays that a member of my team can volunteer for. The first period consists of Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veteran's Day, and the second period is Thanksgiving, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas, Day After Christmas, New Years, and MLK. With advanced planning (two months for the first period, four months for the second period), it is possible for a member of the team to take one holiday for each holiday period.

When I first started this thread back in 2013, I had just started what would end up being a six year stint on graveyard shift. The person who I was paired up with only worked his required hours and refused to work company holidays which meant that I got to work every holiday. (He was open to shift swaps to cover vacations). At that point, I was still working off the debt I had acquired while acquiring my degree, so working holidays on top of the shift differential allowed me to pay off that debt as well as put money aside in the 401(k) and some investments. Those investments would come in handy later when I moved to Texas and purchased my home. In 2017, the person I worked with left the company to pursue another position, and his replacement was more than open to working alternating holidays.

The stores and restaurants are only open holidays because the consumer demand is there. With the "Black Friday" sales having extended to include much of November, plus the price matching that is available online, the desire to get "malled" is nearly zero. I may go out on Black Friday. but shopping is at the bottom of the list. Also, if you don't want to work holidays and weekends, don't get a job that has you working holidays and weekends.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: achilles765 on November 13, 2023, 08:53:37 PM
Yeah. The last two years I worked at a restaurant bar in downtown Houston that was closed the whole week.

Now I've moved onto a position as a bartender at a fine dining restaurant and I actually have already offered to work the entire day on thanksgiving. Some of the best money I've ever made was on Thanksgiving. Like over 500 and even once over $700.

Growing up, my mom was a nurse so to me the possibility of working holidays was never really an odd or unusual prospect.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: JoePCool14 on November 13, 2023, 10:41:33 PM
As like last year, I won't be working. Honestly, unless my career suddenly tanks, I shouldn't need to work on Thanksgiving for the rest of my life. Thankful for that.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 13, 2023, 10:47:06 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 06, 2023, 01:47:49 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 06, 2023, 01:35:35 PM
The ironic thing about that image...it doesn't remind people that tens of thousands of people will be working to provide the entertainment listed above for those sitting at home saying that Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day off as we appreciate the sacrifices made by nurses, paramedics and police that have to work.

For my family, Thanksgiving entertainment means putting on a music playlist while cooking, playing games in the living room, stuff that requires nobody to be working that day.

Hopefully the electric company monitors the power grid, and the gas company has someone on call for gas leaks.

There's plenty of jobs out there that people take for granted. 
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Henry on November 13, 2023, 10:55:32 PM
I'll be off for all of next week, so I'm going home for Thanksgiving. In other words...

Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: ET21 on November 14, 2023, 09:26:39 AM
Not working Thursday and have Black Friday off
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: MikeTheActuary on November 14, 2023, 09:44:35 AM
I work on a Québec holiday schedule, so my Thanksgiving holiday was over a month ago.

I'm actually now telecommuting to the UK.  I have a 7am meeting on my calendar for US Thanksgiving morning.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: MATraveler128 on November 14, 2023, 10:01:18 AM
Not this year. I work retail at Target so my store is closed on Thanksgiving. However since I'm traveling this year, I have to convince them to let me have Black Friday weekend off.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: kphoger on November 14, 2023, 11:18:31 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 13, 2023, 10:47:06 PM

Quote from: kphoger on November 06, 2023, 01:47:49 PM

Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 06, 2023, 01:35:35 PM
The ironic thing about that image...it doesn't remind people that tens of thousands of people will be working to provide the entertainment listed above for those sitting at home saying that Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day off as we appreciate the sacrifices made by nurses, paramedics and police that have to work.

For my family, Thanksgiving entertainment means putting on a music playlist while cooking, playing games in the living room, stuff that requires nobody to be working that day.

Hopefully the electric company monitors the power grid, and the gas company has someone on call for gas leaks.

There's plenty of jobs out there that people take for granted. 

Ironic that I did that, isn't it? considering that I personally work in the telecommunications industry, and the playlist I mentioned usually comes by way of virtual assistant connected to Wi-Fi.  :pan:
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: epzik8 on November 14, 2023, 01:05:17 PM
Quote from: BlueOutback7 on November 14, 2023, 10:01:18 AM
Not this year. I work retail at Target so my store is closed on Thanksgiving. However since I'm traveling this year, I have to convince them to let me have Black Friday weekend off.

Sounds like you'd better hurry up and ask them...
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Rothman on November 14, 2023, 01:14:00 PM
Quote from: epzik8 on November 14, 2023, 01:05:17 PM
Quote from: BlueOutback7 on November 14, 2023, 10:01:18 AM
Not this year. I work retail at Target so my store is closed on Thanksgiving. However since I'm traveling this year, I have to convince them to let me have Black Friday weekend off.

Sounds like you'd better hurry up and ask them...
A bit late.  Since this is Target, if I were the manager, I'd talk about needing more lead time to approve time-off on such a big day.  If I still had to disapporve due to coverage at this late point and the person called in sick -- given this is Target -- I might consider trying to get someone more reliable, depending upon other recent hiring experiences.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: kphoger on November 14, 2023, 01:20:00 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 14, 2023, 01:14:00 PM

Quote from: epzik8 on November 14, 2023, 01:05:17 PM

Quote from: BlueOutback7 on November 14, 2023, 10:01:18 AM
Not this year. I work retail at Target so my store is closed on Thanksgiving. However since I'm traveling this year, I have to convince them to let me have Black Friday weekend off.

Sounds like you'd better hurry up and ask them...

A bit late.  Since this is Target, if I were the manager, I'd talk about needing more lead time to approve time-off on such a big day.  If I still had to disapporve due to coverage at this late point and the person called in sick -- given this is Target -- I might consider trying to get someone more reliable, depending upon other recent hiring experiences.

My first real job was pushing carts at Target (Roosevelt & County Farm, Wheaton, IL) back in 2000.  Management had announced that no time off requests would be approved for the month of December.  I was planning to go back to my family in Kansas for the Christmas holiday.  So I turned in my two weeks' notice.  The manager offered to approve my request and give me a raise instead—from $5.25 to $5.50 an hour—but I declined anyway.  I had recently moved and had to take the bus to work instead of walking two miles, so I simply planned on getting a new job closer to my apartment when I returned from Christmas.  Which I did.

Man, jobs were a lot easier to find back then...
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: ZLoth on November 23, 2023, 10:59:54 AM
On my first of three volunteer shifts for this holiday weekend.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: Henry on November 23, 2023, 11:23:13 AM
This is my first holiday trip back to Chicago since 2019 (the year before the pandemic). I'm planning to leave for Seattle tomorrow.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: ZLoth on November 23, 2023, 02:53:34 PM
Quote from: ZLoth on November 23, 2023, 10:59:54 AM
On my first of three volunteer shifts for this holiday weekend.

And, due to a last minute emergency, I'm pulling a double today.
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: 1995hoo on November 24, 2023, 09:52:50 AM
(https://virginia.sportswar.com/uploads/2023/11/582345893655.jpg)
Title: Re: Who Is Working United States Thanksgiving XI? (2023 Edition)
Post by: vdeane on November 24, 2023, 09:12:46 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on November 24, 2023, 09:52:50 AM
(https://virginia.sportswar.com/uploads/2023/11/582345893655.jpg)
Just wait until the Earthanomics majors find out what the people of UK do for Christmas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKEbG34auGs