Years ago, I worked on Thanksgiving Day at the movie theater in my little town. I asked the Manager why we were even open on Thanksgiving Day. Wouldn’t people be home with their families, moaning and groaning or, better yet, napping after consuming all that turkey?
He smiled. Didn’t say a word. He just smiled.
A few hours later, I understood. Our lobby was packed tighter than a sardine can.
Personally, I was shocked. As the first (and only) Thanksgiving Day I had ever worked I never realized how many people didn’t stay home and spend time with their families.
Where is the Goodwill?
That was the day I lost most of my faith in the humanity of humanity. Retailers feel the need to keep their doors open on a major national holiday to satisfy customer demands for convenience. Employees working on that holiday are denied time spent with their families. Except for the CEO and other upper management celebrating the day with their families. Nothing like a double-standard to kick off the holiday season.
Consumers are partially to blame. They keep consuming as long as they have money to burn. Apparently, quite a few have money to burn on Thanksgiving Day.
Comments from consumers about employees working on Thanksgiving such as They knew what they were getting into when they got the job or They should be grateful they have a job show where true apathy lies. As long as they are not the ones standing behind the cash register, stocking or running the floor, consumers have little to no empathy regarding the matter.
“Goodwill toward men” (and women) is a 365 commitment. Except this one day of the year, it seems.
What I don’t understand is why people support the corporation and not the employees. There is your lack of humanity.
Corporate Greed
Consumers are not completely to blame. Multi-billion dollar corporations make the decision to be open Thanksgiving Day for one reason: greed, plain and simple.
These corporations earn billions throughout the year but simply must make another few million on this one day. They offer “sweet” deals guaranteeing you savings by getting a jump on the Christmas season.
Here is a little secret: any time you SPEND money you are NOT SAVING money. Period. It doesn’t matter what the deal is, money spent is money gone, from your pocket right into the corporate coffers. It makes the corporations richer and denies employees time to relax, enjoy the holiday and spend time with their families. Which, of course, is exactly what corporate management is doing.
Here’s another little secret: Chances are those “sweet” deals were marked up a couple of months prior to the “big day” so when those prices are slashed – so to speak – you end up paying full price anyway. The beauty of it is that you don’t even realize it. You think you’re getting a bargain. That’s what you’re supposed to think, isn’t it?
The largest retail store in the nation made $17 billion in profits in 2013. That’s billion with a B and that’s profits. That isn’t enough? Of course not. They need to make more so upper management can take home a bigger paycheck and a larger bonus.
What is this holiday about again?
Giving thanks. This holiday is supposed to be about gratitude. Not for material possessions. Gratitude for family and friends, good health, the food on the table, the roof over our heads, the clothing on our backs.
Giving thanks for things money simply cannot buy. Like the family and friends, good health, compassion, and peace of mind.
Both consumers and big business have made it into this over-the-top, stampeding, glutton-induced, materialistic, debasing, traumatic thing which offends the very core of my emotional and spiritual well-being.
But it isn’t just my personal emotional and spiritual well-being which is assaulted. This harsh display of indifference on the part of big business as well as consumers attacks the very essence of the meaning of the holiday season.
The holiday is about giving thanks, not dollars. Goodwill may be in short supply, but it never has a price tag.
Let’s be honest: you will never, never find what you truly need on a store shelf.
Keep your money in your pocket, America, and be thankful for what you already have.
Pen has self-published 20 titles in print and ebook formats. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle, can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen, visit her website at www.penspen.info or follow her blog www.mytuppence.weebly.com Contact her at mytuppenceblog at yahoo.com to inquire about proofreading, editing and formatting services.
He smiled. Didn’t say a word. He just smiled.
A few hours later, I understood. Our lobby was packed tighter than a sardine can.
Personally, I was shocked. As the first (and only) Thanksgiving Day I had ever worked I never realized how many people didn’t stay home and spend time with their families.
Where is the Goodwill?
That was the day I lost most of my faith in the humanity of humanity. Retailers feel the need to keep their doors open on a major national holiday to satisfy customer demands for convenience. Employees working on that holiday are denied time spent with their families. Except for the CEO and other upper management celebrating the day with their families. Nothing like a double-standard to kick off the holiday season.
Consumers are partially to blame. They keep consuming as long as they have money to burn. Apparently, quite a few have money to burn on Thanksgiving Day.
Comments from consumers about employees working on Thanksgiving such as They knew what they were getting into when they got the job or They should be grateful they have a job show where true apathy lies. As long as they are not the ones standing behind the cash register, stocking or running the floor, consumers have little to no empathy regarding the matter.
“Goodwill toward men” (and women) is a 365 commitment. Except this one day of the year, it seems.
What I don’t understand is why people support the corporation and not the employees. There is your lack of humanity.
Corporate Greed
Consumers are not completely to blame. Multi-billion dollar corporations make the decision to be open Thanksgiving Day for one reason: greed, plain and simple.
These corporations earn billions throughout the year but simply must make another few million on this one day. They offer “sweet” deals guaranteeing you savings by getting a jump on the Christmas season.
Here is a little secret: any time you SPEND money you are NOT SAVING money. Period. It doesn’t matter what the deal is, money spent is money gone, from your pocket right into the corporate coffers. It makes the corporations richer and denies employees time to relax, enjoy the holiday and spend time with their families. Which, of course, is exactly what corporate management is doing.
Here’s another little secret: Chances are those “sweet” deals were marked up a couple of months prior to the “big day” so when those prices are slashed – so to speak – you end up paying full price anyway. The beauty of it is that you don’t even realize it. You think you’re getting a bargain. That’s what you’re supposed to think, isn’t it?
The largest retail store in the nation made $17 billion in profits in 2013. That’s billion with a B and that’s profits. That isn’t enough? Of course not. They need to make more so upper management can take home a bigger paycheck and a larger bonus.
What is this holiday about again?
Giving thanks. This holiday is supposed to be about gratitude. Not for material possessions. Gratitude for family and friends, good health, the food on the table, the roof over our heads, the clothing on our backs.
Giving thanks for things money simply cannot buy. Like the family and friends, good health, compassion, and peace of mind.
Both consumers and big business have made it into this over-the-top, stampeding, glutton-induced, materialistic, debasing, traumatic thing which offends the very core of my emotional and spiritual well-being.
But it isn’t just my personal emotional and spiritual well-being which is assaulted. This harsh display of indifference on the part of big business as well as consumers attacks the very essence of the meaning of the holiday season.
The holiday is about giving thanks, not dollars. Goodwill may be in short supply, but it never has a price tag.
Let’s be honest: you will never, never find what you truly need on a store shelf.
Keep your money in your pocket, America, and be thankful for what you already have.
Pen has self-published 20 titles in print and ebook formats. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle, can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen, visit her website at www.penspen.info or follow her blog www.mytuppence.weebly.com Contact her at mytuppenceblog at yahoo.com to inquire about proofreading, editing and formatting services.