You're probably wondering who the guy to the left is. Well, his name is Anthony Hardwick from Omaha, Nebraska, and he's a Target employee, who recently launched an online petition asking the department store to drop its plans start their Black Friday sale at midnight on Thanksgiving. The suddenly popular online petition is being hailed by some as a long overdue rebuke of corporate greed. Many who signed the petition went on to say that they also feel the stores should be closed on Christmas, as well, and that it's all become commericalized now. All these retail stores worry about is money, when their employees don't get a chance to enjoy the holidays with their families. To be honest, I see it from both ends. Who doesn't want to make money? We all do! In the same sense, holidays are about being with family, and being able to spend time with them instead of rushing off to go to work. I'm a little torn with this issue because I guess I would try to do both. It would, however, be one long day, which would lead to a "Do No Disturb" sign on the door to my house all day Saturday because I would sleep all day!
Anthony Hardwick's message has caught the eyes and ears of more than 155,000 people, who have signed the petition, which gets forwarded as emails to Target CEO and President Gregg Steinhafel, who by they way, I can guarantee will be home celebrating the holidays with his family, and will not be in the office working. Sound fair? Anyway, Hardwick's petition read, "A midnight opening robs the hourly and in-store salary workers of time off with their families on Thanksgiving Day!" To be honest, working on Thanksgiving should be an option with maybe time and a half incentives. It shouldn't be forced! With the incentives, it will make the employees to want to make money as opposed to spending time with their family. I'm sure everyone's heard at one time or another, "The money is too good to pass up!" I am sure family will understand that.
So, a Target spokeswoman, Molly Snyder responded, "We have heard from our guests that they want to shop at Target following thier Thanksgiving celebrations rather than only having the option of getting up in the middle of the night. By opening at midnight, we are making it easier than ever to deliver on our guests wants and needs." She went on to say that Hardwick is not and has never been scheduled to work on Thanksgiving or Black Friday at Target, which makes no sense why this kid is making so much noise about the issue. Since Hardwick launched his online campaign, more than 50 copycat petitions have sprung up, targeting stores like Macy's, Best Buy, Old Navy, and Kohl's, which all plan to open at midnight on Thanksgiving. Toys R Us announced that some of their stores will open for Black Friday sales as early as 9 PM on Thanksgiving Day.
As shoppers, my girlfriend and I look forward to the great deals on Black Friday every year. This year is no different, and with the economy floundering the way it is, it's really great to see the public excitement to spending money, even if it's just for one day. Bottom line is that if the stores are opening on Black Friday, I guess someone's going to have to work, but is it really necessary to cut into the time that these employees will have to spend with their families? What do you think? And was this guy, Anthony Hardwick, in his right to make so much noise about this even though he wasn't even working that day?
He's not even scheduled to work, classic!!
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