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Best Buy Workers Protest Black Friday Hours
A employee at a Best Buy in Tampa has launched a petition against his employer’s decision to open earlier for the Black Friday shopping spree this year, claiming the midnight opening time will eat into workers’ holiday time with their families.
The petition on Change.org, attributed to 8-year Best Buy veteran Rick Melaragni, comes on the heels of a similar, high-profile petition launched last week by a Target employee in Nebraska. The latter petition has racked up more than 150,000 signatures.
Melaragni, who works as a Geek Squad technician, told HuffPost that he and his Best Buy co-workers were “blindsided” by the company’s decision to open doors earlier this year for the crush.
“Of course, everyone was upset,” said Melaragni, a 25-year-old Boston native. “We thought we had higher standards than other retailers. And customers are telling us the exact same thing. If they want a good deal, they’re missing out on Thanksgiving, too,”
since they’ll have to get on line on Thanksgiving Day to beat the crowds.
The petition, which has around 8,000 signatures as of this posting, reads in part:
“A full holiday with family is not just for the elite of this nation — all Americans should be able to break bread with loved ones and get a good night’s rest on Thanksgiving!”
Minnesota-based Best Buy appears to be merely getting in line with the rest of the retail world with its early start time. Although most big-box stores have traditionally opened in the wee hours of Black Friday, several have moved their times up to midnight or even late Thanksgiving Day. Walmart will be opening at 10 p.m. this year — the earliest its stores have ever opened.
Kelly Groehler, a BestBuy spokeswoman, noted that CEO Brian Dunn, once a store employee himself, “fully appreciates” the feelings of Melaragni and others, adding that Dunn will miss much of the holiday himself as he helps stores in Minnesota gear up for Black Friday. In a statement on the matter, the company said,
“This year, customers have told us — and our competitors — that they plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day, and earlier than ever on Black Friday. We therefore made the difficult decision to move our opening Black Friday to midnight. We know this decision changes Thanksgiving plans for some of our employees, and we empathize with those who are affected.”
Although retailers say they’re simply responding to consumers’ desires, the shift has managed to annoy many employees and consumers alike. Some shoppers told The New York Times last week that they will forgo the bargains this year as a manner of protest, feeling the retailers have overstepped their bounds and broken an unspoken holiday agreement.
Like Best Buy, Target has moved its opening time up to midnight, requiring some employees to arrive as early as at 11 p.m. of Thanksgiving day. In a statement posted on The Consumerist, a Target spokesperson said the company would be paying workers a higher holiday wage, adding that management
“does our best to work around the schedules of all of our team members, making every effort to accommodate their requests.”
Melaragni said that some Best Buy employees will have to come in as early as 8 or 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving, since they’ll be setting up a viewing of a Harry Potter movie for the eager shoppers waiting outside the store.
Melaragni himself has been scheduled to come in at 7 a.m. on the morning of Black Friday, and is spending Thanksgiving with family in Florida. But he said he’s offered to switch shifts with any co-workers scheduled to come in Thanksgiving night who have children they’d rather spend the holiday with.
“There are some [co-workers] who say, ‘I’m just thankful to have a job,’ ” Melaragni said. “And I am, too. But there’s a line that you don’t cross.”
Their is two ways to look at this situation. People are dying for work out here and you have employees complaining about the hours. On the other side all these corporations trying to get the one up on each other for profit but they are not satisfying the workers. Thoughts?
16 Comments
You said it best end the closing remarks Hahz…people with B.A.’s are working at MCD’s and these people are complaining about their working hours. Maybe they are upset b/c they can’t get out and shop. I’m in the military and I’ve missed numerous holidays, but just like anyone else..it’s part of the job.
Exactly its a two sided coin,even tho its bogus these workers should be thankful they have a damn job
Yea 4real Y dont they just quit cause i’m sure someone could use, and appreciate those jobs
I would be mad about that shh to,glad i quit working at that place.
Be happy you have a job
well I work in a pawn shop so I gotta deal with the flip side of black Friday that Saturday is gonna be off the chain for me for folks trying to sell their !! either cause they upgraded or went broke on black Friday
Man it’s only one day of the year, plus anybody working retail knows that this is the heavy part of the year.
why have a sale this good 1 time a year? to make people lose their minds that’s some bullsh*t..it’s all a conspiracy
Thats straight BULLS*T, dont blame those folks fuk dem greedy azz companies! Glad to have a job??? Yeah right, a low paying stupid job that wants you to work the night of a NATIONAL HOLIDAY. Easy to say that when you dont have to do it. HOPE THEY STEAL ALL THEY CAN THIS XMAS SEASON!!!!!
I agree with yepyep very well said, everybody on here complaing at least u have a job has never worked a retail job on black Friday and had to deal with these crazy *** people!! These big companies r nuthin but greedy *** executives that have the rest of this week off to spend with their families while I try to get a little sleep around 5pm on thanksgiving day so I can go to work at midnight, what a bunch of BS!!!
U know where U work & who U work 4 STOP BITC*IN’!! Ur a small link on a Paul Bunyan Chain. Get Ur A*s Up 1am & be at work. Dis petition has as much to say as occupy wall street..”Whut tha pHuck are U goin’2 Accomplish after all this wasted energy..NUTHING!!
I see it both ways, at least those employees have jobs, but everybody deserves holidays off. Plus, since some consumers aren’t coming this year, they might want to rethink this strategy. PEACE!!!
Thanksgiving is over waaaay before 12 they talking about some other kind of partying i say be happy you have a job
Shiiiit it was a time i aint have a job n i was prayin for any job tht came i think if they didnt have a job to complain to they wudnt be trippin jus do it it aint like u doin it for free
if you checked off on your application that you would “work any hours” you cant be mad…..if u didn’t then its just a tough break but there’s a lot of people out here who wont get to enjoy thanksgiving wit fam so make that $$$$$
On Black Friday, I worked 17 hours straight at Best buy! Yes I’m grateful, but the sheer gall it must take to make these “difficult” decisions. Some co-workers and I were almost killed by the mob of customers. Do we get a thank-you from the managers for sacrificing our time and health? No. I was a zombie sales person from about 11am to 5pm on Friday.