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Discarded wrapping paper, landfill, hurt feelings, surprise, joy ... exhaustion. Finally it is all over. And now that you finally have a chance to relax and rest and maybe read that book someone thoughtful gave you, what will you do? SHOP OF COURSE!!!

Yes, because the retail employees who generally don't earn enough to both feed their families and immerse themselves in our excessive consumer culture, will work all through the holidays and will be right back on their feet Boxing Day to ensure you can continue fighting the crowds for that special deal.

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I worked at The Body Shop for two Christmases while in university. I don't remember the extended hours before Christmas bothering me, but then, it wasn't my full-time job either.

However, I would have been really unhappy about working on Boxing Day.

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Hey, from what I understand, apparently Boxing Day isn't a stat holiday in the US. That sucks!

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There's actually no such thing as a "stat holiday" here in the U.S., much to my shock and disgust. As I discovered a couple years ago when I didn't get paid for the 4th of July, it is true that you can get the days off, here, but it is up to the benevolence of your employer whether or not they pay you.

So, to my knowledge, if you are working retail here and are non-union, not only might you have to work on holidays that other people get off work, you may only get paid straight time for doing so.

Only content would have me seeing it again. Bad design.

Anyway, Masonville Mall, part of the Cadiallac Fairview chain, also ran into controversy over their omni-gift certificates. Even though most if not all of the stores in Masonville have thier own gift certificates, the Mall offered some that would be honoured in all the stores-- not just in Masonville London, but in all of the Cadillac Fairview chain of Malls.

But, with their gift certificates, there's a "service fee".

[ 18 December 2003: Message edited by: Michelle ]

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"It lifts consumer optimism," he says. "If tradition holds true, it should be good for consumer spending."

Consumer spending accounts for 70% of U.S. economic activity. And Saddam's capture comes at an optimum time, during the busy holiday shopping season, when retailers on average take in a quarter of their annual revenue.

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