24 December - 2 January should be declared a public holiday

It would be nice, but it's not realistic. If everywhere closed during that period, what would happen when you run out of the bare necessities?

No, because then we'd have even more idiots come shopping during that period than they already do, and anyone who works in retail would have to be sectioned by the new year due to madness.

I'm assuming that shops would remain open during this period, because normally anyone who works in retail - such as myself - has to work most days that everyone else gets off. It's ****.

Would it not make more sense if the government just declared all days between 24 December and 2 January to be a public holiday?

I was kinda assuming most shops would close anyway, except for the big department stores in the big centres, like the one I work in.

I see this point, but at least it keeps me busy and makes the time go quicker.

Well I work in a fairly average-sized shop, but it's in the middle of a shopping centre building so I doubt it would shut, and anyway our head office keeps us open at every available opportunity. Days off? Pfft, retail staff don't need those! Even though those in head office were off from closing Christmas Eve until today. Typical.

There is that, but when you're being barged out of the way, or run down by prams, by idiots merely wanting to pick up some cut-price wrapping paper...

Yeah, the worst times are when you have an awkward customer and need a manager or someone at the head office, and they're never around at evenings or weekends (my usual shifts) or these holidays. They constantly extend opening hours, our normal 10-10 weekday opening became 8-11 during the build up to christmas. Yesterday bank holiday, they closed at 9, and today bank holiday, they're closing at 10. They also constantly break the 6 hour Sunday opening law, but pay the fine, even though it's not worth it, but they think it is.

Yeah, the worst times are when you have an awkward customer and need a manager or someone at the head office, and they're never around at evenings or weekends (my usual shifts) or these holidays. They constantly extend opening hours, our normal 10-10 weekday opening became 8-11 during the build up to christmas. Yesterday bank holiday, they closed at 9, and today bank holiday, they're closing at 10. They also constantly break the 6 hour Sunday opening law, but pay the fine, even though it's not worth it, but they think it is.

Yeah, the worst times are when you have an awkward customer and need a manager or someone at the head office, and they're never around at evenings or weekends (my usual shifts) or these holidays. They constantly extend opening hours, our normal 10-10 weekday opening became 8-11 during the build up to christmas. Yesterday bank holiday, they closed at 9, and today bank holiday, they're closing at 10. They also constantly break the 6 hour Sunday opening law, but pay the fine, even though it's not worth it, but they think it is.

What kind of stupid law is that? Shops should be free to set their own opening hours irrespective of the law. What about 24-hour convenience stores?