An inconvenient sign

   There were signs posted at each check-out stand when I went to the market yesterday.  Big news! 

   “This year, Stater Brothers is giving time off to its employees so that they can enjoy time with their families.”

   So what does this mean?  The sign went on to note the special Thanksgiving hours: Wednesday, November 23, 7 a.m-11 p.m and Thursday, November 24, 7 a.m-5 p.m. 

   Gee.  Thanks.  Employees get to get off at 5 to rush home and likely enjoy a piece of pie with their families and maybe eat a plate of warm-overed leftovers before crashing after working so hard in the rush of people preparing for the big meal.  That someone else made because they were working, maybe until 11, the night before.

   Like I said, gee.  Thanks. 

   Is spending money so important that the market has to be open until 5 on Thanksgiving?  And this is closing early!  Does the market have to be open at all on Thanksgiving?  Would we all go crazy and fall apart if the market was closed on Thanksgiving? 

   Can’t we be sure to pick up that extra cranberry sauce or that last bottle of sparkling cider before Thanksgiving?  (I suspect we would if there was no choice.) Isn’t this why the market is open until 11 on Wednesday? 

   And what if the market closed early, say 5, on Wednesday – so that employees can get home at a reasonable hour, rest up and really enjoy Thanksgiving with their families? Would it be the end of society as we know it?  (Maybe a good thing.) Since when did convenience, our convenience, become so important, paramount? 

   It was clear that it is all about our convenience.  Not only is the market open until 11 on Wednesday and also until 5 on Thanksgiving, at the bottom of the sign, it said something like, “Thank you for your understanding.” As if we are put out by the store closing at 5 so that employees can spend a bit of time with their families and we are being asked to forgive this.

   Also, it’s as if Stater Brothers just came up with this idea – “this year.” Doesn’t the market usually close early on Thanksgiving? 

   And why does it need this explanation?  Why not just say, “We are closing early on Thanksgiving?” I realize that what really bugs me about this sign is that it’s an insult. It’s an insult to the workers, because it makes it look like it’s their fault the market is closing early, causing inconvenience for us, due to their perfectly understandable needs, if not rights, to rest, to spend time with loved ones, to have and enjoy time off.  It’s also an insult to the rest of us, or it should be, because it shows and makes us feel guilt for how much we expect convenience.