Illegal to work on Sunday?
March 25th 2007
A week ago, Capital (a 60 minutes type news show) talked about the issue of working on Sunday in France. Believe it or not, it’s illegal except in certain conditions. I didn’t see all of the report, it’s actually a common topic that I’ve seen before. So I don’t know all of these conditions, but in general it’s not legal to work on Sundays. I was quite surprised at this when I first came to France, on Sundays almost all the stores are closed. And since stores usually close between 7-8pm during the week, that means 60 million people going shopping on Saturdays. Combine that with the limited space for developing new stores in the Paris area and you’ve got the most crowded stores I’ve ever seen. In the US people avoid “Black Friday” (the day after Thanksgiving, which is taken as a holiday resulting in the biggest shopping day of the year). Here in France, every Saturday puts “Black Friday” to shame. And don’t even mention the Saturdays in December!
So to alleviate this problem, some stores are starting to open on Sundays. Now there is the question about if it’s legal or not. One of the laws says if it’s in a tourist area then the store can be open. Store owners tend to exaggerate that one especially in Paris. Here in our town, the hardware store is open and that’s it except for the grocery stores. I don’t know how they get away with it. Some stores risk the fines and some just go ahead and pay them. Like Ikea, the big furniture store. They’re open every Sunday.
Now having a law against being open on Sunday seems very strange to me, but even stranger than that is that many stores find ways around the law. (That’s one skill the French have honed to perfection.) I don’t like the government telling me what I can and cannot do, as long as no one is hurt (including animals). So who could possibly be hurt by having a store open on Sunday? I can think of a few reasons:
If one store opens on Sundays then its competitors will be forced to follow. That could set off a chain reaction resulting in all stores open on Sundays. That would mean the owners would have to pay more in salaries. But would it increase sales? On one hand I think sales would not increase, if you’re going to buy something you’d be forced to buy it on Saturday. It’s not like I say “if the store’s open today I’m going to go buy that watch, otherwise I’ll wait another year!” But on the other hand, people get bored on Sundays and if they go to the mall they’d be more likely to purchase something than if they were staying at home. So I guess it could increase sales.
The more I analyze it the more I don’t see the problem. Neither do my non-French friends. The Monday after the reportage, a Brazilian friend asked me “Did you see Capital last night? Can you believe it?” At least it provided us with some good material for discussion.
So what do you think? If you’re American, would you like to see all stores in the US closed on Sundays? And if you’re French, would you like to see all stores open?
Tags:laws shopping work
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Hi,
As a french, I *would like* to see stores open on sundays, naturally… but trade unions do not want to evolve. Another french trouble in fact !
as an American, I enjoy the stores being open on Sunday. Sometimes after church I run errands which ususally includes grocery shopping. I don’t see a real problem with stores being open on Sunday as long as the employees who want that day off to spend with God & family has that option without fear of “paybacks” from the boss or other employees. And yes, before you deny it, there are forms of “paybacks” at certain times about certain things.
I personally think that stores should be closed on sundays. Not from a shoppers perspective, but from a working class individual’s. I would enjoy being able to sleep in on that day and have dinner with my big family with no interruptions. Even though having stores open is conveinient and boosts more sales, here in America I feel that capitalism has taken over values of family and rest.
For me, as a consumer I would like to see shops open Sundays. On the one hand to avoid going there on Saturday with all the world that there is and secondly because it is a walk when the weather is bad or when you do not know what to do. The stores have always and will always be a way for everyone to think about something other than work. I think a lot of people want to go if their stores were open on Sunday. As you said I think the stores have nothing to lose open on Sunday, their turnover will be increase. That is why large stores more and more open on Sunday. They know that people come en masse over the weekend.
Finally, if merchants are agreements so they can take the Monday as a day of rest but if they have children it is difficult.
Hi, I’m french and I think shops should be open on Sundays.
During the last Sunday, I went to the mall and I talk with a worker who explain me he has been obligated to work three Sundays per months. First I think it’s not normal but after I remember a lot of people can only do shopping on Sundays because they are at work all the week. Moreover, it must be better to open the shops on Sundays to relaunch the financial crisis because they make more profit.
On the one hand, it is nice to see stores open on Sunday because we can go to shopping or anything else.
But in the other hand, I think that Sunday is not made just for shopping. In fact, it is a moment for workers to take time to think about their private life. Indeed, they need a rest because they are stressed and they think hard about their job during the week. The problem is that, sometimes, people have to work to keep the stores opened because of the competition with the other shops. It can be the greatest times to make money for them.
So, according with the law, people can’t work on Sunday but we can ask the question: Is it really respected by everyone?
I am American and well, back in the 60’s and part of the 70’s many stores in the U.S.A. were closed on Sunday. But due to the demand and the increase in population, stores began to be open on Sunday. Many make a lot of profit for doing so, plus it gives one more choice to make over which day to go on the weekend. BUt people can make their own choice over which day they want to stay home with the family or not to. DOn’t let a company enslave you to having to go out or to stay at home. You have choices. Due to the economy crisis though, I am thinking that opening on Sunday’s would be better for France. I think that France needs to wake up and see that the rest of the world is passing them by and if they don’t do something to catch up with the rest of the world, they will fall behind and it could mean disaster for this country.
Hello,
I’m french and I think that working on Sunday can be a bad thing. Indeed people work the week so it’s difficult for them to go shopping. But the open stores must be cultural or sporting. Moreover, the students and people in financial difficulty can make money. But they doesn’t be exploited and obliged. The tourists want that the stores are open on Sunday but they doesn’t work on Sunday.It must be an agreement between the employee and employer.
I’m a Chinese student who study in France,I think the stores being opened on sunday is the best for me.When I am in my country,my family went to shopping every sunday.It means “a holiday”.Every people,such as students,olders,all the people love sunday.Because they can go shopping in every kind of the shops in that day.You can buy everything you want.This is like sharing a cake,perfect.
So,Chinese people like the stores being open on sunday just like Americans’opinion.
Shopping on sunday is the best way to rest and share in our country.
I’m a French student and I would you like to thank you for your Website. It’s very interesting for me and certainly for the others ones readers to read your experience in France.
First of all, I would apologized for my English (is not fluently).
This is an important question which is currently debated in France.
I think that the law which says stores can’t be open on Sunday (unless the store has got a special dispensation) will be soon remove or rather relax by the current government. For many reasons:
Firstly working on Sunday means more employs and economic growth that was stated by Luc Chatel (Junior Minister for Consumption) upheld by Xavier Bertrand (Minister of Employment) because we are required by the present economic circumstance.
Secondly it must be recognised that in France we have no choice, in a country where unemployment reaches 2 million people.
Last, but not least it seems French people are reluctant to work on Sunday. This may be true, but according to a survey 67% of the working population will be in favour to work on Sunday.
I’m french, and i can see nowadays many stores are open on sunday.
This event provoqued a social problem for french people.
Why ?? Because many people can’t take advantage of their free time and so of their family.
In my opinion, french workers must choose to work or not,because we are in a free country.
In the wake of my story, i’m fed up with store owners cause they take advantage of the situation to swell their earning.
Indeed, I blame their of being selfish because they don’t think about workers’s family life.
Eventually, i change we need !!!!
*
I’m french, and i can see nowadays many stores are open on sunday.
This event provoqued a social problem for french people.
Why ?? Because many people can’t take advantage of their free time and so of their family.
In my opinion, french workers must choose to work or not,because we are in a free country.
In the wake of my story, i’m fed up with store owners cause they take advantage of the situation to swell their earning.
Indeed, I blame their of being selfish because they don’t think about workers’s family life.
Eventually, change we need !!!!
Hey, I’m French and I have my opinion for this subject.
I visited your website three weeks ago them I talked to people around my about this subject. Many answers were given, indeed, according to branches of industry answers were differents.
One side, people of primary sector and secondary sector were in favour to work on Sunday because they work 6 days out of 7 and they said: “I need some relaxation after work”. At the same time, they said shopping is a good way to relaxation.
On the other side, people of service sector had many opinions. The service sector covers a wide range of activities ranging from trade to the administration, through transport, finance and real estate, business services and individuals, education, health and social action without forgotten the small shopkeepers. Yes, because their businesses had been bad, if big complexes were open all Sundays.
And then we must not forget that Sunday is a sacred day for Christians.
Off course, there is no denying that working on Sundays is better paid in all sectors but we can’t buy the rest. So, in my opinion, big traders must take their Sundays to relax and keep small businesses alive.
Work all time, Sundays and holidays excepted. Italian proverb: “The work of Sunday doesn’t enrich”.
Hi, I am Canadian… but interested in this subject all the same. I am in favor of allowing stores to open on Sundays.
Most subjects have been covered… so I just wanted to add one more thing.
Many companies advertise a Monday to Friday job… once you are in the interview they ask you if you’d be willing to work an “odd Sunday”. Since you really want the job (plus you figure it will me once in a blue moon) you say yes.
Once you start working you are STUCK with the Sunday shift until a newer person comes in… so it is like a punishment for being a newb.
That is just plain wrong!
If they were to advertise that they are looking to cover a Sunday shift, I am sure there still be a lot of interested people PLUS they would be happier as they were not tricked in to it.
Hi! I am Japanese and living in Japan. I have been suggesting a new idea to some economic institutions. The idea is plural week shifts. If you make two or three different week shifts areas, you can work on weekend when your living place is on weekday. This idea has demerit, but it still have about 5% of benefit. IF you want to know detail of it, send me email. I will send the detail back.