Cookie banner

This site uses cookies. Select "Block all non-essential cookies" to only allow cookies necessary to display content and enable core site features. Select "Accept all cookies" to also personalize your experience on the site with ads and partner content tailored to your interests, and to allow us to measure the effectiveness of our service.

To learn more, review our Cookie Policy, Privacy Notice and Terms of Use.

or
clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

"Thanksgiving Creep" Takes Another Major Victim: Macy's

New, 6 comments

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Last Thanksgiving, Wal-Mart and Target both chose to get the jump on Black Friday sales by opening their doors at 8pm or 9pm the night of the holiday, sparking a Change.org petition and general outrage. Likewise, Lord & Taylor opened at 10am in New York to catch the run-off from the Macy's Day Parade. And now Macy's itself has fallen to the pressures of so-called "Thanksgiving Creep." According to a tip sent to the Consumerist, the company plans to open certain stores at 8pm and it's asking for staff volunteers to set up and break down on Thanksgiving. Employees received the following poll from their employer:

The Thanksgiving Holiday is also a critical time and we are counting on you to help make it successful. Your store will open at 8pm on Thursday, November 28th. We would like to know if you are able to work an opening shift beginning at 7:30 pm on Thursday, November 28th.

On the flip side, it's made clear that employees may not have a choice:

We will do our best to honor your preferences. Based on the needs of the business we may still need you to work an opening shift. Please be sure to review your schedule for any assigned shifts.
There are conflicting reports over which stores received the poll. The Consumerist says the tipster was not from the Herald Square location or any of the flagships, but if any stores open on Thanksgiving, the bigger ones will likely be included in the policy change.
· Macy's Polls Employees About Opening At 8 P.M. Thanksgiving Day [The Consumerist]
· Wal-Mart, Target Employees Protest Black Friday Hours [Racked