TGI Fridays (Carlson Restaurants) Informative - Support family first - Don't eat at OR send complaining e-mail

Posted by ProConsumer on 2009-10-11:

I take exception to the last sentence in your complaint. Many young adults work in the food service industry to put themselves through college to become doctors, nurses, and to work in the police sciences. Therefore, restaurants are just as important as the other careers that you have listed. Let us not forget that any job that brings in a paycheck is important.

Posted by justthefaxx on 2009-10-11:

They know people go out and spend money on Christmas morning or New Years Day so they need the staff there. Did they actually say there would be no holiday pay? Even if there is not rules can change for a company.

Posted by Ytropious on 2009-10-11:

Where I work we're open every day but Thanksgiving and Christmas, and there is NO such thing as holiday pay for us.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-10-11:

somehow the nic HAPPY just don't fit.
If you are so down on your job, just quit...there are 100 other people that are willing to do what it takes.

Posted by littleyaya on 2009-10-11:

I finally had the holidays off last year for the first time in 4 years. Try working for an airline on Thanksgiving and Christmas and getting screamed at because the weather is bad and the flights are all delayed. I dealt with it, so do you. If you don't like it, take jkt's advice and quit

Posted by LadyScot on 2009-10-11:

And if you shut down will you stay home and not shop? Or do you think only YOU should be off but not the rest of us working stiffs?

I have worked every holiday this year, and will only have Christmas off. ONLY because we are closed that day.

Posted by PepperElf on 2009-10-11:

Do you have any idea how many times I've had to work on Christmas day?

Or how many times I haven't even been able to be in the same state or country as the rest of my family?

Neither do I. I've lost count. Go Navy!


and yeah I know it sucks, you had to work on a holiday.
and you might have gotten customers who were mad you were open, or you were bitter that you had to work....

but as sucky as it is, there are people out there who have it worse.

And there's no rule that says you can't do gifts on a different day. I found out later that when Sis and I were very young, my parents would do Christmas on a different day, so Dad could save his days off.

Posted by littleyaya on 2009-10-11:

Very true Pepper. When I was a kid, we would volunteer at the Salvation Army on Thanksgiving and hand out food to the homeless. We would eat our Thanksgiving dinner the next day.

Posted by LadyScot on 2009-10-11:

pepper I feel ya. I have not had Christmas with my father since I was 18 (I am 38) and I haven't had Christmas with my mother in 12 years. I haven't been in the same room with my brothers and sister at the same time since we were teenagers.

Not everyone can get off at Thanksgiving and Christmas for a week to go home and see the family. We have to work for employers who have to serve a public made up of people like the OP.

Posted by shayen on 2009-10-12:

I think the 1st poster misunderstood the last line. I don't think he was saying restaurant employees aren't important, they just aren't VITAL on a day like Christmas, like say a doctor or officer. You HAVE to have officers and doctors and 911 dispatchers and such on duty 365/year.

Posted by i_am_canadian on 2009-10-12:

I agree, I think that's exactly what they meant.

Posted by sarahnkrystal on 2009-10-12:

My husband has to work Christmas this year. I'm sad about it, but it's just the way the job works. Instead, I am grateful that he has a job that is reliable and keeps our family fed.

Posted by redmx3racer on 2009-10-12:

So-TGI's is going to be open on the holidays? Great news. Now I know where I can go out to eat on those days should I choose to.

Posted by Principissa on 2009-10-12:

I can't begin to tell you how many holidays both me and my husband had to work. I missed my first son's first Christmas because I had to work. Hubby hasn't had a Christmas or New Year's home with us in almost 8 years. Last year was the first time he was home for Thanksgiving. It's the way the job works. I'm more grateful that he has a job and am more than willing to give up Christmas and Thanksgiving if it means keeping my kids fed and keeping the roof over their heads.

Posted by PepperElf on 2009-10-12:

personally i also don't harass any place that's open for business on christmas day... sometimes those places are life-savers.

like back in 2006. my ship pulled in off deployment on Dec 22. I didn't go home on leave because I knew I'd be going home for over a month at the end of January anyway.

I had a nice deal though where I got to stay in a hotel out on town for 3 nights.

But... no I didn't really plan things out well. I didn't have anything in my hotel room for Christmas morning breakfast and was thrilled to see 711 was open.

Come to think of it... I think I ended up getting Chinese takeout for dinner that night.

Posted by i_am_canadian on 2009-10-15:

Principissa, you've mentioned previous work in health care and I assume your husband also works in an essential service. Everyone knows those employees work Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. because emergencies don't stop for the holidays. I'm sure the people whom you treated and possibly saved their lives were eternally grateful that you sacrificed Christmas morning with your child. But I don't think there is any good reason for a retail store, restaurant or other similar service to be open during those days (with the possible exception of a pharmacy), it's just being stupid and greedy.

Posted by Michelle on 2013-05-13:

It's not about having a job, being able to feed your children, saving someone's live, or even FIGHTING FOR YOUR COUNTRY. Pay attention it's about GREEDY CEO's that want to make money by keeping their doors open period, Please stop smelling the roses/flowers and everything that has NOTHING to do with the original statement