Do stores start to be open on Sundays now?

[ilikepeanutbutter]

I'm wondering if that time has come again. Thanks!

Kat

[nidhal]

I'm wondering if that time has come again. Thanks!

Kat

Yes starting from this Sunday 4/05 enjoy ur self

[Rosamunda]

But the following Sunday (11th May) is Mothers' Day so they will be closed again!!!

[jamie_designer]

Having to close your store on Sunday by law is so rediculous.

[Hank W.]

Well, having to have your sales on a certain date is ridiculous, but the French seem to survive...

[jamie_designer]

Yes, being forced by the state to have your sales on a certain date sounds equally as ridiculous, to being forced by the state to keep your store closed on Sunday. In both cases the French and The Finns some how manage to survive; however what is really ridiculous is the fact that you ended your last comment with seem to survive and I am now explaining that ridiculousness to you, There for I must be ridiculous. but I seem to survive...

[Hank W.]

Well, evidently you have giggled yourself silly... And in Israel they programme elevators to stop on every floor on Shabbath, in Spain they close virtually everything midday, in Japan you can buy whiskey and soiled schoolgirl knickers from a vending machine... so there is a lot of stuff in the world one can find ridiculous, I just don't bother to even start analyzing as theres nothing I can do about it and it is a fact I need to observe, so I don't let it effect me so much as to get a spiritual orgasm out of it every time.

[jamie_designer]

Well, evidently you have giggled yourself silly...

Well I just wanted for once to feel what its like to be you and use some ridiculous humour in explaining a response. I will admit that I failed, and will probably just leave that to you from now on.

And in Israel they programme elevators to stop on every floor on Shabbath, in Spain they close virtually everything midday, in Japan you can buy whiskey and soiled schoolgirl knickers from a vending machine... so there is a lot of stuff in the world one can find ridiculous.

Okay I personally find the respecting of the Sabbath Day in Israel to be rediculous. But I understand the history and religious meaning behind it and I would assume to many business owners and workers its a very important tradition, something which would be done whether it was the law or not. Same can be said for the the spanish ciesta, its can get really hot in that region of the world at that time. Its also a tradition people have been doing for many, many years and its taken seriously by a lot of people. As for the interesting vending machines in Japan, I am happy to hear that is offered to people interested in that.

Now maybe keeping the stores in Finland closed on Sunday is a tradition or is meaningful in some other way, but judging by how many people keep their establisments open on Sundays through the summer, and how many people use the stores that day, I would say its a dead tradition. And having it forced upon business owners and employees that would love an extra shift is really unacceptable.

I just don't bother to even start analyzing as theres nothing I can do about it and it is a fact I need to observe, so I don't let it effect me so much as to get a spiritual orgasm out of it every time.

Okay if you don't want to be bothered to think about it, don't. There are other people (like me) who are happy to do the work and then share our ideas here, in the news papers, online or in personal conversations with people. There is a lot we can do as individuals to right wrongs and change bad policies. So its my opinion that I am not helpless in this situation.

A lot of people on this forum believe the government is the tool of the people. Its quite obvious to me that people of Finland want local stores open on sunday to serve their needs. So shouldn't the policy and laws set by the state reflect the peoples wishes?

Okay, Heartbeat is coming on so I have to cut this off now.

[Rosamunda]

Its quite obvious to me that people of Finland want local stores open on sunday to serve their needs. So shouldn't the policy and laws set by the state reflect the peoples wishes?

... just out of interest, what are your sources?

Most people I have spoken to are against all year round Sunday opening (disruption, noise, pollution.... if I lived near a shopping centre, I think I would appreciate some peace and quiet at the weekend). True, most Finns welcome it in the summer (when they can flee the towns and cities and escape to "the nature" anyway), but most are quite happy when the shops close again at the end of summer.

[Tiwaz]

And who employees want to work even on sundays.

Pay is not so good even with extra money... But they do lose day when their family members have free day. Thus loss of actual time to spend with family.

Employers might love sunday as workday to get money. Employees would prefer not to go to work on sunday.

[Jukka Aho]

Since it’s a recurring, easy discussion topic – almost certain to happen each year at around the same time(s) much like the dog poop discussions each Spring – various news articles, interviews, surveys, opinions and statements, both for and against, can be easily found in Finnish. Just search for some the following keywords: sunnuntaiaukiolo, sunnuntaiaukiolot, sunnuntaiaukioloja, sunnuntaiaukioloista.

[otyikondo]

Since it’s a recurring, easy discussion topic – almost certain to happen each year at around the same time(s) much like the dog poop discussions each Spring – various news articles, interviews, surveys, opinions and statements, both for and against, can be easily found in Finnish. Just search for some the following keywords: sunnuntaiaukiolo, sunnuntaiaukiolot, sunnuntaiaukioloja, sunnuntaiaukioloista.

Pah! Letting facts get in the way of a good rant. Spoilsport!

[jamie_designer]

just out of interest, what are your sources?

My sources are completely made up of first hand observations. Over the summers that I have been in Finland I have observed an increasing number of people using the open stores on sunday during "summer" months. No I have not been to every city and village in Finland, I have mainly made my observations from the behaviours of Finns in Turku and Rauma. I have seen full parking lots in city market and prisma, I have seen downtown busy with people running in and out of shops, I have seen big checkout lines, people carrying shopping bags, old rauma flooded with people going in and out of coffee shops you have to wait to get a seat in.

Most people I have spoken to are against all year round Sunday opening

Well I am afraid that in this case my observation of thousands of strangers trumps your conversations with friends and associates. The fact is Finns are using the stores on Sundays and there is nothing which you have presented to show they wouldn't continue using them in the winter.

disruption, noise, pollution.... if I lived near a shopping centre, I think I would appreciate some peace and quiet at the weekend).

Right, Penelope you crack me up, because when its you in the example living near the city you want the life to shut down so that you can get some peace and quiet, but when ever its me in the example your answer is move. "If you don't like it here, your free to move"

True, most Finns welcome it in the summer (when they can flee the towns and cities and escape to "the nature" anyway),

Yes that seems to be true with what I have observed by the massive numbers of people in Rauma shopping centres on Sundays and even larger number of people in Turku shopping centres on the weekend. I don't know who is fleeing into the nature though because the stores are so busy you would swear everyone living in Rauma or Turku are in the store with you.

Does any one else feel that Finns enjoy getting out in to nature in Winter just as much as summer, again all I have is personal experience but I ski in the winter and paths that I ski are always busy and I also do ice hole swiming and lots of people show up and do that.

but most are quite happy when the shops close again at the end of summer.

most people...just out of interest, what are your sources?

And who employees want to work even on sundays.

I can understand that some people don't want to work on sundays and that you Tiwaz might include yourself in that group. But you can't imagine a single person who would want to work sundays? Are store owners in Finland forcing employees against their will to work sundays during the summer. When I was a teenager I worked in a grocery store and Sunday was my favourite day to work.

Pay is not so good even with extra money...

I can understand that there are people out there who don't really value a euro or blowing 10 to 20 euros here or there doesn't really matter to them that much. You might even be one of those people Tiwaz. But there are people to whom every euro counts. My girlfriend and I are in that situation right now. If I was offered an extra shift on sunday I would take it. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who feels one euro is better then no euros and 50-100 euros is better then one euro.

But they do lose day when their family members have free day. Thus loss of actual time to spend with family

I knew someone would bring this up. And it comes down to this what is more important to you? If spending sunday with your family is, a simple I can work any day but sunday to your manger will fix that problem. There are plenty of people who want the money that working those hours will give them and they will do it gladly. Employers don't have to twist peoples arms to work sundays.

Employers might love sunday as workday to get money. Employees would prefer not to go to work on sunday.

Well I think what you mean is you prefer not to work on sunday's. You definitely don't speak for me and you don't speak for all employees. Employers might love sundays they might not, they do have to pay their employees more for the same work. I guess what I don't see is how can anyone have a problem with a store being open on sunday if both the employers and employees agree that it is beneficial for both of them.

[Rosamunda]

definitely

[raamv]

hmmm and I wonder what will happen to us if they bring a law where then everyone has to work 7 days a week!!