Over the past few years, more and more stores have been starting their Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving, before Friday has even begun and before one of the biggest holidays of the year has ended.
While it's certainly a matter of opinion, many people, including me, think it's unfair to force employees to work on Thanksgiving, especially since most retail store employees start at minimum wage and never make a whole lot more.
If unknown actors were in the ads for these stores' Thanksgiving day sales, I'd be okay with that. They probably need the money as much as anyone else.
My complaint: the actors in ads for two of these stores are famous sitcom stars. You've probably seen the endless Walmart ads with Anthony Anderson (Black-ish) and Melissa Joan Hart (Melissa and Joey). More heartbreaking to me, as I'm a fan, Amy Poehler is in the Old Navy ads. All three have been in ads promoting sales that happen on Thanksgiving day.
It's doubtful that any of these three actors need the money. So I wish they'd put their foot down when asked to do these particular ads - not the ads for the stores themselves, but for the sales that can only happen if low-wage employees work on a holiday. I wish they'd refused.
Of course, it's a matter of opinion. They are most certainly entitled to make choices that we disagree with. And I know that Poehler, in particular, has a wonderful and empowering website for girls. Plus, did I mention I'm a fan? A pretty big fan, actually.
That's all the more reason, though, for my disappointment.
And what good does it do to express it? Probably none, and yet, I want to put it out there. It's not as though Anthony Anderson is going to read my blog and say to himself "Come to think of it, I don't want Walmart employees to have to work on Thanksgiving. Next year, I won't do that ad." But I suppose there's something to be said for speaking up when you think something is wrong.
I'm not the only one. So I'll add my voice to the many who want stores to close on Thanksgiving and be one of those who won't shop on Thanksgiving. It won't be enough to make a change, since so many do shop on Thanksgiving, but it's all I've got.
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