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Kmart employees become latest to push back on Thanksgiving hours

Almost 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for Kmart to ensure that its workers have enough time off on Thanksgiving, part of a backlash against retailers that are open during the holiday.

“We understand that it is retail, and employees understand that they have to work hours on holidays,” the campaign's organizer, Jillian Fisher, said on the website coworker.org. “However, Kmart's unnecessary hours are forcing its employees to miss out on important time with their families.”

Retailers such as Macy's Inc., J.C. Penney Co. and Target Corp. are extending their Thanksgiving hours this year, prompting some workers to push back. The chains say they're opening on the holiday because shoppers demand it, and they'll lose sales if they don't.

In a phone interview, Fisher said her mother, Donna, has worked at Kmart, a unit of Sears Holdings Corp., for 21 years, including on Thanksgiving. Last year, her mother and other workers were required to work a split shift during the holiday, Fisher said, which prompted her to start the petition last week. This year, her mom received her requested hours of 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Fisher said.

In response, Kmart said it serves customers as a place for early-bird holiday shopping and last-minute Thanksgiving needs. The chain has operated on Thanksgiving for 23 years, with stores opening at 6 a.m. for the past four years. This year, stores will operate for 42 hours straight, until midnight on the Friday after Thanksgiving. That's up from 41 last year.

Accommodating Requests

“Our stores do their very best to staff with seasonal associates and those who volunteer to work holidays,” the company said in an email. “Seasonal associates are told upon hire of our holiday store hours and we make every effort to accommodate associate shift requests.”

RadioShack Corp. scaled back its Thanksgiving hours last week after workers complained. Some consumers also are taking issue with the holiday becoming a major shopping day. A Facebook page called “Boycott Black Thursday” is urging shoppers to avoid retailers that open on Thanksgiving.

“I don't want to tell Kmart how to run their business — I just think that we need to be more reasonable in how we handle it,” said Fisher, 25, who lives in Wilmington, Delaware. “It's causing a great burden on their employees, which is causing a great burden on their families as well.”

She said she has heard from dozens of employees who haven't received the hours they requested, and many of the comments on the website reflected that concern.

Kmart said worker schedules are typically posted two weeks in advance.

“All associates are compensated time-and-a-half pay for the hours they work on Thanksgiving Day,” the company said.

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