You’ve heard of Black Friday, but what about Black Thursday? A new infographic by Erin Zipper and Von Diaz at Colorlines shows that many big-box retailers are keeping their stores open on Thanksgiving this year, meaning their employees will be working longer hours over the holiday. As Diaz explains, “Those working on Thanksgiving are likely to be working part-time for low wages, and despite their low income, many are also the primary earners in their households.” All so that retailers can kick-start their holiday profits.
Check out Imara Jones’s piece at Colorlines for more on how the Black Friday phenomenon is a consequence of this year’s government shutdown, and read our own Gabriel Thompson on his brief and stressful experience in an e-commerce fulfillment warehouse.