http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17419351

Wouldn't bother me personally if they changed it permanently, but what about you? Maybe wanna see some sort of staff protection clause though on hours worked and rights etc...

What a tremendously crap idea. Are we holding the Olympics for the sake of international athletics or capitalism?

Which do you think? As far as I can tell, the athletics is a sideshow.

Have to say though, I'm quite pleased at the effort being put in around the UK, we're not often this bold IMO. And God only knows we need to claw some of the money back

I would agree if it were only for the Olympics and nothing else. Unfortunately, the Govt wants to use this as a measure for regular 24/7 shopping which IMO is something I'm against.

I can't see the harm, so long as the number of hours worked isn't ridiculous and it's with the employees consent.
The notion of Sunday as a day of rest is frankly irrelevant these days. There are numerous jobs that require people to work Sundays.

Here, apart from petrol stations, swimming pools, pubs and restaurants, pretty much everything is closed.

Heck, until 3 years ago, most shops closed at 1pm on a Saturday and didn't open again until Monday 9am! Now many open until 4pm and the bigger supermarkets until 8pm.

Each town seems to get the opportunity to declare a "Verkaufsoffene Sonntag" (open for shopping Sunday) 3 or 4 times a year, where every store has the opportunity to open.

Some of the big chains (furniture stores, Ikea etc.) will randomly open one store in a region every month or so and pay the fines.

Heh. right.

There's never been any particular restrictions on Sunday opening in Scotland aside from the Sunday Working (Scotland) Act 2003 which prevents employers from forcing employees to work on Sunday if they don't want to. It usually comes down to local preferences. There is a restriction on alcohol sales IIRC but that's about it.

I can't say I really see what all the fuss is about to be honest.

I'd like to see places open more, it's bad enough working longer than normal working hours but to not be able to get things because i have 2 days off a week and 1 of those days I am severely limited in when i can buy from a shop is a bit crap.

It's capitalism but i dont see the point in not having normal sunday hours, even if it's just 9-5

What's special about Sundays? Why should places open later and shut earlier?

I generally work 7:30 - 5:30 Monday - Friday, I'd quite like shops open normal times on a Sunday to maximise the time I get to use them.

I'd quite like all shops except petrol stations to be shut on Sundays.

This would maximise the time my very low-paid, mostly female cleaner and supermarket check-out friends get to spend with their kids. They're already under pressure to work all weekend as it is and they can end up having to go three weeks without spending a day with their children.

No - I think we should tighten the law on Sunday trading - like rest of Europe where most shops are closed.

I mean you have 6 other days in a week to do your shopping and the etailers are always there 24/7 .

Provided no one is forced to work 7 days a week, I personally don't have any problem with shops being open 24 / 7 / 365. I hate the way 90% of people's shopping is squeezed into a few hours on a Saturday.

However if other people do have a problem with it, it's something I can live with.

I'm just glad things have come on since banks and many other essential services were literally never open when you actually needed them. It's a freaking nightmare having to take time off your 9-5 Mon-Fri job whenever you want anything! Obviously, if you work different hours then it's much easier.

+1.