You cannot turn on the television, radio, or computer without being bombarded with this story; whether retailers should open on Thanksgiving Day. Many retailers such as Macy’s J. C. Penny’s, and Toys R Us  have been open on Thanksgiving Day for several years. KMart has announced that, this year, they will open at 6:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and remain open for forty-two hours. All in an obvious effort to beat other retailers to the profits they realize on Black Friday.

The black lash against this practice appears to be louder this year. Scores of protesters are demanding that large box stores, such as Walmart, close their doors on Thanksgiving Day. The sentiment of workers and their families is understandable; Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time for reconnecting with family. It seems callous to force an employee to relinquish these cherished moments just to add to a retailer’s profit line.

But what about those workers who choose to work on Thanksgiving? Specifically those that have no family or need the additional wages they will earn on that day? Is it fair to demonize them because they have made the choice, whether for personal or financial reasons, to work on that day?

Will you be shopping on Thanksgiving?