The debate over trade and shopping in Poland has been ongoing for several years. Some political parties advocate for shops to remain open on all Sundays, while others firmly oppose it. Yet, amid all this discussion, the workers' voices seem to be ignored. They are the ones who would have to work more frequently if Sunday retail trade were reinstated as part of daily life. It turns out many are already overworked and particularly resent late shifts.

A decade or so ago, Polish shops typically closed by 9 p.m., a scenario that now seems hard to imagine. As a society, we have grown used to supermarkets staying open until as late as 11 p.m., with some even operating throughout the night.

However, a shift in attitude is emerging. Some store owners want to put an end to extended hours. The Lidl chain in Łódź has drawn significant attention for its decision to have employees finish work by 10 p.m. Workers have openly welcomed this change, stressing that few things are worse than long, late-night shifts.

When the news broke that Lidl stores in Poland would reduce their operating hours from October 2024, Gazeta Wyborcza interviewed employees to gauge their reactions. Journalists sought to understand how the staff felt about the changes.

The cashiers expressed apparent satisfaction, noting that late-night shifts were particularly gruelling. They highlighted the challenges of working until 11 p.m., which involves not just serving customers but also preparing the store for the following day and reconciling the cash registers. As a result, employees often don’t leave until midnight, making it impossible to use daytime public transport.

"This is the worst shift you can get," said one cashier in an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza. "I’d rather start at 4:30 a.m. when we begin if the store opens at 6 a.m. than finish at 11 p.m. After closing, we still have to count the registers, clean up, stock shelves, and prepare the store for the next day. I usually leave around midnight, and my only option is the night bus."

Alfred Bujara, head of the trade section at Solidarność, added his perspective: "Shops used to close around 9 p.m., and on Sundays at about 6 or 7 p.m. After the law changed, opening hours were extended to 10 or 11 p.m. and remained that way, even when Sunday trading resumed under certain exceptions. This is not how it works in Europe. When I was in Brussels, shops closed around 8 p.m."

The sad truth is Polish stores are open the longest in Europe. This can be seen in the example of the Lidl chain. As reported by Gazeta Wyborcza, in Germany, the country where the company was founded, Lidl stores are open from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (closed on Sundays), in Italy from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.), in the Czech Republic from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.), in Slovakia from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.), in Belgium from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (on Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.), in Spain from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.. Still, it’s open in Madrid until 10:00 or even 11:00 p.m."

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza