Target Employee Petitions Against Early Black Friday Opening

04:58

November 21, 2011

Anthony Hardwick, a part-time employee at a north Omaha Target store, poses for a photo in front of his place of employment. (AP)

This year stores like Toys "R" Us, Kohl's and Target are rolling out Black Friday deals early --some as soon as 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving night.

Target, which will open at midnight, says that they're responding to customers who've said they like to shop at night more than waking up early to wait in line.

But some employees are frustrated to see work cut into their Thanksgiving. Employee Anthony Hardwick says that when he was asked to come in at 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day he realized that to get enough sleep to start his work day then, he'd have to go to bed at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

He started the "Tell Target to Save Thanksgiving" petition on the website change.org and has collected more than 190,000 signatures.

"I was a little disappointed that we were opening that early. Please, just give us this one day to spend with our family," he told Here & Now's Robin Young.

Guest:

Anthony Harwick, an employee of the Target in Omaha, Nebraska

This segment aired on November 21, 2011.