Hobby Lobby’s, a national arts and crafts chain, was founded in 1970 by David Green and his wife Barbara. The company began operating out of a garage-turned-warehouse in Oklahoma City and has since become an international business with more than 500 locations across the United States. But did you know that the Christian couple had been operating Hobby Lobby on Sunday as well? And that they closed it every Sunday so their employees could go to church? That’s right-the Green family had been keeping Hobby Lobby closed on Sundays since the very beginning, which led to several lawsuits throughout the years with the federal government.
- The case spurred debate about whether or not businesses should be able to deny services to people based on owners’ personal beliefs, but there are plenty of other intriguing facets to Hobby Lobby’s unique business model and corporate culture.
What Is Hobby Lobby’s?
If you’re unfamiliar with what a craft store is, then you might be wondering how a store like that could possibly still be profitable in today’s market. Well, it turns out that Hobby Lobby has more going for it than just discounted fabrics and broken clay figurines. It was also in court recently for refusing to provide birth control insurance coverage for its employees, claiming religious reasons for doing so. The company president had said in a CBS interview that he’d rather go to jail than comply with government rulings requiring him to do so. But we should give you all of the facts before we jump into why Hobby Lobby is closed on Sundays . . .
The answer lies in how they arrived at where they are today with America’s labor laws. The Fair Labor Standards Act has been amended numerous times since its inception under Franklin D.
Roosevelt’s administration in 1938. While some argue that these amendments have helped shape the modern economy, others say they threaten religious freedom and contradict American values about hard work.
What comes around goes around!
History
The Supreme Court, in a 5–4 decision within a month, determined that closely held corporations can opt-out of providing contraceptive coverage for their employees on religious grounds. And after some time, in another 5–4 ruling, Justice Samuel Alito decided that those corporations could also ignore federal law and operate with total disregard for the Bankruptcy Code’s goal of ‘reorganizing failing businesses.’ The majority opinion was fractured as it was broadly opposed by both liberal and conservative justices.
- So what is Hobby Lobby’s?
- How did we get here?
- What does it mean?
- And where do we go from here?
Over the past few days, I’ve read numerous articles attempting to make sense of Monday’s rather stunning ruling. Many have been good; some not so much. But none have answered all my questions. After speaking to numerous bankruptcy attorneys, accountants, and others familiar with these kinds of transactions, I still had questions about how these deals work—and why they matter.
So let’s explore all the answer’s together – together!
- Achievements
Seven years ago, a small number of store managers in Oklahoma—with no decision-making authority—decided to close on Sunday. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and customers routinely asked if they could shop seven days a week. Today that idea has been ratified by the entire workforce, with 90% of employees supporting the decision! While it’s easy to argue that there are financial benefits to closing on Sunday, many are convinced that there is something greater at work here: One’s allegiance to biblical principles.
People don’t shy away from saying that their commitment is directly related to their Christian beliefs and traditions.
- Controversy
There’s nothing controversial about why Hobby Lobby’s is closed on Sunday, but there is a lot of confusion. Over and over again, customers will approach a cashier to ask why they can’t shop on Sundays.
They might say something like I don’t understand why you guys are closed—no one else in town is! It isn’t fair! Why aren’t you open? I have plans for today and need to buy my daughter that thing she wants so badly! This is stupid; it isn’t right. I want to shop here, but now I won’t because you’re closed and it doesn’t make sense! Your whole store should be open, not just half of it! How can you justify closing your doors when people need your merchandise?! Or maybe they’ll just throw their hands up in exasperation or shake their head knowingly as if to say Well, that makes total sense.
- To answer all those burning questions:
- They close their doors at 5 pm every day except Sunday so everyone can spend time with their respective families.
- Not everyone has plans on Sunday; some people go to church or spend time with family and friends.
Conclusion
Closing on Sunday will give employees 24 hours to rest, rejuvenate and spend time with their families.
- Being closed once a week will also allow them to step back and see how their work affects not only themselves but their customers.
- Resting on Sunday will keep employees healthier while they serve their communities and in turn, it may help create a better, more pleasant shopping experience for shoppers.
- The extra day of rest may also encourage employees to come into work during regular business hours feeling energized rather than exhausted after taking care of other responsibilities that likely competed for their attention such as errands, hobbies, friends, and family.
It’s easier to go out of your way for others when you feel healthy and renewed from some time off.
