The outdoor company REI has decided to switch it up this year. They’re closing their doors for Black Friday and giving their 12,000 workers the day off, with pay. The company is encouraging consumers to instead get outside during the day, creating the hashtag “OptOutside”. Retail workers across the U.S. are praising this decision and urging their employers to do the same, although unlikely.

“I think it’s really great they’re closing their doors,” said Taylor Stockman (’17), an employee at Nike. “I know it’s a huge day for companies to make bank and it’s really cool they’re closing so people could be with their families. I really wish my work would do the same.”

Corporate America has always recognized Black Friday as the staple holiday right after Thanksgiving. Retail stores open as early as 12am, and anxious customers spill through the doors searching for the best deals. However, a new trend has emerged recently: retail stores are not opening their sales on Friday, but instead on the Thursday of Thanksgiving, in order to compete with larger stores like Walmart that open earlier than everyone else. This has turned what was once was a slow and relaxing holiday into shopping hysteria; leaving retail employees to make a quick trip to McDonald’s for their Thanksgiving dinner since most are required to work this four day weekend.

Nordstrom, DSW, Marshalls, and Costco are all remaining closed on Thanksgiving day to ensure their employees have a well deserved holiday off.

However, as far as closing on Thanksgiving AND Black Friday, no other companies have decided to follow REI’s lead quite yet. Many retailers operate at a loss for the continuous slow months of the year and one of the few days sufficient profit is made is on Black Friday, which can account for over 40% of a stores sales for an entire fiscal year, according to CNN. How the REI company will be financially affected by their decision is yet to be determined.

“Get lots of caffeine,” senior and Target employee Kayla Humrich  suggests for employees that work on Black Friday. “It’s really rushed and management doesn’t prepare you at all.”