The trend for stores to open earlier and earlier to take advantage of Black Friday sales—even to the point of opening in the evening on Thanksgiving Day—has prompted an online petition drive to give Thanksgiving back to employees and their families.

Do any Maryland Heights residents work in retail and have to work Thanksgiving? Tell us in the comments section.

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Read More: Black Friday Shopping in St. Louis to Start Earlier Than Ever

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The original petition was reportedly created by a Target employee upset that the retail giant is opening on Thanksgiving and requiring employees to work instead of spending time with their families.

Target stores, including the one near Maryland Heights in Bridgeton, will open their doors at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

As of Tuesday morning, there are more than 179,000 signatures on the petition.

(Check out the petition here.)

A press release from Change.org reported that they have seen dozens of new petitions pop up about Black Friday hours.

"Following a Sears announcement last week that the company would open store doors at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening, Change.org users launched more than 40 new petitions calling on retailers to allow families to spend Thanksgiving together and stick to Black Friday opening times," the press release stated.

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Following are just a few of the comments from creators and signers of the petitions:

• “My wife works for Sears as a lead and they are forcing her to work two 12 hour shifts in a 30 hour period. She will have no time before or after the holiday to spend with family. This goes out to all employees in the same position.” Matthew Frankowski, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
• “I've worked retail for 12 years but have never had to work Thanksgiving until this year. My family would not understand or believe it!” Paul Kessler, a Sears employee from Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
• “Retail employees should be able to enjoy Thanksgiving with their families.  Give them the day off.  They will work their tails off for you for the next month.  They deserve Turkey Day with family and friends!” Jennifer Dianovsky, Chicago.
• “I, as a responsible consumer and retail employee, have never, nor will I ever, shop at a store that is open on holidays. If it is so important for your bottom line then all the corporate big shots should give up their holiday with their families and go in and open and work those stores on those hours.” Roxanne DeRosa, Naperville, IL.

The New York Daily News reported that "copycat" petitions have also been created asking Macy’s, Best Buy, Old Navy and Kohl’s to reconsider their plans to open at midnight on Thanksgiving.

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Here are just some of the more than 40 trending “Save Thanksgiving” petitions on Change.org:
https://www.change.org/petitions/target-take-the-high-road-and-save-thanksgiving
https://www.change.org/petitions/target-don-t-take-away-thanksgiving
https://www.change.org/petitions/sears-holdings-stop-sears-stores-from-opening-thanksgiving-day

What do you think? Are Black Friday specials getting out of hand and starting to replace the Thanksgiving holiday itself?