As the dust settles from the deal induced shopping frenzy that is Black Friday, let us take some time to thank all of the workers who spend the holidays at their jobs instead of with their families.

Yesterday, employees at many retail outlets worked long shifts so consumers could get ‘the best deals of the season.’ Some stores like Walmart even started the Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving Day at 6 p.m. A survey by they National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics found about 20 percent of Americans plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day and 70 percent plan to shop on Black Friday. That’s approximately 32 million people and 115 million people, respectively.

Some retailers, however, choose to close their doors over the holiday to allow their employees to spend time with their friends and families. REI, for instance, has made an advertising campaign out of the gesture that encourages everybody to #OptOutside and spend time outdoors instead of shopping inside.

Those who work over the holidays may be trying to earn some extra cash. Other workers may have no choice in the matter. Whatever the reason, we should all be thankful for and respectful of their time and help during what can be a very stressful time of year. With that in mind, the ISD Editorial Board would like to remind everyone to be courteous while shopping this holiday season.

This advice isn’t just for retail workers. Every year first responders, hospital workers, truck drivers and employees from various sectors work over the holidays to keep our communities functioning. Take some extra time and go out of your way this year to thank them for their work.