The days leading up to Christmas are the peak time of year when large stores are packed with shoppers looking for gifts and food to enjoy the holidays. However, behind these shopping sprees are employees who are denouncing the excessive workload they have to shoulder during this period and the fact that some department store chains are forcing them to work Sundays and holidays without extra pay. Dozens of these employees protested this Thursday outside the Ikea store in Hospitalet de Llobregat, called by the CCOO union, to express their discontent and demand improvements in work-life balance and wages in these types of establishments. "Worked Sunday, paid Sunday" and "They don't give us any option for work-life balance" were some of the slogans chanted by representatives of staff from multinationals such as Ikea, Carrefour, and Leroy Merlin.