As the holiday season approaches, there are growing questions about how holiday shopping will kick off. For the last several years, Black Friday shopping has started on Thanksgiving Day and into Black Friday, but this year, shoppers are shying away from the big event. The latest Accenture Holiday Shopping Survey finds that shoppers are minimizing in-store shopping and choosing home delivery. It also shows that shoppers would prefer stores to remain closed on Thanksgiving Day.

According to the survey, 76% of consumers want retailers to remain closed on Thanksgiving Day, and half of those respondents said retail workers deserved a say off. Another 61% of respondents in the survey said that they plan to minimize in-store shopping this year and that they would be most comfortable shopping in stores that show a high level of concern for health, safety and hygiene practices.

The concern over health and safety in retail stores has been an ongoing challenge for retailers. The CDC has issued strict guidance for shoppers this holiday season, recommending that consumers stay home as much as possible and avoid in-store shopping. For Black Friday shopping, the CDC recommends "shopping online rather than in person on the day after Thanksgiving or the next Monday," according to the website.