Phoning in sick on Christmas Day?

Yes, you do seem to have very little interest or compassion in the wellbeing of OP's colleagues, being called in last minute.

I can understand why OP wants to prioritise herself/her family over her colleagues and their families. But they're all strangers to us so I'm not sure why she expects us to agree that she's more important.

And it's not out of greed hotels open, it's because people want to spend Christmas away, often lonely people or those who find Christmas difficult. It's expensive to stay in a hotel, it's a choice - they wouldn't open if people didn't book. Also typically there's a serious uplift in pay eg my local restaurant pays staff double plus you are expected to leave £10 cash tip per person in your party to thank the staff who are mostly young but also those who just need the job.

No one will believe you. You'll jeopardise your employment. Look for another job.

most places pay extra for christmas
celebrate on boxing day
does he have anyone else?

But everyone else there has had their turn at working Christmas Day, you've been told it's your turn as you're new. Yeah it sucks that your dad could be on his own but you can't just ring in sick, it's not fair. Either work the shift and celebrate on another day or quit

NHS are paid handsomely for Xmas day. I'm nhs.

I say get out of it what ever way you have to, deal with the consequences after.
I would take the rest of my life off work if I could spend another Christmas Day with any of my parents!!

I would say you don’t want to work it now.

then look for other jobs, it’s it’s just paying minimum wage, you’ll probably be able to find something else. You’d be better off working in a supermarket, the big chains tend to be more reasonable with shift patterns.

Resign when you’ve lined something else up, failing all, resign 23rd November, say it’s because of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day shift and you would stay if they could arrange a fairer shift pattern. They might agree to change the shift pattern including you rather than scrambling at a months notice to recruit someone, training them and then have them work Christmas Eve and day.

He wouldn't understand why Christmas Day wasn't Christmas

Why not? If he is capable of understanding when Christmas is, then he is capable of understanding that you have a work commitment.

I would find another job. It doesn't sound like you've been in this one very long so it's a bit off to go in suggesting everyone works Xmas day if that's not the done thing. I'd be very unimpressed if a new starter said that in my work place. Please don't ring in sick, it's a crappy thing to do when you're not sick. If the boot was on the other foot you wouldn't be happy if you worked last Xmas and now this year someone has lied so you have to cover for them.

resign at the end of november

start searching for an office job

She hasn't been there long enough for any legal protection. They don't have to prove she lied.

I wouldn’t phone in sick, but I wouldn’t be working Christmas Day for my normal pay either. Look for another job between now and then.

Just pick a different day as "fake Xmas" that's what I do as a Dr that's worked 7 out of 9 Xmas' since I've graduated. Does bug me as they often don't change the rolling rota pattern so I'm often working 13h days 24,25,26,27th each time

Tbh if it was me I'd just find another job you've got nearly 4m to do so

Fair point here

Sounds like you've made up your mind...

I’m not sure a hotel opening Christmas Day is opening out of sheer greed.

Lots of people are likely to need hotel accommodation if they’re travelling to see people over Christmas. The hotel is providing a service.

It’s a risk when you work in hospitality - if it was going to be a deal breaker for you, you should have negotiated before taking the job.

But as others have said, you have time to find a different job.

Get a new job amd tell them you have prebooked leave.

Make sure current job have time to find cover.

Everyone on here is obsessed with employer's rights, and also playing by "the rules" - it's a very right wing website in the main. Very little compassion or interest in the well-being of employees.

Luckily you don't need a consensus of posters on here to tell you to take time off. Just do it if you consider it the right choice for you in your context.

I don't see how your employer's could prove you were lying and fire you. Depends on the terms of your contract - can you be dismissed without a good reason?

I would take this down personally - with the age of your dad etc it's a bit identifiable. Your employers might see it.

Give your notice now and explain why. Start looking for a new job. There are plenty of other jobs that won’t require you to work Christmas Day.

Not really - it will also be disappointing whoever has to cover (which I assume you wouldn't do if someone else was sick on Christmas Day and you weren't working).

I agree that they shouldn't have put you on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day though.

Just have Christmas Day on Boxing Day.

You may as well just quit before Christmas as you won’t have a job to come back to anyway.

If you were sick you wouldn't be able to enjoy Xmas with your dad