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AIBU?

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Original poster

Phoning in sick on Christmas Day?

343 replies

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:06

I work as a receptionist in a hotel
I have been told as the newest member of the team I will be working Christmas Day months in advance.
It's 11am -11 pm shift and the same Christmas Eve (my birthday)
It's minimum wage and we won't get paid extra.
My dad is 87 and isn't in the best health and I'm his only family
I'm really scared that this might be his last Christmas and I'm wasting it at work for a company who doesn't care
I asked to swap and was told no
I asked if anyone else wanted to work was told no

Aibu to phone in sick?
Il just add I'm not workshy
I never ring in sick

OP posts:
TubeScreamer · 15/08/2024 13:17

that would be a really shitty thing to do. Celebrate with your dad before or after.

mitogoshi · 15/08/2024 13:17

Leave if you don't want to work anti social shifts, do not ring in sick.

ByCupidStunt · 15/08/2024 13:17

ShelfService · 15/08/2024 13:15

Why work somewhere whose ethos does not match yours?

Show quote history

I expect when the OP took this job it was more about the tax credits, etc etc that come with it.

Tdcp · 15/08/2024 13:17

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:14

My only family is my dad
He wouldn't understand why Christmas Day wasn't Christmas
I asked my colleagues if we could split the shift up 3 hours each
4 hours each
They all said no
So tbh I don't feel any guilt
If they can't be bothered to help
Why should I

your colleagues would have all worked the same xmas shifts previous to you being hired...it's your turn

JoyousPinkPeer · 15/08/2024 13:16

I agree the company should ask staff to do half shifts and unfair to do both xmas eve and xmas day.
Great idea to check your Dad and you into the hotel for the night, have breakfast together and meet up on yoyr breaks.
I would personally get another job, or hand my notice in so my last day of work is 23rd December if I couldn't get a job in time. I could not phone in sick, not fair on colleagues - who will have worked Christmas previously.

DeathpunchDan · 15/08/2024 13:16

Have your own Christmas/birthday celebration together on a different day. It's what we do as we all work different shifts etc, and it's still Christmas to us.

ilovesooty · 15/08/2024 13:16

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:14

My only family is my dad
He wouldn't understand why Christmas Day wasn't Christmas
I asked my colleagues if we could split the shift up 3 hours each
4 hours each
They all said no
So tbh I don't feel any guilt
If they can't be bothered to help
Why should I

If you've expressed those sentiments I wouldn't be surprised if they sacked you on Boxing Day. I'd get looking for another job now.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 15/08/2024 13:16

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:12

If I'm pulling my weight
Why is nobody else?
Why are Christmas Eve and day on the same person ?
To me that's not fair
I wouldn't mind doing Christmas Eve
New Year's Eve and day just not Christmas Day

Christnas Eve is a normal working day for most people. It would be worse if it was Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

ShelfService · 15/08/2024 13:15

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:15

@ByCupidStunt if I worked for the nhs that is different ,this is hotel reception
Who choose to open Christmas Day out of sheer greed

Why work somewhere whose ethos does not match yours?

Humanpincushion · 15/08/2024 13:15

Extremely unreasonable.
cheistmas day is months away- you either have to negotiate taking leave or find a new job.
someone will have to do it if you call in sick and that person may have spent months organising there day. They may have worked the last five christmases, or it’s their kids first, Christmas is special to everyone.

why don’t you ask your family to have Christmas Day on Xmas eve, or Boxing Day- the actual date doesn’t matter

JollyHostess101 · 15/08/2024 13:15

Shift worker here and was happy to work until we lost Mum and then I completely get not wanting to leave your Dad on his own because I didn’t either!

Ive never gone sick for Christmas but if you have to do it (Have seen it numerous times in my 18yrs doing shifts) you’re best off going sick a few days before so it’s not as obvious that your just taking Christmas Day off!

The suggestion of booking your Dad into the hotel is a good one! What shift times are they expecting you to work as we never got shorter shifts but tried to let people finish a bit earlier!

Snowpaw · 15/08/2024 13:15

Plenty of time to find another job. I'd do that, not phone in sick. Think of the anxiety it would cause you in the lead up, knowing you're going to intentionally leave your employer in the shit on Christmas Day. It would ruin the whole celebration. If you're not happy with the hours, its in your power to change your situation.

Longhotsummers · 15/08/2024 13:15

Don’t ruin someone else’s day by phoning in sick. Get another job and leave.

Original poster
themanors · 15/08/2024 13:15

@ByCupidStunt if I worked for the nhs that is different ,this is hotel reception
Who choose to open Christmas Day out of sheer greed

OP posts:
MinnieMountain · 15/08/2024 13:14

Your employer won’t believe you.

We had a new colleague refused time off for Ramadan as enough people in his team already had it off. He called in sick anyway. Nobody believed him and he left soon afterwards.

fitzwilliamdarcy · 15/08/2024 13:14

One of my colleagues was finally rostered on to do Christmas last year and she made a fuss, asked to swap etc., made it very clear she didn’t want to do it. She called in sick and I got a call asking me to come in - I refused as I’d worked all of the previous ones and the manager had to go in. She got bollocked for it.

I’d try to find another job. They’ll know you’re pulling a sickie and if you’re in probation it may not end well for you.

Don’t take a job where there’s Christmas working if you won’t work Christmas, it just means someone else has to work even more Christmases to accommodate you.

Original poster
themanors · 15/08/2024 13:14

My only family is my dad
He wouldn't understand why Christmas Day wasn't Christmas
I asked my colleagues if we could split the shift up 3 hours each
4 hours each
They all said no
So tbh I don't feel any guilt
If they can't be bothered to help
Why should I

OP posts:
AdviceKneaded · 15/08/2024 13:14

Personally, I'd be hunt for another job. If it's minimum wage you have a good chance of finding a new position in the next 4 months.No way would I be working such a shift on Christmas Day if I were in your shoes.

ShelfService · 15/08/2024 13:14

Find another job. Nobody will believe you are sick. And you would not be shafting the ‘company’. You would be ruining the Christmas day of another poorly paid colleague. I work in the NHS and I’ve had to work plenty of Christmases. I’m guessing somebody else is doing boxing day.
Leave your job. This is not for you.

ilovesooty · 15/08/2024 13:13

You don't seem very concerned about the family of someone who'll get dragged in at the last minute to cover you.

ByCupidStunt · 15/08/2024 13:13

How would you feel if your dad DID die on Christmas Day and all those people who work for the NHS and emergency services rang in sick too?

sunsetsandboardwalks · 15/08/2024 13:13

Well, it's up to you, but you'll be risking your job.

Sounreasonable · 15/08/2024 13:12

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:09

So I leave my dad alone all day ?
To go and earn about £130
It just doesn't sit right and I'm worried he's going to be upset alone.
If this is the last Christmas he has and I would rather go to work

wou someone else be dragged in to cover? That wouldn’t make you very popular with your colleagues.

Barleysugar86 · 15/08/2024 13:12

My family has lots who work in jobs that can't get Christmas off. We use to pick our own Christmas day a couple of days later. It's really just a day. Unless you have kids who are waiting for Santa it's not a big deal... plan a lovely boxing day. Drop a gift round to your dad or ring him in the morning, tell him how much you are looking forward to seeing him tomorrow. He won't feel forgotten.

Original poster
themanors · 15/08/2024 13:12

If I'm pulling my weight
Why is nobody else?
Why are Christmas Eve and day on the same person ?
To me that's not fair
I wouldn't mind doing Christmas Eve
New Year's Eve and day just not Christmas Day

OP posts:
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