Phoning in sick on Christmas Day?

I think you're being ridiculous. You took a job that includes working bank holidays. So you have to do a turn.

I imagine colleagues don't want to split the shift because they worked other years. Presumably you will get next Christmas off.

You could suggest a change in the way things are done for the future, but that'll be far more convincing if you aren't doing it only for personal benefit. Maybe next year you could offer to do a few hours for the person stuck with the unlucky shift?

Change jobs if you aren't willing to work as per your contract.

Most jobs will want a contact for a reference from your current employer, so definitely don't call in sick when it's fairly obvious that it's not sickness. In any case, there is a very good chance you will be able to find another job before Christmas anyway.

Phone in sick ,if this is real Which a lot of post's I doubt these days who gives a fuck , the only issue is if you like your job will they scrutinize your illness who cares ffs

Christmas Day is just another day. I would declare the 26th/27th Christmas Eve and day and celebrate then. Lots of my family members work Christmas Day due to working in healthcare and hospitality and we just pick a couple of days that we can all meet up.

Do not just call in sick, tell them well in advance what you will be doing so they have time to organise shifts. I would tell them that you’re prepared to cover 4-11pm both days for double pay but no more hours and they can split the other hours between the other two new staff.

But seriously look for other work, there is a good reason for the high turn over and they can’t expect your commitment for unsocial hours on the minimum wage.

You have three options:

1. Get a new job which is easily done.
2. Celebrate on Boxing Day (or any other day)
3. Work your shift.

Make your choice. If you ring in sick on Christmas Day expect to be sacked.

You make a lot of good points and that situation is totally unfair but you should still not call in sick on Christmas Day.
You shouldn't have to do 12 hour shifts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That should be divided between colleagues.
The owners should be offering time and a half or double pay to incentivise staff to work or if they can't / won't pay enough then they should work the shift themselves.
You say there is a huge staff turnover. Is it likely that come Christmas you'll no longer be the newest member of staff?
I think I'd wait until end of October and if the situation hasn't changed (new staff to split the shifts) say then that you won't do both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so they need to find solution or you'll be quitting. There are loads of openings in retail and hospitality in the lead up to Christmas so you're sure to find something just as good.

Look for another job. You have time as it's august

Why don't celebrate Christmas a day late? I doesn't matter.

You've talked a lot about splitting the shift but surely that just takes Christmas day away from more people? You can't host Christmas then go to work for 3-4 hours in the middle of the day, nor can you travel to see family (unless they live very close) if you need to go into work.

It's a rubbish situation, as it is for everyone who has to work on Christmas Day, I hope you do manage to find something else!

Don't ring in sick.

Either be firm and let them know you will not be in Christmas Day - with the reasons you've given.

Or, as others have said find another job.

Poster AIBU
MN yes
Poster No I am not

never gonna end well

OP perhaps the other new receptionists had already booked holidays for the Christmas period (we live 5 hours by car from one side of the family and 12 hours from the other so would have to book annual leave if we wanted to see either for Christmas) and that's why they aren't able to 'share' your shift with you.

Receptionists are not just for checking people in and out so although your shift will be much quieter you'll still have stuff to do. The owner doesn't need to work in the business, they employ staff, and they charge more because they can - even the local crap pub charges a fortune for Xmas lunch.

Hospitality is a hard industry and you need to get used to that fact.

And he could have another 5 or 10 years ,I'm not unsympathetic I also have elderly frail parents ,,but you can't just expect to be given special treatment just in case, you could becusing the same excuse for the next few years .

I do not know whether your concern for your dad is making you confrontational OP or whether you are generally like this, but truly you are being totally unreasonable in your attitude. It’s perfectly normal for hotels to be open at Christmas, it’s normal for people who own businesses to pay others to do work they don’t want to do, it’s normal for people who are not scheduled to work Christmas not to volunteer to give up their time off. Christmas Eve is not a bank holiday. So presumably you have one of the bank holidays off? Being Boxing Day. As the newest employee that’s normal too.

It is totally understandable that you want to spend the day with your dad. But getting sacked won’t help you. So just leave the job in the hotel. I honestly don’t think that your attitude is conducive to hospitality work.

The 12 hour shift on Christmas day is unreasonable.
If it had been broken up it wouldn't be so bad. I would seek another job.

Best to find another job I think. I'd be highly suspicious of someone claiming to be sick Christmas Day

I work in the holiday industry. In my first year I worked Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Because I travel, it means I am away from my family altogether, I don’t even get to see them before or after work, (although I am permitted to bring my husband and kids to work with me in certain circumstances.) I was away the Christmas my grandmother died.

We have a points based system for sharing the Christmas work out, which meant that even though I have now been there for 25 years and am one of the longest serving staff in my role, I worked the last 2 Christmases too. Even though there are hundreds of us, we know who has the Christmas work, and if someone calls in sick everyone knows exactly why they were off. It gets talked about. It’s considered really bad form to effectively shit on your colleagues by calling in sick when you just don’t want to work Christmas. If you have a good reason, everyone is sympathetic. If you don’t, and you’ve dropped a colleague in it instead, your name is mud for a very long time.

If you really don’t want to work Christmas, start looking for another job now. You’ve got a few months.

The care sector seems to be permanently recruiting

😂Sorry MoggyP but Ops attitude in a carer made me laugh.

You have plenty of time to get a new job, OP. I'd focus on that.

Bosses who made this decision could go in?

It’s perfectly reasonable to be upset and wish you could spend Christmas Day with your father. It would be completely unreasonable to phone in sick.

I would prioritise looking for another job. You’re going to need one anyway come January.

One of my sisters is a doctor, and I'm a nurse. It's rare that we have the same day off over the Christmas period and both work long shifts so meeting later one day isn't possible. For the last few years we have just picked a different day as a family (me, mum & my 2 siblings) to have our "Christmas Day". We see other people or do other things on Christmas Day if we can't be together and then have "Christmas Day" on our delegated day - whether it's the 26th, 27th, 28th etc.

As long as we have a special day together it's fine. It never feels like a real Christmas Day until we have our day together.

And why should other colleagues have their Christmas ruined if she lies and calls in sick last minute?

I work in care and we are 24/7 365 days a year. But Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 12 hour shifts are unreasonable. Poor management there I think. These shifts that , let’s face it , no body wants should be shared out more fairly.
Having said all that if you phone in sick they won’t believe you and probably sack you anyway.