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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:
Sinderalla · 15/08/2024 13:38

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:37

@Michelle987 the owners of the hotel decided to make the hotel open for business
They didn't have too
They chose that well in advance so people could book
Yet these owners /managers are not in Christmas Day
It's us who are on 11.44 a hour who are there for 12 hours

@themanors
Just get it off, I wouldn't reply any more....
Leave or tell them now you're not working.

WickieRoy · 15/08/2024 13:38

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:32

@Clarice99 it's not just a family member
It's my dad
We have nobody else but each other
So no to be I don't feel guilty tbh

Everyone who works there will have family they want to spend Christmas with.

You have four months notice to plan a Christmas around your working hours. If you call in sick, you're giving your colleagues maybe an hour's notice to rearrange their Christmas.

You work in hospitality, of course working on bank holidays will be a possibility. Confused

dbeuowlxb173939 · 15/08/2024 13:38

No don't call in sick, they could use that to dismiss you.
A lot of people work Christmas, it sucks but at least you have a few months notice to make a plan or even look for a new job!
You just work around it, special Christmas breakfast and your Christmas dinner on Boxing Day for example.
My mum was a nurse and worked shifts over Christmas when I was growing up, we just made the best of it.

HappyLittleNarwhal · 15/08/2024 13:37

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:34

@HappyLittleNarwhal why don't you apply ?
See how you feel then

Thanks but I've got a job.

Honestly the way you speak to people...you'll be out of the job soon enough so you won't have to worry about Christmas.

Bubblybits · 15/08/2024 13:37

You literally just pick another day to have Christmas. It’s not difficult, just do the 23rd or the 26th. It’s just a day. I’ve worked in hospitality for years and people like you make it so much harder on the rest of us.

KnickerlessParsons · 15/08/2024 13:37

You can have Christmas Day on any day you want. Buck the trend - have Christmas day on 26th Dec, or 3rd Jan, or whenever you want. It's just a day with a big roast dinner - you can do that any time and make it special.

Krumblina · 15/08/2024 13:37

Yeah I would. You've told them in advance and they haven't listened.
It's deeply unfair not to split the days.
Your dad is more important.

Original poster
themanors · 15/08/2024 13:37

@Michelle987 the owners of the hotel decided to make the hotel open for business
They didn't have too
They chose that well in advance so people could book
Yet these owners /managers are not in Christmas Day
It's us who are on 11.44 a hour who are there for 12 hours

OP posts:
LondonQueen · 15/08/2024 13:36

I'd look for another job, it's unreasonable for you to have to work both days for 12 hours. Failing that I'd ring in sick, screw the job.

Sinderalla · 15/08/2024 13:36

@PinkCast @themanors
I doubt work would allow you to take your dad to work!
I do not under any circumstances think this is even practical for an elderly poorly gentleman.

Sounreasonable · 15/08/2024 13:36

Clarice99 · 15/08/2024 13:31

If you were genuinely sick, you'd be off sick from work and you would not be celebrating Christmas, so your question is pretty ridiculous.

It would be very unreasonable to call in sick just so you can spend time with a family member. You can do Christmas on another day. Loads of people have to do this ones who are committed to their job/career and not taking the piss by pulling a sickie. Alternatively, you have ample time to look for another job.

Show quote history

How would the employer know you were genuinely sick and not celebrating?

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 15/08/2024 13:35

You have plenty of notice and time to find a different job. Having tried all ways to get the day off you will absolutely not be believed if you call in sick on Christmas Day. You will likely be dismissed, so you would to better to leave on your own terms before Christmas.

It’s not “greed” that is causing the hotel to open on Christmas Day. That is a ridiculous thing to say. It is just a commercial decision. Perfectly normal for a hotel to be open at Christmas.

I entirely understand your need to spend Christmas with your father. Just go about it the right way.

Michelle987 · 15/08/2024 13:35

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:33

@Michelle987 does the hotel save lives or need to be open ?
No it's a choice

So anyone whose booked into the hotel for their own Christmas break will have to leave 24-25 and find alternative accommodation because you cba to work??! What about the chef, the cleaners, the conceirge etc they will all have to work too. Get over yourself

potatocrates · 15/08/2024 13:35

Plan to celebrate Christmas with Dad on Boxing Day. Give him lots of notice.
FWIW I’ve worked both Christmas Eve and Christmas for the past 16 years and done this.

DadJoke · 15/08/2024 13:35

It depends on your contract of employment. It's entirely legal for an employer to require their staff to work on Christmas Day, and not pay extra for it. It's pretty bad practice though.

Have a look at the contract and the specified holidays.

But, obviously, pretending to be sick on Christmas Day is a sackable offence, though it's pretty hard to prove. You will of course be screwing up someone else's Christmas if you do this.

You could do it, but as an alternative, pick another day and do stuff with your dad then.

ForestFox44 · 15/08/2024 13:35

Yanbu. Why should it fall on you because you are new? Seems unfair and makes no sense. Definitely look for a new job though and have a nice Christmas with your dad

Hardcametherain · 15/08/2024 13:35

Can you hand in your notice so that you finish before Christmas?

PinkCast · 15/08/2024 13:35

Michelle987 · 15/08/2024 13:32

Lol the hotel is a business that operates 24/7 365!

Edited
Show quote history

Exactly! If the hotel didn't have any guests, they wouldn't be open.

@themanors could your dad come to the hotel and have dinner with you there on your break?

MumblesParty · 15/08/2024 13:35

I would suggest you speak to the other 2 new receptionists who have never worked Christmas. Tell them that you are planning to quit unless the 3 of you share the day between you. Point out that if you quit, they’ll be the newest and they’ll end up having to work anyway, so they might as well agree to it now.

Don’t call in sick though. That’s just mean.

midgetastic · 15/08/2024 13:35

You are sad and upset but unreasonable

"Do" Christmas on another day

You take a job in hospitality and it's what you should have expected

VisitationRights · 15/08/2024 13:34

I would be inclined to give them the very least amount of notice and quit so that your last day is a week before Christmas and have a job lined up for the new year.

Original poster
themanors · 15/08/2024 13:34

@HappyLittleNarwhal why don't you apply ?
See how you feel then

OP posts:
Hillarious · 15/08/2024 13:34

Sounreasonable · 15/08/2024 13:30

Nope.

I have 3 siblings. My parents have 6 siblings between them, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren… yet if I don’t spend Christmas with them then they spend it alone.

Show quote history

"They" - does that mean they have each other for company and can cook a meal together, rather than being totally on their own?

UpTheMagicFarawayTree · 15/08/2024 13:34

Just do Christmas Day on boxing day, your dad won't mind at all he will just be glad to spend the time with you. You can do him a fabulous Christmas Dinner and have a lovely celebration together.

Original poster
themanors · 15/08/2024 13:34

@littleoldme3 it's 30-40 hours contract
No set days
Sometimes it can be 4 days
Some days it can be 5

OP posts: