Page 11 | To think you shouldn't have to work in the office on Christmas Eve?

oliverwe · 2024-11-11T20:40:02+00:00

I work in an office environment. Some people work from home fully remotely, most people are in the office 3-4 days a week. My manager has decided that we must come in 5 days a week. That is minus him and other managers of course, who usually go to their country houses for long weekends. My folk live in Cornwall and I'd like to go and see them for Christmas. It's about 6 hours on the train or driving. Manager has told me he expects me in the office on Christmas Eve. I can't take annual leave as other people are. AIBU to think I shouldn't need to be in the office? I can and used to work from home so it's just grinch behaviour.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:24

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:22

To all the people saying it’s no different from today why does the public transport schedule differ?

Exactly. While it's not a public holiday, it's also most definitely not 'just a normal day'.

AreYouBrandNew · 11/11/2024 21:24

OP your boss sounds like a massive hypocrite. Has he confirmed whether he will be in the office on Christmas Eve. If he’s wfh you could point this out to HR and ask how to apply for the same flexible working

Gemmawemma9 · 11/11/2024 21:24

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:20

Ours is manic

I knew someone would say this!

Must work at the North Pole in Santa’s HQ.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:23

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:21

I'm sure a LOT of people would. But we don't always get what we want to we?

What if everyone in every profession wanted to 'get gone' for Christmas.

Ludicrous post - really!

Show quote history

She's not in 'every profession' FFS. What nurses etc. have to do is not relevant to this office worker.

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:22

To all the people saying it’s no different from today why does the public transport schedule differ?

ilovesooty · 11/11/2024 21:22

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:19

Ours is manic we have absolutely no idea how busy OPs office is as she hasn't told us.

Show quote history

Ours certainly was.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:22

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:20

Ours is manic

I knew someone would say this!

Of course they would, but I specifically asked about the average office.

SleepyHollowed84 · 11/11/2024 21:22

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:18

People don't 'need' to travel to family on Christmas Eve they want to. Which is perfectly understandable. But generally time off or flexibility is on the goodwill of the employer and people throwing tantrums and Sickies because they don't get it is unreasonable.

Show quote history

I think people deserve to be with their families on Christmas though?

if it’s the difference between being in the office on Christmas Eve and spending Christmas alone, or WFH on Christmas Eve and getting to be with family, I think you’d be a pretty heartless boss to opt for the former.

I don’t really understand this country’s obsession with working to the absolute bone. Most office jobs would be absolutely fine with Christmas Eve-Boxing Day closed. It should be the norm.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:21

MSLRT · 11/11/2024 21:19

This isn’t about you though. The op wants to get gone for Christmas.

Edited

Show quote history

I'm sure a LOT of people would. But we don't always get what we want to we?

What if everyone in every profession wanted to 'get gone' for Christmas.

Ludicrous post - really!

Lilactimes · 11/11/2024 21:21

I think it feels very unfair especially if you’re prepared to drive the night before.
However, some industries can be really busy at this time so if this is a time where the company can make some money, I can understand them wanting people to work - but managers should also be working.

Being decent at this time of year reaps dividends!

Tangled123 · 11/11/2024 21:21

I think it’s really mean for employers to have staff working from the office on Christmas Eve, especially if they can’t finish early. It makes it more difficult for those travelling and harder for those who have to prep Christmas dinner.

It’s even more unfair if the managers get to stay home.

I’m so lucky not to have that problem this year, our office closes for Christmas on the 20th and that’s my normal WFH day.

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:20

Ours is manic

I knew someone would say this!

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:19

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:16

Do you think the average office is really busy on Christmas Eve?

Show quote history

Ours is manic we have absolutely no idea how busy OPs office is as she hasn't told us.

Calamitousness · 11/11/2024 21:19

I hate bosses like this too. Unable to allow their staff to work like mature adults. If you needed to be in the office then you’d go in without being told. He should trust you to do what’s needed.

MSLRT · 11/11/2024 21:19

Vettrianofan · 11/11/2024 20:41

I used to work Christmas Day and NYE/NYD and didn't bat an eyelid over it. Christmas Eve is just another day for many?

This isn’t about you though. The op wants to get gone for Christmas.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:19

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:15

Of course they were. Some work being done at home was better than none being done at all during Covid. But now people have WFH long enough to work out all the little tricks and how to get away with the minimum amount of work, it is just human nature for some. And as per usual the few piss takers have ruined it for everyone.

Show quote history

Exactly this. As I said, the OP is not winning any arguments for 'working from home' here.

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:18

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:13

They do not have to, but many do.
Similarly, public transport schedules are different.
Also, as I've already mentioned those who do not have family nearby need to be able to travel on the 24th to see their family on the 25th, there being no public transport on the 25th.
It's not a 'normal day' and everybody knows it.

Show quote history

People don't 'need' to travel to family on Christmas Eve they want to. Which is perfectly understandable. But generally time off or flexibility is on the goodwill of the employer and people throwing tantrums and Sickies because they don't get it is unreasonable.

Guyforkz · 11/11/2024 21:18

Could you just go and say you didn’t realise you had to be in?

FWIW I think this unnecessary level of meanness is why most people are pushing to stay working from home at least some of the time.

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:17

@Gwenhwyfar quite!

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:16

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:15

Of course they were. Some work being done at home was better than none being done at all during Covid. But now people have WFH long enough to work out all the little tricks and how to get away with the minimum amount of work, it is just human nature for some. And as per usual the few piss takers have ruined it for everyone.

Show quote history

Do you think the average office is really busy on Christmas Eve?

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:16

Any businesses closing early etc are doing so at their own expense.

It also depends on the business & the cost of staying open, eg a large Sainsbury’s or John Lewis will close at 4/5pm because the reduced footfall means it’s not worth been open.

AmberAnt · 11/11/2024 21:15

Sorry OP but I think YABU.

if you’re contracted to work then you need to be available as and where.

I worked a job that allowed a bit of flex/early finish/wfh around Christmas but never guaranteed depending what was happening. If you have a long trip somewhere for Christmas Day then you need to book leave on 23rd/24th - that’s what I always did.

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:15

BeensOnToost · 11/11/2024 21:11

Yup. I'm struggling to understand how anyone who can't work out that OP would travel the night before or work on the train is even employable.

All this fuss about having wfh culture is nonsense. Bosses were perfectly happy with it when it worked better for them during covid.

Show quote history

Of course they were. Some work being done at home was better than none being done at all during Covid. But now people have WFH long enough to work out all the little tricks and how to get away with the minimum amount of work, it is just human nature for some. And as per usual the few piss takers have ruined it for everyone.

Freethebees · 11/11/2024 21:14

All that matters is your boss's opinion, nobody elses.

We used to always work in the office on Christmas Eve. It got moved to a 2pm finish in later years.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:14

BeensOnToost · 11/11/2024 21:11

Yup. I'm struggling to understand how anyone who can't work out that OP would travel the night before or work on the train is even employable.

All this fuss about having wfh culture is nonsense. Bosses were perfectly happy with it when it worked better for them during covid.

Show quote history

OP has not said at any point that she will do her full day's work on the train on the way there. And how the F can she? Doing a full day's work on a 6 hour train trip will be impossible.

People are just assuming she will do her work then. And how can she do a full day's work properly on the train? Give over. I don't think it's ME who is 'unemployable' luv.

.