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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

340 replies

oliverwe · 11/11/2024 20:40

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.

OP posts:
JurassicPark4Eva · 11/11/2024 21:14

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?

In a non-essential office job? Yeah, sure you did.

EmmaMaria · 11/11/2024 21:13

Whatsitreallylike · 11/11/2024 20:42

He’s an arsehole. Even before COVID I was able to travel for Christmas and work remotely over the Christmas period.

Call in sick instead.

So she's going to work from home, drive to Cornwall and also get a sick note from the GP, all at the same time? If she's already been refused leave the employer has a right to demand a fit note if the wish to verify her "illness".

Thepurplepig · 11/11/2024 21:13

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 20:43

How were you going to "work from home" and drive to Cornwall at the same time? There is a reason boses are cracking down on WFH especially at times when people are maybe not doing the work part of working from home.

Exactly

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:13

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:10

It is by law a normal working day. Any businesses closing early etc are doing so at their own expense. They do not have to unless it is a day specifically referenced in your contract.

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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.

BeensOnToost · 11/11/2024 21:11

Gemmawemma9 · 11/11/2024 21:06

Can’t you read??
and pack it in with the patronising winky face emojis.

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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.

ilovesooty · 11/11/2024 21:11

Gemmawemma9 · 11/11/2024 21:05

Shes planning to travel the night before and work from her mums.
i wish people would read the thread before responding!!

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And her employer might not consider that a suitable working environment.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:11

DragonFly98 · 11/11/2024 21:09

Even before the op clarified it was obvious she would be working from Cornwall. Because as you smugly pointed out she can’t drive at work simultaneously. Use your brain.

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Where did the OP say she will drive to her mum's the night before and work from home the next day? Go on, tell me. My brain clearly isn't working properly. Because I can't see her saying that ANYWHERE. I really can't.

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MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira · 11/11/2024 21:11

I wanted to not be in the office Christmas eve so I booked leave, I got it this year I don't every year.

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:11

@LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway you seem confused & equating two different things. I can be aware that not everywhere closes early but still not have chosen to work in those places…

DragonFly98 · 11/11/2024 21:11

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:07

Where does the OP say she will work from her mum's? Wink

(Also, seriously, did you think telling me to stop using emojis would result in me stopping? 😆)

.

Edited
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Op post 20.44 as pp said, can’t you read?

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 11/11/2024 21:10

oliverwe · 11/11/2024 20:44

I'd get the train after work on the Monday...

How's he going to know if you're dialled up from home? Is he going in?

StormingNorman · 11/11/2024 21:10

They must have seen productivity drop on previous Christmas Eves. Do t blame the bosses…blame the colleagues who spoilt it for the rest of you.

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:10

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:06

No, it's not a normal working day. Many, many offices close early. Also the trains finish early. Loads of people who don't have relatives locally need to get the time off to see their families on Christmas Day.

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It is by law a normal working day. Any businesses closing early etc are doing so at their own expense. They do not have to unless it is a day specifically referenced in your contract.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:09

Fireworknight · 11/11/2024 20:45

I’ve always worked in the office in Christmas Day. It’s not a special day, but a normal working day.

You say it takes six hours to get to your parents. If you were wfh, were you planning to leave after work (and get there at midnight) or finish early? If finishing early, maybe that’s why they want people in the office…?

Christmas Day is a public holiday and is definitely a special day.
If you meant Christmas Eve, it's also a special day. Look up the public transport time tables and you'll see that things finish early. Many offices also close early.

DragonFly98 · 11/11/2024 21:09

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:06

How can the OP do her job 'working from home' when she is spending 6 hours driving to Cornwall? Wink

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Even before the op clarified it was obvious she would be working from Cornwall. Because as you smugly pointed out she can’t drive at work simultaneously. Use your brain.

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:09

I’ve never needed to travel but don’t train services stop early?

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:09

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:08

I’ve never worked anywhere that didn’t “close” early to allow people to travel to family.

LOADS of places don't. How naive!

Mlanket · 11/11/2024 21:08

I’ve never worked anywhere that didn’t “close” early to allow people to travel to family.

Littletreefrog · 11/11/2024 21:08

HarrisObviously · 11/11/2024 21:05

Because the senior managers aren't in the office 5 days a week. One rule for them and one for the other staff.

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Yes. There are lots of rules for managers that are not for general staff and vice versa. That's why some are managers and some are not. Otherwise everybody would do the same work, have the same responsibilities and be paid the same and that wouldn't work.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:07

Gemmawemma9 · 11/11/2024 21:05

Shes planning to travel the night before and work from her mums.
i wish people would read the thread before responding!!

Show quote history

Where does the OP say she will work from her mum's? Wink

(Also, seriously, did you think telling me to stop using emojis would result in me stopping? 😆)

.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:07

x2boys · 11/11/2024 20:58

Many people have to work the whole of Xmas period including Xmas day .

How is that relevant to OP as an office worker?

Gemmawemma9 · 11/11/2024 21:06

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:06

How can the OP do her job 'working from home' when she is spending 6 hours driving to Cornwall? Wink

Show quote history

Can’t you read??
and pack it in with the patronising winky face emojis.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 11/11/2024 21:06

HoneyMustard · 11/11/2024 20:58

Wow everyone is being pretty harsh. If you have a job that can be done remotely, you travel outside of work time and he is going to be wfh himself then it's totally unreasonable.
Even pre covid when wfh was just occasional we were allowed to do it on Xmas eve and/or finish at lunch time.

How can the OP do her job 'working from home' when she is spending 6 hours driving to Cornwall? Wink

Gwenhwyfar · 11/11/2024 21:06

Chowtime · 11/11/2024 20:41

Christmas Eve is a normal working day.

Whether you work from home or the office is a different matter. What does your contract say?

No, it's not a normal working day. Many, many offices close early. Also the trains finish early. Loads of people who don't have relatives locally need to get the time off to see their families on Christmas Day.

HarrisObviously · 11/11/2024 21:05

SometimesCalmPerson · 11/11/2024 20:42

You can’t work from home and drive to Cornwall simultaneously.

Why do you think your employer might be discouraging WFH, other than just grinch behaviour?

Because the senior managers aren't in the office 5 days a week. One rule for them and one for the other staff.

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