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

Your managers all have country houses for the weekend? What on earth do you do? Flog Van Goughs?

as long as you have a desk and internet in a quiet room there’s no reason to not be able to work well in someone else’s home.

Not my problem anymore.

It's only fair that colleagues work 3 out of 7 27th Dec for example. A mix of scheduled days off and annual leave. They can have 10 off in a row and then work the next 4 if need be

Agreed, but this is a privilege, not a right.

I remember being at a small-ish (50 office staff) company about ten years ago, and a member of staff (who was barely 6 months into her employment) turned up on Christmas Eve chirping about how she'd be leaving at lunchtime.

Her office was within earshot of a company director and despite repeated warnings from her manager she kept going on about not doing any work and leaving at lunchtime.

The tradition at this company was that after a bit of digital housekeeping and a team meeting, everyone was sent home at 12, unless they wanted to join the leadership team at the pub for a few drinks on the company.

I was eventually asked to intervene (I was her manager's boss) and had to walk into her office and explain to the room that everyone was one more comment from her away from working until 5pm.

She soon shut up 😅

That sucks, OP, particularly since it sounds as though HE won’t be at work. Christmas Eve is magical. Who wants to spend it in the office?!

@Auburngal but my point was they aren’t less deserving of time off because they happen to live closer. However as I said there should have been a rota so it was fairer.

The double standards is the killer.

I’d be job hunting.

It’s really tight.

So work from someone else's home? What's the policy on that with your employer? And would you actually put in your normal hours when surrounded by family having fun? Really?

Agreed

Ex job used to have us in 8.30am-12.30pm

Total waste of time

It’s the problem in having to travel the long journey after work on Christmas Eve when trains won’t be running properly

This

Sounds like a wanker. Don’t go above and beyond and get a better employer next year

I guess it all depends on the type of business and if it’s required to be open (bank), or customer business where it’s expected to be open.

Ive always enjoyed working the holidays … very light workload, leave early, and there if needed for a Yuletide crisis.

They can finish work at 2pm, get home, get changed and be with their families from 3pm onwards - which is a decent time to welcome guests for a late dinner.

If finishing work at 7pm, get home, get changed and drive 80 miles. I am sure that my relatives would appreciate a visit about 9:20pm. Most are in their 80s or 90s and its their bedtime

It’s not an unreasonable request st all OP.

Unfortunately these posts are a dog whistle to the anti WFH crowd shouting “ entitled’’
‘“ ludicrous’’ And claiming no one who WFH does a tap of work.

Hope you get to a reasonable compromise with your Manager.

Thankfully senior management where I work would have no tolerance for the shitty inflexible attitude of your Manager.

My last job, a supermarket. We normally closed at 9pm. XE, unless on Sunday closed at 6pm as it always goes very quiet after 2pm. The only ones that come in after 5pm are the crap planners "have you got any turkeys left?" No we sold out yesterday.

There should be a rota though so it’s fair.

One thing that pissed me off with Christmas was the number of people who work part time booked time over Christmas and have family within 30 min drive away. That happened at my last work. Colleagues booking 27/12 off when they finish at 2pm and their family live 2 streets away. I have family living 80 mile away and I finished at 6-7pm

They still want to spend the festive time with their families though so why shouldn’t they also have time off?

Your boss is a hypocritical grinch. Any decent manager would show some flexibility around Christmas, particularly if you would be alone over Christmas and wanting to spend it instead with your parents. Will you be alone in the office?? If he sticks to his guns then I would be looking for another job in the new year and making clear to him why. If you have to work in the office on Christmas Eve is there any chance you can get an internal flight from one of the major airports near you down to Newquay so you might still be able to be with your parents for Christmas?

@Auburngal I was quoting other posters, I’m not someone who claims it is a normal day.

One thing that pissed me off with Christmas was the number of people who work part time booked time over Christmas and have family within 30 min drive away. That happened at my last work. Colleagues booking 27/12 off when they finish at 2pm and their family live 2 streets away. I have family living 80 mile away and I finished at 6-7pm

Those like OP who have family living miles away never are able to book it off even if they are the first ones to submit a request.

Yep, pretty obvious your brain is not working at is very obvious what she means by her post at 8.44.

oliverwe · Today 20:44
I'd get the train after work on the Monday...

Travel after work on Monday 23rd, easy to conclude meaning she will work from where she is travelling to on the 24th.

You should have booked annual leave.

@Londonrach1 why do some shops eg large supermarkets, shopping centres, department stores close early if it’s a normal working day? Why is there a reduced public transport service in the evening? Why do some McDonalds and other eateries close early?

Not according to bus and train companies. If you travelled by bus to work and you missed the last bus, how pissed off would you be paying double rate for a taxi taking you home?

@Auburngal not sure why people will struggle though as apparently it’s a “normal working day “.