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Original poster

To think we shouldn't have to work the day before Christmas Eve?

664 replies

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:33

I work in a bathroom shop.
We are closed over Christmas and were lead to believe we broke up on the 22nd
Turns out now we don't
On the 23rd we have to travel to Manchester (3 hours each way ) to have a buffet and games with the company owner.
We have to listen to a presentation on how the company's done this year.
If we don't go we will have a day deducted from our salary.
It's the day before Christmas Eve and we have to drive to Manchester to have picky food with the owner and play Christmas games.
Aibu to think it's ridiculous?
And we have been repeatedly told if we don't go we won't get paid and it will halt any progression in the company !

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
NobleWashedLinen · 26/12/2024 07:26

Please do update us @blinddoorshyt!

Itsafunione · 24/12/2024 16:26

Washingupdone · 24/12/2024 12:37

Cheek! I even posted further up.
Plus here, the market people have traveled very early, to work on the stalls which they don’t own.

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So you did read it and yet still made that pointless comment which doesn’t address OPs objection to attending this event which is in another city hours away from her usual workplace?

sharpclawedkitten · 24/12/2024 13:28

Bogginsthe3rd · 24/12/2024 08:54

And this is why the UK economy has 0% growth

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How do pointless parties help with productivity?

JenniferBooth · 24/12/2024 13:24

Bogginsthe3rd · 24/12/2024 08:54

And this is why the UK economy has 0% growth

Show quote history

Yeah the UK economy has no growth because employees wont attend Christmas "parties" that are in another part of the country. Yep thats definately whats causing it.

much more than the lockdowns did! 🙄

Washingupdone · 24/12/2024 12:37

Itsafunione · 24/12/2024 12:09

Another one who hasn’t RTFT or even read all the OPs posts.

Edited
Show quote history

Cheek! I even posted further up.
Plus here, the market people have traveled very early, to work on the stalls which they don’t own.

pestowithwalnuts · 24/12/2024 12:16

So how did it go OP ?
Were the sausage rolls cordon bleu.?

Itsafunione · 24/12/2024 12:12

TheFormidableMrsC · 24/12/2024 08:55

@Bogginsthe3rd Have you RTFT?

It’s ridiculous isn’t it 🙄 why do people chime in like that without properly reading all the OPs updates, even if they don’t read the entire thread - at least skim read a few of the replies so you can see what the issue is.

@blinddoorshyt I hope it went as well as can be expected and you’re now looking for a new job so you can avoid a repeat of this next year!

Itsafunione · 24/12/2024 12:09

Washingupdone · 24/12/2024 12:06

Shops are all open here, till late afternoon.

Another one who hasn’t RTFT or even read all the OPs posts.

Washingupdone · 24/12/2024 12:06

Shops are all open here, till late afternoon.

TheFormidableMrsC · 24/12/2024 08:55

@Bogginsthe3rd Have you RTFT?

Bogginsthe3rd · 24/12/2024 08:54

WillowTit · 24/12/2024 06:29

i would have a bad cold
or perhaps covid - what a shame

And this is why the UK economy has 0% growth

WillowTit · 24/12/2024 06:29

i would have a bad cold
or perhaps covid - what a shame

FestiveFruitloop · 24/12/2024 05:17

Yes, do update us if you're reading this, OP!

JenniferBooth · 23/12/2024 14:43

TheFormidableMrsC · 23/12/2024 14:37

I need to know if you actually went today OP! I bloody hope not!

Yeah me too

TheFormidableMrsC · 23/12/2024 14:37

I need to know if you actually went today OP! I bloody hope not!

MirandaJH · 16/12/2024 16:19

blinddoorshyt · 12/12/2024 08:39

Okay so the official running order of the day is out and it gets better ...the owner isn't even going to be there he's doing a live video link at 1 pm and calling it "the kings speech " till 2pm

So we arrive 9am
9-12 is games
12-1 is lunch
1-2 pm is the kings speech
2-5 more games

So after him dragging us all to Manchester he isn't going to be there

Your boss sounds like quite the narcissist! Bet he watched Squid games and thought “I wish I could do that with employees” 😂

OnTheBoardwalk · 12/12/2024 22:50

All of you in one car you say??

it’s a proper piss take he's not even turning up

To think we shouldn't have to work the day before Christmas Eve?
Biker47 · 12/12/2024 22:46

Again my response would be, fuck that.

And sod all going down to Manchester in one car, are you all going to pile into the receptionists Citroen C1 for the 3 hour journey? No thanks.

The only way you're getting out if this is to just say you're not going.

Gladragdoll · 12/12/2024 16:59

Great! 6 hrs of unpaid travelling time to listen to Thomas Crapper give his remote speech…

LivinInYourBigGlassHouseWithAView · 12/12/2024 16:53

Flatten a tyre; take a pic on the day at the side of the road and say you've broken down; what a shame; none of you will be there.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 12/12/2024 16:42

Laurmolonlabe · 12/12/2024 15:38

No one will have said that- would you?
If you expect someone else to have said it you are expecting too much.
if you say it yourself you either need to be in a union which has some balls (very unlikely) or you need to have you exit strategy planned-because you are not going to have a smooth time at work afterwards.

I would say it, yes. But then I wouldn't stay in a job working for someone with so little respect for their employees.

Laurmolonlabe · 12/12/2024 15:38

No one will have said that- would you?
If you expect someone else to have said it you are expecting too much.
if you say it yourself you either need to be in a union which has some balls (very unlikely) or you need to have you exit strategy planned-because you are not going to have a smooth time at work afterwards.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 12/12/2024 12:29

@blinddoorshyt Have you or any of your colleagues actually said, "Our contracts do not mention travelling for work, so if you want us to attend this event you have to organise and pay for our travel and give us time off in lieu for the time spent travelling outside of our normal working hours, and if you aren't willing to do this we don't have to attend and it would be illegal for you to dock our pay"?

Because if nobody has actually said that, you aren't helping yourselves and you will continue to get shafted on a regular basis.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 12/12/2024 12:26

Itsafunione · 12/12/2024 10:26

The owner not being there is the final kick in the teeth 😂 I’m assuming he’s not based in Manchester and he basically said “ hell
no am I traveling any distance on the 23rd - that would be awful - but the plebs can and what’s more I won’t even reimburse their travel costs”.

He sounds totally egotistical as well as foolish and inconsiderate “the kings speech”.

I can’t believe you’re actually going - it definitely wouldn’t be me.

I’d opt out and take it as leave, who’d even want to progress in a company ran by someone who makes these sort of unnecessary demands on his employees?

Unfortunately this is partly why things like this persist in the UK, too many people go along with it and just quietly moan.

Edited

Exactly this.

If all the staff just said, "fuck that for a game of soldiers" and called in sick, there would be nothing they could do about it. Nothing.

FestiveFruitloop · 12/12/2024 12:15

Itsafunione · 12/12/2024 10:26

The owner not being there is the final kick in the teeth 😂 I’m assuming he’s not based in Manchester and he basically said “ hell
no am I traveling any distance on the 23rd - that would be awful - but the plebs can and what’s more I won’t even reimburse their travel costs”.

He sounds totally egotistical as well as foolish and inconsiderate “the kings speech”.

I can’t believe you’re actually going - it definitely wouldn’t be me.

I’d opt out and take it as leave, who’d even want to progress in a company ran by someone who makes these sort of unnecessary demands on his employees?

Unfortunately this is partly why things like this persist in the UK, too many people go along with it and just quietly moan.

Edited

Exactly this. It's actually really insulting to the staff the way this is being positioned as some sort of treat, given the time and cost impact on them. A few stodgy sausage rolls and some (probably excruciating) party games followed by a video presentation because of course the big cheese is waaay too important to actually travel there himself... there's a definite whiff of 'throw them a few fish and they'll sit up and clap their flippers like good little sea lions' here. Total lack of respect.

I'd find some way to not go even if it involves feigning illness or the car breaking down.