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

I'd be fuming too, if I were you! If they are forcing you to do the journey, which includes 6 hours of travel outside your normal working hours, surely they should be paying your travel expenses, as well as overtime, that's really not on. And telling you not going would stop your progression in the company? That's beyond ridiculous. I understand your complaint. If I were you, I'd either take annual leave or a day's unpaid leave and start looking for a job elsewhere, or resign myself to not progressing within the company, and knowing that, look around in my own time for something better.
Agree with other posters that you should say you'll go into the shop for the day's work. Having to travel, unpaid, a long distance, to do 9 till 6 nowhere near home during the Christmas period is ridiculous. Can you imagine people having to travel from Land's End?

I'd be really pissed off going to this right before Xmas. There is so much to do at home. I'd much rather take an annual leave day.

Well it sounds a bit frustrating if you were told earlier that there would be no work that day AND if they are expecting you to travel to another site without paying you travel expenses, that sounds unreasonable. It’s a pity you weren’t given fair warning and proper reimbursement as then you likely would have seen this day out (instead of a normal working day) as a nice little perk. I expect they will have a colossal number of staff phoning in sick, because of the way they’ve handled it.

But unless it’s stated in your contract or you have it written somewhere that your holiday started on the 22nd, then you’re probably going to have to go and get on with it. Do you have a colleague you could travel with to share the cost?

The 23rd is a normal working day but the 6 hour round trip with no reimbursement for travel expenses is v v unreasonable.

Sorry but wtf is Black Eye Friday? 😳

Wtf? I just understood it's actually 3 hours each way no travel costs and you are reimbursed with 2 hours in lieu?!

No chance would that time on lieu cover the travel costs.

You sound a bit entitled to me. It's a working day so until you win the lottery you have to go to work.

Yeah. That is ridiculous. I'm all for a bit of Christmas bonding but that's a bit much.

Would be fine if it was a bit more local.

If they explicitly told you that you would be finished on the Friday and have now added an extra day you are not being unreasonable! I would complain about the contradictory information. I actually feel it's really disrespectful to mess staff around like that. If you have made plans I would raise it.

That being said it sounds like a doss day, as long as they are covering your travel and it all falls in your work hours I would go and let the boss have his ego stroked.

Feign excitement about it then phone in sick.

I think it is extremely unreasonable to expect employees to travel three hours each way for such an event, I doubt you will be the only one who feels as you do, it's too ridiculous at any time of year but particularly immediately before the busiest time.

Speak to colleagues and see who is for and against, those against tell management that it's not on, you will go to work normally but cannot undertake such a tiring journey on that day. It could possibly be done at another time but transport should be laid on and maybe overnight accommodation.

Whoever decided to arrange this has not thought it out properly which is grossly inconsiderate.

No travel expenses (fuel /fares) and you probably can’t claim overtime either?
In that case I’d refuse and consider seeking advice from your union rep/ACAS. 2 hours time in lieu in January is NOT sufficient recompense

Mad Friday (Liverpool)

Well if it’s a normal working day for you then whether the shop is closed or not is kinda immaterial and you’ll need to put up with it. If they are expecting you to just be there like 12-2 then that’s annoying but probably within your hours including driving, although obviously I’d expect fuel or train fares to be reimbursed. If however the travel time is outwith your normal hours (ie they expect you to leave at 6am and you won’t get home till 8pm) then you’d have the right to claim overtime as well as travel costs.
If the days they are closed over Christmas are taken out of your annual leave (my work is the same although they did increase our annual leave to reflect this!) then you must have been expecting this to also be true of the 23rd if you believed it wasn’t a working day? Cos it’s not a public holiday or anything. I’d rather have a no work/skivvey/annoying day with potentially some nice nibbles than lose a days holiday or be unpaid.
I would however refuse if travel took me outwith hours and I couldn’t claim overtime or the extra hours were unmanageable due to lack of childcare or similar.

You do realise that both the 23rd and 24th are normal working days don’t you? Bank holidays are 25th and 26th.

Your employer is just using g the time for a company meeting when you are unlikely to be selling bathrooms .

The only annoying thing is the expectation that you will travel so far . They should pay your train or bus ticket with taxis .

YABU to think you shouldn’t work though and be paid for extra holiday.

Sent my reply before reading all of yours! Yeah, that would be a flat no from me. So stressful. I'd just take the pay hit. You'd lose the money either way (petrol, etc) plus you'll be shattered for Xmas day. Nightmare. What a stupid idea

They expect you to pay your own travel? That’s not on. The roads will be chaos. They need to pay for the train for everyone. That will be busy too.

Sorry people are being so judgemental! I'd be really pissed off too. That would be my idea of hell driving for 6 hours over Xmas time when roads will be chaos. I'd rather work a normal day. Can you car share? Put some Xmas tunes on? Or all go on the train?

Really annoying if you now need to arrange childcare too. I'd be annoyed. But I guess you either need to take it unpaid, or as others said suck it up. I'd weigh up how much petrol/ train will cost and if you get that money back? Then find out what time you will be home. Will you be paid over time? Etc. Then see if it's financially and mentally worth the hassle.

Is the day before Christmas Eve a public holiday in Newcastle? If the issue is the unpaid travel then call that the issue; going on about how it’s the day before Christmas Eve is childish. It’s a normal working day!

Black eye Friday is such a violent time of year

Not read the whole thread but a 6 hour drive with no expenses is unreasonable. It’s also classed as a business trip - as you are driving for your employer and not to a normal place of work, so you’d need business cover on your insurance policy. Ask to see their travel policy - i wouldn’t be surprised if a bathroom company doesn’t have sales employees that are paid travel allowance. Legally they don’t have to pay mileage but they should have a policy. Then see if you can get the train and claim it. Tell them you aren’t insured for business travel and are not prepared to add this to your policy at your expense.

My job is in the management of driver compliance and training.

Of course the days it’s closed come out of your holiday allowance, you can’t possibly expect it not to.

I doubt many employees want to go. I'd take it unpaid. You might start a trend and the daft CEO will take the hint.

I'm surprised you aren't working Saturday and Sunday too. Shops are mostly open Christmas Eve until 4pm. Sorry no sympathy here as we are both working Christmas Eve but hopefully will be able to leave by 3pm

Make positive noises about it at work and call in sick with a tummy bug.