Page 19 | To think we shouldn't have to work the day before Christmas Eve?

blinddoorshyt · 2024-12-05T09:33:35+00:00

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 !

DianaRiggsCatsuit · 05/12/2024 11:38

NobleWashedLinen · 05/12/2024 10:59

This sounds perfectly fine to me. Part and parcel of the job.

My previous employer would always tell everyone to stop work and come and enjoy a mince pie and some brandy at about 11:30am let everyone go home at 12:30pm on Christmas Eve but if you wanted the day off you would have to take a full day rather than a half-day, which always seemed a bit unfair but the fact of the matter is that you are contractually expected to work that day and instead of making you work they are putting on a bit of a shindig. YABU to moan about it. And the company is perfectly reasonable to say that anyone who moans or skives off will not be considered for progression - I wouldn't want people who can't participate in such a thing to be in a senior rolw under me either.

The one thing that you are mildly reasonable to be miffed about is if you were clearly told that you could have that monday off for free. But I don't think you were - I think you were told that the shops would be shut that day, which is not the same thing.

You have the right to a set number of paid days off per year, but the employer is fully entitled to decree when those days off are, and requiring you to take some of them on days convenient to themselves is perfectly normal and not something to gripe about, nor is having a company meeting on a day when all the branches are going to be shut anyway - it sounds very sensible to me as otherwise it would be impossible to get everyone together without losing business.

@NobleWashedLinen
Have you actually read the whole thread?
The day involves at least 6 hours of travel, probably more, which is not being reimbursed. Plus activities from 9am to 6pm. Effectively being out of the house from 6am to at least 9pm.

user1492757084 · 05/12/2024 11:37

If you have to go - do use trains and taxis.
You would be rendered too tired after driving for three hours and too dangerous to drive home after a big day.
Will there be alcohol?

ForeveronMN · 05/12/2024 11:34

weirdoboelady · 05/12/2024 11:31

So you are complaining about being paid to drive to Manchester and back for a (ok, what sounds like a poor) 'jolly' rather than working? I agree about the expenses, of course the cost of this commute should be reimbursed but you can of course claim it back by doing a tax return.

The 23rd is a working day! It amazes me when people moan about working on 24th.....

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Missing the point?

When was a shop asst expected to drive 360 miles in one day for a mince pie and a pep talk, on the day half the country will be on the move for Xmas?

She's not a sales rep or a snr manager. She's on the minimum wage and was contracted to work in the shop.

That drive on that day will be far harder work than selling someone a new bath.

The lack of sympathy here is astounding.

C8H10N4O2 · 05/12/2024 11:34

weirdoboelady · 05/12/2024 11:31

So you are complaining about being paid to drive to Manchester and back for a (ok, what sounds like a poor) 'jolly' rather than working? I agree about the expenses, of course the cost of this commute should be reimbursed but you can of course claim it back by doing a tax return.

The 23rd is a working day! It amazes me when people moan about working on 24th.....

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She isn't being paid to drive six hours - she is being expected to fund it and give the time herself. That is the point.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 05/12/2024 11:34

weirdoboelady · 05/12/2024 11:31

So you are complaining about being paid to drive to Manchester and back for a (ok, what sounds like a poor) 'jolly' rather than working? I agree about the expenses, of course the cost of this commute should be reimbursed but you can of course claim it back by doing a tax return.

The 23rd is a working day! It amazes me when people moan about working on 24th.....

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She is not being paid to drive to Manchester and back. She needs to be there by 9 and won’t leave till 6 so the driving is on top of a days work.

I don’t think it can all be classed as a jolly either , sounds like strategy/results etc are being presented and discussed

notatinydancer · 05/12/2024 11:33

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:55

We work in a shop
Nowhere in our contract does it mention any travelling
I wouldn't care if the shop is open
The 6 hour drive is the issue

What if you don't drive ?
I'd take it unpaid or offer to stay and keep the shop open.

NoahsTortoise · 05/12/2024 11:33

I don't know why you're getting so much grief OP, I wouldn't be happy with this either!

A 6hr round trip any day is a pain in the arse, but the Friday before Christmas, when traffic is likely to be worse than usual as well, is really shit.

C8H10N4O2 · 05/12/2024 11:32

OP: what does your contract say?

If your base of work is that shop and your job description doesn't include travel then at the very least you should be getting both time and expenses for the travel element.

"Other duties as assigned" does not include self funded six hour trips on the busiest Friday of the year. It covers things like "helping to restock" or "do the filing" when your normal job is talking to customers.

As PP say - bathroom shops come and go and if this one is such a thoughtless employer I'd be looking elsewhere for a job in a better run company. I wouldn't be confident in it lasting more than the normal 18 months for such shops.

How do the other staff feel about it?

Poppins21 · 05/12/2024 11:32

What does your contract say about place of work, travel time and expenses? I have never worked anywhere that travelling somewhere different for work than my normal location is not seen as a claimable expense.

weirdoboelady · 05/12/2024 11:31

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:39

As I said when the company opened
We were told we close black eye Friday
Also the days we are closed over Christmas come out of our holiday allowance

So you are complaining about being paid to drive to Manchester and back for a (ok, what sounds like a poor) 'jolly' rather than working? I agree about the expenses, of course the cost of this commute should be reimbursed but you can of course claim it back by doing a tax return.

The 23rd is a working day! It amazes me when people moan about working on 24th.....

notatinydancer · 05/12/2024 11:29

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:39

As I said when the company opened
We were told we close black eye Friday
Also the days we are closed over Christmas come out of our holiday allowance

What is black eye Friday?
I wouldn't work anywhere I couldn't choose my own holidays.

user1492757084 · 05/12/2024 11:29

Also inquire with management as to whether they will consider busing, or flying you all up on the same flight?

Can you bring children if you have no childcare before 8:00 am and after 6:00pm?

C8H10N4O2 · 05/12/2024 11:29

BIWI · 05/12/2024 10:06

According to Trainline, the 09.02 from Newcastle to Manchester takes 2 hrs and 18 minutes. And a return at 19.00 takes 2 hrs and 18 mins. That return ticket would cost you £53.29 if you booked it today.

Much easier and less stressful than driving - and let's face it, you'd have to pay to put petrol in your car anyway!

The OP has to be in the Manchester shop by 9:00, not leaving Newcastle at 9:00. That will make the ticket a lot more expensive and even though I'm not from the NE I know that line is a pile of poo to travel on.

RoundTheWorldRoundTheWorld · 05/12/2024 11:29

Book a day off as holiday, if you do not wish to work

DianaRiggsCatsuit · 05/12/2024 11:28

TheBiggestMuffInCheshire · 05/12/2024 10:14

It's not really working tho is it? You are being paid to attend a social event!
I'm working Christmas eve/ Christmas day, new years eve/ NY day.
Just reframe it as a jolly and enjoy yourself.

A social event that involves 6 hours of travel and no reimbursement for the costs. The event runs from 9 am to 6pm.
CEO is being totally unreasonable.

TheFormidableMrsC · 05/12/2024 11:27

Behindthethymes · 05/12/2024 11:15

I think this is a time to focus on the bigger picture rather than the finer details op.

I get where you’re coming from and why you’re annoyed. It sounds like poor communication and high handed management and those could be solid reasons for taking a stand, or dusting off your CV.

It’s important to understand that real life isn’t about who’s right and wrong, or what’s fair and just and sometimes you have to suck it up when you’re not in a position to make a difference. I’m assuming that you’re fairly young - that first Christmas holiday is the worst! just don’t react from an emotional place, without thinking it through.

Do you want to stay in this company and progress? What are your long term goals? Working crap hours and travelling at unreasonable times are pretty much the standard job conditions of high earners. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with aspiring to work standard hours in a steady, secure job either. Or if you’d like to progress in the union, leading the revolution is one way to get noticed.

It sounds like your time off is quite generous in the greater scheme of things. You could leave and get a similar job and be working til 6 on Christmas Eve, or competing with more senior staff for Christmas Day.

Good grief, what a patronising post. I presume you'd be happy to attend an event a mere 170 miles away that you have to be at for 9 am on one of the busiest Mondays of the year. A six hour round trip? I certainly wouldn't.

OP, what have other staff said about this? I'd be taking annual leave I think. This is so ridiculous and unreasonable and appalling management.

ForeveronMN · 05/12/2024 11:26

@blinddoorshyt You need to change your subject line to 'Should I have to drive for 6+ hours (360ml round trip) for a sausage roll and a company update, 2 days before Christmas when I'm just a shop asst?'

user1492757084 · 05/12/2024 11:25

I would leave home only 15 minutes earlier than usual and arrive to your destination late.

I would then set off for home, after thanking them for a fabulous Christmas breakup, so that you get home two hours later than usual (thus, allowing for the two hours leave given to you in January.)

Apologise, blame traffic, child care etc but quickly switch into work mode and show yourself to be a top contributer, an enthusiastic worker and worth every penny you are paid.

HollyKnight · 05/12/2024 11:25

"The day before Christmas Eve" isn't a special day. It isn't anything. Ask if you can take it out of your annual leave if you don't want to go. Your employers will take note of it though.

DianaRiggsCatsuit · 05/12/2024 11:23

Stretchanoctave · 05/12/2024 09:51

Break up? Are you 5 years old.

Pretty mean of your company to provide a day off from working with a free lunch.

Edited

Not if you have to spend 6 hours travelling.

ForeveronMN · 05/12/2024 11:23

Siskosisko · 05/12/2024 11:06

it's December, it gets dark early. I guess your car has lights. Sorry to sound flippant but I find it an odd thing to say. It's absolutely normal to drive after sunset. cars and roads are built to facilitate that.

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You're being unrealistic. It's not about the fact it's dark although that does mean statistically there are more accidents.

It's all the other factors.

The journey is approx 170 miles.

It's either across country to the M6 or down the A1 then the M62.

The time it takes is around 3 hours each way with no/light traffic.

On 23rd Dec many people will be travelling for Xmas and I'm pretty sure that the trip home could take hours longer. The junction between the M62 and the A1M is infamous for tailbacks and queues.
Presumably you don' t know the area?

ilovepixie · 05/12/2024 11:22

memyselfi · 05/12/2024 09:38

If a Friday is your normal working day then it's reasonable .
All expenses paid and home at your normal time would be fine in my opinion .

Isn't the 23rd a Monday?

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 05/12/2024 11:21

Nc929393 · 05/12/2024 11:17

Being “the day before Christmas Eve” is irrelevant unfortunately. The only non-working days are 25th and 26th, this is two days before. The equivalent of not wanting to do something work-related on a Thursday because you don’t work on Saturdays.

If you don’t want to go and don’t want to lose pay can you not just take the day as annual leave?

I don’t think it’s so much about needing to work that day but that they were originally told it was off and are needing to go to a different location that is a significant distance away at their own time and expense on a day when travel is expected to be bad (meaning op is likely to be out of the house from at least 5-10 (potentially longer)

the problem with taking the day off is that management has implied doing so will impact long term job prospects.

fivebyfivebuffy · 05/12/2024 11:20

A normal working day, fine and expected

A trek across motorways which are likely to be busy, starting and finishing hours before your usual start time - no

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 05/12/2024 11:18

TimeForTeaAndG · 05/12/2024 11:08

It starts at 9am?!?! So leaving the house at 6? Are they having a laugh. Or you've the expense of accommodation the night before! They've really not considered this at all. Push back on the basis of unreasonable travel/expense that will not be covered by a 2 hour early finish in January.

I have absolutely no time for management who just push ahead with ridiculous ideas without consideration for anyone else's time/spending priorities.

Yes this does change things a bit!