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

@blinddoorshyt any chance they could let people join on zoom for the business bit? I hate xmas

Sounds a bit rubbish OP. I wouldn't want to travel three hours for a corporate do and then three hours home again so close to Christmas, and I never even been asked to as an employee: I've worked at many different companies over the years (full disclosure: I've never been a high flyer type!) How much you want to progress within this company is the question you need to mull over. The way you say you work in the shop I assume means that you're a sales person, not a manager? It's completely understandable for a company to want senior staff to take part in something like this, but everyone? It makes a difference what your position is and also what ambition you have for your future at this company. Also, no travel expenses being allowed is quite poor of them!

All of this.

So many people on here seem to think that if you aren’t down a coal mine all day and paid in gravel count your self lucky

Just goes to show how effective the seriously rich have been at getting all the wage slaves to race to the bottom.

Op, don't go, lose the days pay and look for something else while you are off. I don't think the kind of company that expects you to travel 6 hours with no overtime pay or travel cost reimbursement is the kind of place you want to progress. You can tell them this when you hand your notice in

What's black eye Friday? 23rd 24th are working days.

My DP needs the loo every 45 mins. Health issues. You'd be surprised how many people can't wait for 3 hours.

What’s black eye Friday? Sounds painful,

Most people don’t finish until end of day on 24th!!

The outrage is a 6 hr drive in the dark on busy roads (and 6 hrs is the minimum, not factoring in Xmas traffic.)

It’s a Monday, take it as annual leave if you want it off

What will happen if you don't go?
When you know that-and it seems they have given an indication-then you have to weigh up whether those consequences would mean anything to you personally-don't worry about what colleagues say-think about what they would mean for you.

If they don't mean that much, wouldn't have an adverse effect on you, would be nothing you can't handle-then don't go.

If they would have a negative effect on your life, then go.

That's it really.

I don’t understand some of these responses totally lacking in empathy.

It’s one thing having to work on the 23rd (I will be) but there’s multiple issues here.

Firstly, OP was apparently told they wouldn’t have to work it and it’s been a relatively last minute change,and secondly it’s not at their normal workplace location - instead it’s 3 hours each way, possibly much more with Christmas traffic. They’ll be leaving at 6am and not getting back until 9pm earliest AND Thirdly, they’re not getting travel expenses. And finally the threat of not moving up in the company because of not attending this one day is OTT as well given the circumstances.

Each one of these things is bad enough in isolation but together it’s a shit show.

I’d decline and just let it get deducted off my annual leave and start looking into alternative employment for 2025 so by the time next years Christmas comes round you’ll be gone! It’s not just because of the effort involved for this one day per se, it’s because the company enforcing this shows a real lack of consideration especially during this cost of living crisis. I mean some people may end up having to fork out extra for petrol and childcare. So out of principe, unless it was a really incredible job otherwise I’d take this as a sign that I’m not meant to be working for a company like this . I agree with pp who said it doesn’t exactly inspire loyalty and goodwill in workers!

The fact so many people just think you should suck it up and enjoy shows how much we need the Unions back and how working conditions have declined.

This bit is unreasonable.

Tell them you don't have access to a car.

Ask them to book you train tickets.

This is getting hilarious. Driving in the dark, not able to go 3 hrs without food and toilet breaks. Are we talking about adults?

Would legit love a bidet for Christmas @Newusernameforthiss

She's not going to actual work, she's being forced to make a six hour return commute for a shitty away day

I'm from the North East. 'Break up' is commonly used to describe the end of work and the start of the Christmas break and I'm over 60. No need to be rude, and it is definitely mean of the company to make someone PAY for themselves to go to this, and not even cover the additional travel time by TOIL.

I think it is bad to expect people to travel so far for something like this in the winter and when traffic will be heavy. I would be very unhappy about that. However if you want the day off I guess you should have booked leave.

Yeah I love to buy a while bathroom on Christmas Eve, definitely the best day for selecting the concealed flush toilet and matching bidet of my dreams 😂

23/24 Dec are completely normal working days. I don't understand the outrage.

Have you expressed any dissatisfaction in public about this?

Do you have kids?

If the answers are no and yes, I would personally find that my child had come down with an awful vomiting bug on the morning of the 23rd and I had to look after them.

oh actually you could go cross country and down the m6, but that def takes longer

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!

You clearly don't know the location @BIWI
Getting from where the OP lives to Newcastle is quite a hike, either by car or bus. She'd need to factor in time for that (and parking at the station) which is easily an hour or more.

And trying to get a seat on the 23rd is going to be a nightmare.

while the M6 is awful the OP won't be going anywhere near it. She will have to deal with the M62 though.

its def not ideal timing but not an unreasonable request in itself (Chrismas eve would be unreasonable IMO as it's very usual for businesses to shut up shop at about lunchtime on that day).

However it seems nuts to me that you don't get travel expenses, what's the rationale for that? I'd 100% be getting the train but I just hate driving long distances. But you can hardly enjoy a tipple if you're having to drive 3h home.