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AIBU?

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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:
Katyfour · 05/12/2024 10:27

Whilst I wouldn’t want to do it, I’d just get it done and move on.

Dueanamechange2025 · 05/12/2024 10:25

Mnetcurious · 05/12/2024 09:39

“Break up”? It’s not school anymore, you’re in the adult world of work.
Many companies still expect staff to work even on Christmas Eve (mine does, although only until lunchtime). 23rd is a normal working day for many people- yabu.

A lot of trade companies, do 'break up' for Christmas as in they shut down and its compulsory to save annual leave for this time.

ManhattanPopcorn · 05/12/2024 10:25

The day before Christmas Eve is just a regular day.

BarbadosItsCloserThanYouThink · 05/12/2024 10:23

As a lot of other people have said 23rd and 24th are normal working days. You've got a really easy day on 23rd, basically a jolly with no actual work, you should be pleased.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 05/12/2024 10:23

Would the 23rd have been a paid day for you before this was announced?

Commonsense22 · 05/12/2024 10:23

OP I'm with you. What a useless power trip by the owner. And opportunity lost to motivate and reward staff, instead making everyone miserable.

ManhattanPopcorn · 05/12/2024 10:22

YABU

JustAFear · 05/12/2024 10:22

Ok with what you’ve added:

Working that day - reasonable, even if there was a suggestion you wouldn’t be, they didn’t confirm that.

Having to travel 3 hours each way outside your working hours for mandatory training - honestly a bit dodgy for any role.

Doing this on 23 Dec - very unreasonable. Not because it’s not a normal working day, but because the roads and trains will be rammed. Employers should take that kind of thing in to account.

Alondra · 05/12/2024 10:21

I'm a Spaniard and Christmas Eve dinner has always been the traditional celebration for families to get together instead of Christmas lunch in the Anglo speaking world. Our Christmas Day is like your Boxing Day - a day to relax and eating leftovers. The majority of people still work on the 24th of December until lunchtime, specially if they work in retail.

Your problem is working for a company that supposedly ends the year on the 20th but makes you travel six hours on the 23th for a presentation without reimbursing you for mileage. Frankly, I'll l raise with your manager you didn't expect this expense or having to travel so far the day before Christmas Eve because family commitments. If it's not in your contract, they need to negotiate...but you need to raise the issue.

RoseQuail · 05/12/2024 10:21

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MermaidMummy06 · 05/12/2024 10:21

Our office is closing the entire two weeks. I'm peeved as I intended to work to save my leave, but, I'll manage.

I do understand the travel for a forced fun party. Ours is on a Sunday, two & a half hours drive away for lunch & mini golf we could do locally. I think it's ridiculous & we refuse to go (DH same company). I don't want to spend my free day going to & from for a lunch when we've heaps to do at home before Christmas. We were pressured again today to attend, as DH & I are the only refusers, but, thankfully it's on a Sunday so they can't force us!

Inmydreams88 · 05/12/2024 10:20

crumpet · 05/12/2024 10:13

This will depend on the contract. I agree that it would be nice to cover the travel costs but it depends on the contract as to whether the employs obliged to. Maybe they’ll announce a bonus on the day!

Show quote history

What world are you living in 🤣

AddieLoggins2 · 05/12/2024 10:18

I think it's reasonable to expect you to be in your usual place of work, because it's a normal working day.

Reasonable enough to expect you to be in Manchester, as long as all travel is paid for by the company and all travel is entirely within your normal working hours - so you set off for Manchester at 9am, from the shop. And you are back at the shop by 5pm. (Or whatever your contracted working hours are).

It hardly seems worth the effort and expense on their part, as you'll only be in Manchester for a couple of hours in that case (but so be it if that's all they want).

ClearFruit · 05/12/2024 10:18

sunshinechaser · 05/12/2024 09:39

I would love a day like that instead of working! I work in a hospital and only get a half days annual leave (on Christmas Eve) and am working over Christmas and New Year. So I don't have a huge amount of sympathy I'm afraid.

You chose that job...

Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic · 05/12/2024 10:16

WTF don’t they just stream it online for any employees that don’t want to go.
Surely some will have carer responsibilities or kids and can’t be that late home?!

RedPony1 · 05/12/2024 10:16

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 05/12/2024 09:49

Off the topic, but interesting to see what people in different areas call the last Friday before Xmas.

Here it's Factory Friday 🤣

I have never heard it called anything! This is news to me that it has a name haha

Jagoda · 05/12/2024 10:16

Just don’t go then, Take holiday or they have said you can take unpaid leave…

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.

crumpet · 05/12/2024 10:13

Inmydreams88 · 05/12/2024 10:11

Yes but travel expenses should be fully paid. Why should someone be paying out of their own pocket just before Christmas for this?

Show quote history

This will depend on the contract. I agree that it would be nice to cover the travel costs but it depends on the contract as to whether the employs obliged to. Maybe they’ll announce a bonus on the day!

Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic · 05/12/2024 10:12

Yeah I think I’d rather lose the days pay and if they don’t want me to progress in the company because of that - then fine - I won’t progress in that company.

Inmydreams88 · 05/12/2024 10:11

crumpet · 05/12/2024 10:09

It’s not as if the employees are expected to do this every day or even every month. Can’t see the issue. Yes the travel is a bore, but given that the shops are scattered there is always going to be a problem in trying to find a central point to suit all staff.

Yes but travel expenses should be fully paid. Why should someone be paying out of their own pocket just before Christmas for this?

rrrrrreatt · 05/12/2024 10:10

Sounds like the grown up equivalent of wheeling the TV into the classroom, not a bad deal for the last day before Xmas.

Where I am you work right up to Xmas day unless you book time off and it’s BAU. We also have to use our annual leave for time off in between, that’s quite normal.

crumpet · 05/12/2024 10:09

It’s not as if the employees are expected to do this every day or even every month. Can’t see the issue. Yes the travel is a bore, but given that the shops are scattered there is always going to be a problem in trying to find a central point to suit all staff.

loropianalover · 05/12/2024 10:09

I’d lose the days pay before I did a 6 hour drive to listen to a CEO of bathroom tiles 🤣

FamilyPhoto · 05/12/2024 10:08

BellyPork · 05/12/2024 09:37

If the company's paying your travel expenses, I say suck it up buttercup.

This unfortunately.
Pray for snow and road closures 🙏