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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:
RoseQuail · 05/12/2024 09:47

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TimeForTeaAndG · 05/12/2024 09:46

Why doesn't the owner come to where you all are rather than a whole bunch of folk having to travel???

Heronwatcher · 05/12/2024 09:46

And yes if you’ve booked something you’re desperate to do, surely you can just take the day off.

MidnightPatrol · 05/12/2024 09:45

JustAFear · 05/12/2024 09:44

It’s the Friday before Christmas. Popular for parties, busy for emergency services, hence “black eye” (presumably also a play on Black Friday). Not a widely used term I think, I used to work in an emergency service which referred to it!

Show quote history

Never worked anywhere the office has closed the Friday before Christmas. What if Christmas was the next Friday, a full week off for… why?

Heronwatcher · 05/12/2024 09:45

Did you get confirmation in writing that the 23rd onwards would be leave? Or is it in your contract? Most companies can cancel authorised leave but they have to have a decent reason/ do it with specific notice.

Led to believe could just be that someone had the wrong end of the stick/ company policy has changed.

And yes, what the hell is black eye Friday, is it something to do with people beating each other up on a busy shopping day.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 05/12/2024 09:44

Where are you normally based? The roads might start getting busy then. If you're in Stoke it's probably fine, but Norwich I'd be pissed off

JustAFear · 05/12/2024 09:44

Jagoda · 05/12/2024 09:40

What’s black eye Friday all about? Is this bathroom sales lingo?

Show quote history

It’s the Friday before Christmas. Popular for parties, busy for emergency services, hence “black eye” (presumably also a play on Black Friday). Not a widely used term I think, I used to work in an emergency service which referred to it!

CyranoDeBergerQuack · 05/12/2024 09:43

We've had a similar post recently - someone wanting to leave early on christmas eve. I wonder why such posters bother to work, they clearly don't want to , or want to get away with being there as little as possible, despite being paid to work.
the choice is yours - lose a day's pay or do the job you are paid to do.
But don't expect employers to be flexible in relation to your future foibles

RoseQuail · 05/12/2024 09:43

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Potentiallyplausible · 05/12/2024 09:43

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

Of course those days come out of your holiday allowance! That’s normal. Surely the company is open on Christmas Eve as well - that’s a normal working day too?

cocobeaner · 05/12/2024 09:43

What's 'black eye friday' just out of interest?

Its a normal work day, this is just the 'task' you have been assigned for that day. At my work we work right up to christmas like most places, I've taken christmas eve as annual leave though which is what you could do here? If you don't want to do that I would got but get the train so you're not driving all that way twice.

MidnightPatrol · 05/12/2024 09:43

How old are you?

There are three bank holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day).

Anything else is a normal working day, and if you get extra days off that’s at the discretion of your employer.

RoseQuail · 05/12/2024 09:42

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Jagoda · 05/12/2024 09:42

Maybe they meant they close the store on the Friday, which seems to be the case.

ilovesooty · 05/12/2024 09:41

Potentiallyplausible · 05/12/2024 09:40

Both the 23rd and the 24th are normal working days. I’d expect to work your standard hours on both.

Yes, the 24th too of course.

JustAFear · 05/12/2024 09:41

If they’ve explicitly told you one thing and then changed it, that’s not on. Though I don’t know whether “lead to believe” means they actually said it or not.

23rd is a normal working day. As long as it’s in your working hours and not costing you, I don’t think there’s anything to complain about.

Potentiallyplausible · 05/12/2024 09:40

Both the 23rd and the 24th are normal working days. I’d expect to work your standard hours on both.

ilovesooty · 05/12/2024 09:40

If you're not expected to work outside your normal working hours I don't see what the issue is.

It's a normal working day on 23rd as others have said

Jagoda · 05/12/2024 09:40

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:38

It's the first year the company is over
We were told we break up on black eye Friday as all the traders are shut
Then now they have said they close on the Saturday but we have to go to Manchester on the Monday.

What’s black eye Friday all about? Is this bathroom sales lingo?

EmmyPankhurst · 05/12/2024 09:39

Well some of us are having to work Christmas Eve which precludes actually travelling to UK based family for Christmas Day/Boxing Day. Others will actually be on night shift Christmas Eve. Or working on Christmas Day.

So I think your expectation that the 23rd would be a holiday is bonkers.

Original poster
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

OP posts:
Heronwatcher · 05/12/2024 09:39

If it’s going there instead of a normal day at work, I think it’s fine. Everywhere I have worked the 23rd and 24th are just normal working days unless you take leave (we might leave early on the 24th or get some chocolate).

If you’re having to do unpaid overtime then I don’t think they can force you to do that. But aren’t you interested in how the company is doing.

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.

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.

FoxtonFoxton · 05/12/2024 09:38

If it's a paid working day, it's a paid working day. I'd assume a bathroom shop would be open as normal on the 23rd?

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