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

Nope, she said it doesn't mention 'travelling', which it won't. How you get to work or how long it takes you each way isn't your employer's concern.

The location of work can still be stipulated.

If it was an unsafe discharge, particularly if death was due to unsafe discharge, it should have been reported to the safeguarding community team for investigation against the hospital and to the coroner, who would have established the cause if death. I’m really sorry to hear you’ve lost your dad. X

Its not covered by her contract as she has already stated Thats just wishful thinking on your part so you can stick the boot in.

And i shall say it again If the OP was in a high flying career this thread would be full of comments about how dare they and what about her kids etc etc despite the fact that a high flying career pays more money and in that situation you could suck up the cost of the trip.

The pure snobbery on this thread is astounding and demonstrates what some people think of retail workers

What's the plan in case of snow? Has your company thought of that? Seem to remember it snowed a lot when I lived in Newcastle

It's outrageous they aren't paying travel expenses. So with that, the time of year (ie busy roads and dark); I'd take annual leave but would begrudge doing so. I mean you might even not get A/L approved now, so be prepared to ring in sick.
Ridiculous employer imo.
They should pay travel and schedule it for a better time of year. Also, for those of you travelling a long way, give you a couple of hours TOIL as you'll go over your contracted hours with the extra travel.

It doesn't matter where the OP lives. If they've asked a number of people to meet at a particular location, it's very likely to be covered by a contract that states you work on other locations as required.

Mine definitely says that and I've so far never had to go anywhere else, as I'm timetabled to be in my room all day every day but five a year, but if asked to meet somewhere else, we'd all be absolutely expected to do it.

But her usual work day consists of starting work at 9.00am with a 15 minute (unpaid) journey to work, finishing work at 6.00pm with a 15 minute (unpaid) journey home. The company is requiring her to travel (unpaid) for around 3 hours, depending on the route she takes before arriving to start work at 9.00 am, spend the day in Manchester till 6.00pm and then travel (unpaid) goodness knows how long to get home from Manchester on the day before Christmas Eve. Not only is she not getting paid for the 6 hours travel time it may well take her in those circumstances, but also, she will be out of pocket by around £60.00 (probably more as she can't get a cheap ticket because she'll have to leave at some unearthly hour of the morning) for travel she doesn't want to have to undertake. The OP is quite happy to go to work in her normal place of work, but not to be forced to take a day's holiday or unpaid leave in order to waste time at a ridiculous company meeting called by a thoughtless CEO in a place miles away from the OP's home. It might be better if the company were paying travel expenses and a hotel in Manchester for one or two nights, but other than that, why should she and her colleagues from all over the country have to suffer for one person's vanity jolly?

A lot on here either haven't, or have read very selectively.

Omg have you actually RTFT?

It's a work day. So you go to work or you won't get paid.

Seems about right.

You aren't at school and don't break up from term, and even if you did, it would be on the day stipulated, not whenever you liked.

No need to be rude! I have travelled plenty thanks both throughout the UK and around the
world. It’s not a phrase I’ve come across, and others have said exactly the same!

@GUARDIAN1 it's not though. I would totally agree with you if it was but OP is being expected to put in 6 hours longer than a normal working day and fund about £60 of travel expenses from her own pocket for this

If it's within your normal working hours, you don't have a leg to stand on I'm afraid. Many of us will certainly be working on 23rd and loads will work 24th - 26th as well. Use a day's leave if you feel so strongly that you don't want to be there. Otherwise you'll just have to get on with it.

I finish work at 6pm on Christmas Eve. There’s always someone who’s got it worse off. Be thankful you’ve got time off, there’s people who don’t.

I presume you picked a job knowing you'd have to work over Xmas?

Op was told they close from the 20th. Also petrol isn't paid for and she would travelling 6 hours in her own time to do the 9-6 day in Manchester. You couldn't pay me to go over the M62 for a work jolly so close to Xmas so even if it was all paid for I still wouldn't go.

Take it as an annual leave day and don’t go

Yes it may be a local colloquialism. Never heard of it!

Maybe travel more. Or read the thread. I've heard both reading and travel can broaden your mind.

I can't understand the people saying you will have a nice relaxing day and that's it's OK that you have to pay and it's ok that you won't get home until midnight. And that your employer can change your place of work for a day to somewhere a five hour drive away.

Yes it may be a local colloquialism. Never heard of it!

OK so you’ve clarified the issue - you understood that you wouldn’t have to work this day, and that all time off comes out of your holiday allowance. But if you don’t go to this event, you will lose a day’s pay. So, firstly see if there’s anything official that states you won’t be working past Black Eye Friday (whatever that is!) If nothing, or if it simply states the shop won’t be open - which is not the same as a non-working day, then you have no argument. What you need to do is challenge your manager with any evidence you have of your expectations being set especially if this has only been mentioned now. People will have made plans. See if you can use a day’s holiday instead (which is presumably what you expected in the first place). Three hours forced travel each way on top of full working hours is unreasonable. I wouldn’t be able to attain childcare for 12-13 hours with just a few weeks notice. From what you say, others will be travelling even further.

With regards method of travel, they absolutely cannot force you to drive. Not everyone drives. If they’re not subsidising travel costs you use whatever transportation you choose. But, I assume you don’t work in the shop alone - can you not all travel together?

To those saying the 23rd is a normal working day, remember this is a potentially sudden change of expectations for the OP. Of course other people get different periods off or have to work all over the Xmas period, it isn’t a competition!

If there's nothing in your contract about travelling to other locations then I'm pretty sure they can't make you do it. Deducting a day's pay in those circumstances would be illegal.

Do you have an HR department? Would you like to send a letter?

Yes, I would do this.

If you're doing 6 hours' extra work for no extra pay and having to fork out for travel expenses on top of that, it's not worth going, is it?

Morpeth to Manchester is a 320 mile round trip. Would your pay that day even cover the petrol? And if there isn't a free car park wherever you're going you'll have to factor in however much it costs to park for 9 hours.

I'd be saying, "Fuck that" and encouraging all my colleagues to do likewise.

This is not the sort of business you should want your career to progress in anyway.

It’s an odd day for a company to do an event like that - usually would be earlier in December. It also shows a complete disregard for employees as human beings who may have a lot going on - be getting ready to travel to see family, etc etc. It would make more sense to dial in and do the company performance bit on zoom, and a social another time not quite so close to Xmas. Depends how important your job is to you though.

What is so special about the day before Xmas Eve? You're lucky you don't have to work on Xmas Eve. I've never had a job where we didn't have to work on Xmas Eve. Think yourself lucky.

I would lose a days pay, take if off and say you have unmovable evening plans and ask for the slides of the presentation to be sent. The pay you lose would be offset by the costs of the trekking about. You might find a local agency can give you a days seasonal work to make it up in any case.

Quit!

Quit!