Probably - but people too lazy to cook their own christmas dinner are spoiling mine

This!!!

Hospitality is mainly customer demand driven, the reason there's no finish times is because people don't want to leave until they want to leave.
Wonder how happy many of the posters saying that there should be absolute finish times would abruptly change their tune were they to be ushered out of somewhere when they've paid for a meal/drinks because the staff are going home.

Can't have it all ways, a service we demand but then no one being expected to deliver it because it's not fair. Though as a pp said, it's always seemingly ok for someone else to do it, to be told it's just part of the job and service, just as long as the complainant isn't affected.

I worked a 12 hour shift yesterday, another today is likely because it depends on what time the guests want to depart, not what time I want to go home. That's hospitality, because that's what's demanded by the people who use it.

Yes, I didn't realise that the son was underage. Was assuming that 'school' was being used in the American sense to refer to uni or college.

I'm sure there will be plenty of months where he's only working his minimum hours so I imagine he's grateful for the extra hours and money. I would be proud of him if at 16 he's got that work ethic in him.
DS17 got home from work at 3:15am. Okay, so he's not working today, but we knew he was working late and adjusted today accordingly for him so he is still included in all the festivities. He loves his job and takes any shift he can.

Why? Do you feel bad for everyone who works on Christmas Day?

I'm more concerned about the breaches to the law than people buying a service which is being offered. Quite shocked how many people think that ignoring child labour laws is a good thing.

Why didn't you give your son the money he would have been paid so he didn't have to work on Christmas day?

My son’s also working this (and last and no doubt next) Christmas in a pub kitchen. My nurse mother had to work every other Christmas and my doctor partner similarly, as do all emergency service employees. It goes with the jobs.

Give them a big tip if you feel bad. It won't help the staff if the restaurant closes.

I get wishing your whole family could be together, but honestly, how lucky for your son. His first job and he's picking up lots of extra shifts. Hopefully he's stashing the money away and saving it for driving lessons, a car, extra costs at uni or a house deposit. How lucky for him that so many people do prefer to go out for lunch.

We are having Christmas at home, but I totally understand why many want to go out and let someone else take care of it all.

I personally have never gone out to a restaurant for Christmas dinner. I'd feel bad for the staff...

Oh stop with the woe is me Op.
My DH went to work at 7am this morning. He’s making sure that all the electricity to run your ovens, tv’s etc goes round the country. I don’t moan about people having to use electricity.
We just work around his shift and go with the flow.
Stop moaning and just enjoy the day

@SheinIsShite I'm an emergency service worker and have worked Xmas Day, Boxing Day, NYE or NYD frequently (but not every year) for nearly 20 years.

So I can say with hand on my heart that I don't object to people who want to eat out on Christmas day!

If your son works at a place that's open, then that's not the patrons' fault that he has to work.
It's pretty unfair of you to blame some people who don't want to, or aren't able to, cook a meal themselves.

It's not their fault your 'Christmas is spoiled' and as someone who has missed Christmas day with my children, I'd not blame them.
He chose the job.

(I don't even blame ppl that I am required on Xmas day. Some people are very ill, poorly, sad, angry, addicted, or just make bad mistakes. No one would choose the lives these people live, I mainly feel sad for them and grateful for my own life.)

Your sons still at school
so is presumably working out of choice rather than necessity. Therefore your issue is with your son.

YABU it’s part and parcel of being a chef my DH is a chef and he’s working today so we won’t be having our Christmas dinner until he gets home. I worked Christmas Day every year for god knows how many years. You seem to have this attitude of it’s ok for other people to work Christmas Day just not your DS because that has an affect on you.

Well the employer is breaking the law if that's the case and the sooner he gets another job the better

OP ~ you're having a hard time here & understandably so. Please have a look at the title of your thread

Probably - but people too lazy to cook their own christmas dinner are spoiling mine

If you had started a thread for DM's who are missing out on spending time with loved ones due to work commitments you would have got a more positive, empathic response I think

But saying lazy people are spoiling your Christmas is naturally going to rile people who have made the choice to dine out for all manner of reasons, totally unrelated to laziness

So OP, your family time is clearly so precious to you that you are spending Christmas Day slagging people off left right and centre on Mumsnet and arguing with strangers online when you could be spending quality time with your family.

Clearly not quite as important to you as you make out is it? you may as well be working today for all the misery you are spreading about.

No wonder your son wanted to work today

Most entitled post I've read in a long time

Could he not have said no to the Christmas day shift. I never go out for a Christmas day meal. We get a takeaway.

How lazy of you.

What a knobby post. It’s ridiculous.

You should be praising his work ethic, not sniping on here at anyone who goes out for their Christmas dinner.

Honestly, get a grip.

Oh yes, and Merry Christmas to you (which, given the passive aggressive way you’re saying it, I assume you are using in the way ‘good afternoon’ is used in Spirited - an excellent cheery Christmas film which I thoroughly recommend you watch today…it might just shake that Scroogey vibe from your bones)

The thread dosent make sense.

There are people away for Christmas today at hotels and having their meals as part of it.

They pay alot more to go away at Christmas.

How are they lazy then. They are on holiday and meals are included thats the package.
Should people not go away then.

Good for your son. At least he's not one of the 1 in 4 young people refusing to work because of 'mental health.' You should be proud of his great work ethic.

Have a lovely time with him when he's home, and stop being silly about other people's choices.