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

YABU, but so are the pub, to a certain extent. Finishing late after a busy shift happens sometimes, sure- but over 4 hours?? It sounds like they've known for months they would be short staffed over Christmas, but didn't want to do anything to alleviate it ( advertise for more staff, get agency workers in), preferring to put an unfair amount of pressure on a teenager.

Were they paying their staff any extra today? I'm going to guess not- because if they were, they probably wouldn't have had a problem getting enough staff!

All my kids worked from 15
2 have first class degrees, youngest is doing a degree cadetship
work ethic is extremely important, as is teaching young people how to interview, have self discipline and reliability
I worked Christmas Day in catering through a level and uni days, I actually really enjoyed it

Sorry about your losses this year, but the year my Mother died, we went away to a lovely hotel for a Christmas package for 4 nights, simply because it WAS different and we thought it would be easier to get through it. It was the right decision and I know lots of people who have done similar over the years. It's not weird at all and you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about @SheinIsShite

People might be eating out for reasons other than they can't be arsed. We ate at our local pub yesterday because we moved house 2 weeks ago and we have no working oven and my FIL has just had a terminal cancer diagnosis and my MIL's not in the right place for hosting. Luckily the landlord managed to squeeze us onto a table for 90 minutes. We massively appreciate everyone who worked hard to provide us with a lovely meal and a special memory of what might be FIL's last Christmas.

The staff were on double pay and were receiving larger than average tips so it was a win for them too. I used to work in hospitality as a teenager/early 20s and I loved working the busy Christmas period. I was out mixing and meeting people and made great friendships in that time.

And your point is?

You absolutely can. I work in hospitality, albeit as a second job. I’ve been very clear what days and times I can do. The manager has kept pushing and expecting but I have stuck to the rota’d hours and walked out at the end of my shift. It’s not my problem if he hasn’t staffed sufficiently for the day or bookings. I probably rely on the shifts more than your ds too. Shifts likely will be scaled back massively in January and February anyway and he won’t be returned the loyalty he’s shown.

Can't he just work the hours he was contracted for?

Maybe cooking a full Christmas lunch is too much for a lot of people, give them a break! And sometimes people like to meet halfway at a restaurant if they live far away.

What?
What is the issue, that people are paying hard earned money that ends up in your sons pocket?
I cant say this highly enough - I LOATHE people like you

A lot of us have worked Christmas day, it's not all bad, I bet there's quite a buzz working in a busy restaurant. I worked in various childcare settings over the Christmas period as a young person and my stepmum nearly always worked Christmas day as a nurse. We cooked dinner and ate when she was finished.Good times!

OP I completely agree with you but I think everything should be shut bar essentials over Christmas. Effectively it’s all for greed. The amount restaurants make off people is ridiculous ( I mean £75-80 a head is extortion) and places like next, primark etc do not need to be open for you to buy a pair of socks or return those pj’s that you don’t like.

I worked for years in retail and it was horrific. People are rude, arrogant and entitled and have the gall to stand there and say ‘can’t believe your open’ or ‘shame you have to work’. The world isn’t going to end if we give more people an extra day or two off.

Absolutely a hard working 16 year old, one to be proud of.

I would say YABU regarding people having Christmas dinner out. I would say your DS has an incredible work ethic which you don’t see often so you should be very proud however I would be checking the guidelines/laws for 16 years olds working hours as this doesn’t seem completely legal if the times you have given are completely correct.

Hilarious. We ate out yesterday though spent considerably more than £85 a head. But apparently the pub staff actually fight to work Xmas Day because the pay and the tips (we tipped our lovely waitress £25) are so good.

I really admire their (and your DS's) work ethic and pragmatic approach to money. Our DDs grew up in an affluent home but we insisted they did local part time work from being 14. It's the best way for them to learn the value of money and hard work. It also engenders self discipline and a sense of personal achievement.

Nobody’s forcing him to work there, OP 😂

I didn't always have Christmas with my own parents years ago when working Christmas Day (out of choice). Not a big deal. I just ate it after my shift.

Exactly. He's not doing it for charity!

I totally agree with you but OP is only blaming the lazy people who don’t want to cook

People in my workplace were working all over Christmas!! How dare people want medicine in 3-6 months time!!!ffs!!

My son worked in the warehouse at his supermarket last night. How dare people eat and my son gets paid for it. YABU

I am sure telecommunications engineers would love to have boxing day off but hey ho there's complaining to be done on social media

Is he not getting paid?
At thst age I would much rather work and get a good bit of money for a 16 year old than sit eating turkey and puling crackers with mum and dad.

Well it's chicken and egg, isn't it? If there was no market for it, the pub owner wouldn't open. But given there is a market for it, why shouldnt they?

Both sides are in it - it's just living in a capitalist society.

I don’t think the people going out to lunch are to blame, it’s the owner of the pub. If the didn’t decide to open, then people wouldn’t be able to book to go out and staff wouldn’t be needed BUT if it is open why shouldn’t people book if that’s what they would rather do?

I think this needs more subtlety than it has so far been shown.

1. I don't think you are being unreasonable if we interpret the word in its legal sense of behaving in a way no sane person should. That is different from just saying/doing something your interlocutor disagrees with.

2. You may have a case if you think your son is being exploited.

3. You may have a case if he wants to be free by 18.30, has been told he will be free by 18.30, but then isn't.

4. I would however say that at 16 he is adult enough to choose the work he wants to do and the conditions attached if he can live with them.

5. A dc of that age should not be required to be at home at Christmas if he prefers not to be.

6. It would, though, be good for those who eat out at Christmas to think of the workers who make this possible.