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

Is he being paid? I’m sure he’ll be glad of the wages. Maybe you could give him the cash instead so he doesn’t need to work Christmas

I wouldn’t let my 16 year old work in a pub.

Then he needs to suck it up then doesn’t he?

I actually agree with you @SheinIsShite. People who work in non essential services should get Christmas day off to spend with their family. In fact, I think boxing day should be essential services only too. GP surgeries can close both days, but restaurants can't?

But if they didn’t open today the might not be operating in the new year a good Christmas can make the difference to a pub/restaurant. I honestly don’t see how they can make him stay later….. yes to working as that’s the breaks in hospitality you normally have to do one or the other of the key dates but when your down your done!!

Like other people have said you could have had your Christmas dinner on Boxing day. This is a you problem..

Did you think your kid wouldn't be asked to work on Christmas day if the pub was open. And if your employer doesn't allow people to say no. They are a shite employer. Particularly as its a zero hours contract

Why is MN always like this - there are no shades of grey, everything is black and white, or extreme.

Ironic, considering YOU started a thread, calling everyone eating out today "too lazy to cook" Where were your shades of grey then? 🤷🏻‍♀️

My 16 year old worked yesterday and again today. She loved it, felt Christmassy, got paid double time and we can celebrate tomorrow.

I'm so sorry to hear that your DS was forced to work in a pub kitchen!

Grow up.

Both my kids have jobs in hospitality, part time between college and uni...one worked until late yesterday, one all day today, both tomorrow but at different times. They earn well (£28 /hour today for 17 year old), are grateful to do so, fund their cars amongst other things as a result and have great customer facing skills....I really can't get worked up about the fact that Christmas dinner was late here, or that we've only just opened presents because of their jobs. Rather that than them be sprawled about asking for handouts all the he time!

The OP has said that he had to work 6 hours over his shift last night and he gets no breaks. Nothing to do with nurses - he's being treated like shit by his employer

It's a big chain apparently

Exploited? Unions? He’s been giving a Christmas Day shift. Are nurses fucking exploited by that? Get a grip. If he isn’t able to work the unsociable shifts alongside his colleagues then who the fuck would employ a 16 year old with no experience?

Not much of a hardship really, is it? And perhaps for a pub desperate for takings to stay afloat it would be absolutely essential. It would help see many pubs through a quiet January. Imagine if they couldn’t survive and had to lay your little prince off?
Have a wine and get a grip.

YABU
Nor is it essential for your 16yo to work/work in catering.

He doesn't HAVE to work, I mean you could just fund his lifestyle instead of him working. If not then stop moaning.

Most of us have had to do something similar OP. My part time job in a hotel at university meant I had to stay in my university town 400 miles from my family at Xmas. Alone.
People don’t stop needing hotels at Xmas. Some pubs and restaurants traditionally stay open too. Or hospitals, care homes, vets etc.
As others have said. Don’t take a job that involves unsociable hours and dates if it means that much.

So if he wasnt able to work Christmas day would he be ok with that? Because surely he’s doing jt for tbe money?

It was lovely by the way, not a huge place, and looking at the other diners, quite a lot of them were quite elderly, two tables with single people in their 60s helping a very elderly parent, and another table had a brother and sister in their 70s (we chatted to them). I thought it was nice they had the chance to eat out to make their Christmases special.

What a stupid post. A lot of people would be glad of the work. I've had years where I would have jumped at the extra hours.
He doesnt have to work there.

I totally get this , this is the reallity of local family owned businesses

And its shit

Im a hell of a lot older then your son and well up for speaking up, and yet when working in a rural family pub/restaurant , I could start at 9am and then the 5pm to close chef would ring in sick and yep - that was me 9 - 11pm no break other then a wee ciggie break out the back door

I know its not making your Christmas any better, but let me tell you, it will be the back bone of your sons working life and he survives this, every other place he will find work - which he will - will be a piece of pee and he will be complaining of boredom

The tip situation - he needs to speak up. I got tips splits changed wherever I worked, latest place shares tip jar at shift change . whoever is on gets a share, even if it's a quiet shift and it's a quid - they get an equal share, dishwashers, porters, waiters , front of house and chefs No one minds a chat about tips, the bosses have to follow the law and believe it or not prefer the staff to work it out for themselves , Shift supervisor would be the one to sort it 10 mins to end of shift

Utterly ridiculous post. Your DS didn’t have to get a job in a pub, he’s 16 so it’s not at though he’s supporting a family and desperately needs the cash. Secondly, some people look forward to Christmas lunch out all year so you’re being VERY unreasonable to shit on their enjoyment.

Cheaper to eat out than to buy a bigger house with a dining room 🤣 with our 25 year old IKEA chairs we were able to move them out to open the folding table. Our new suite has large recliners which are going nowhere. We eat on our laps every other day but it’s nice for Christmas to be a bit special .

Agree it sounds awful. If he’s below school leaving age (ie is year 11) it’s also illegal for him to work in a commercial kitchen although he may well be year 12. I wouldn’t be happy with a 16 year old being treated in this way at all and being pressured to work that many hours not least because most of them have studies which they should be concentrating on.

I think this is too many hours for a 16 year old (& possibly over the legal limit for that age but I'm not sure). My son worked at a pub age 16 & was offered the chance to work Christmas day & he said no & luckily his manager/s were absolutely fine about it. I hope he gets to rest over the rest of the Christmas period x