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

Be proud that you’ve raised a young man with such a fantastic work ethic. Think of all the money and tips he will make that he can spend on what he likes 😀

I hope you get to enjoy your dinner.

I am scratching my head thinking you can't be that slow on the uptake that you're cursing people for enabling your DS to work and earn money, but seemingly you are....

My teenage son is working in a restaurant over Christmas. We are actually having our Christmas dinner tomorrow evening when he is home from work as he will be home too late today.
I’m thankful he has a job and he loves the extra money. I wouldn’t dream of blaming people who don’t won’t to cook for being the reason he is working. How bizarre.

My husband was a restaurant manager and worked Xmas for 10+ years was not after we had our little girl he decided to leave as the work life balance is non existent! But we kind of just got used to it and made our own traditions (99% of the time her worked I worked Christmas too as I was a shift worker as well) it’s just what it is!

But I’m seriously not sure they can force him stay for that many hour especially as he’s under 18!

So there are very few employment opportunities for your DS in your area.
He was offered a job in a sector that is renowned for seasonal trade and one of the clear stipulations was that he had to work Christmas - he and you have known this for 6 months.
I genuinely don't know why you are annoyed.
He either decides to do one of the few jobs available to him or not.

Hmm.
You sound like my grandmother. She couldn’t understand why we were not at the table promptly at 1.30 as she expected on Sunday or Christmas dinners.
My father was a policeman and his shift should finish at 2pm but often got home at 6 because of an incident.
I was on ‘roto’ in the pharmacy for emergency prescriptions over lunch (11-2) and my husband was 2nd chef at a hotel full of widows, widowers and families whose homes were to small accommodate everyone around the table. That’s why people go out to dinner.

At 16 you must have given consent for him to work in the pub, most pubs have an age limit for staff.
It’s not going to get any better. The birthdays, weddings and family gatherings my husband missed or was late to because he was too busy working at other people’s birthdays weddings and celebrations.

Just enjoy your son presence and spoil him when he does come home, he’ll be exhausted.

https://www.acas.org.uk/young-workers-and-work-experience

Your son and pub is breaking the law as under 18 wokers cannot legally work more than 8 hours a day.

He’s 16. Working is presumably entirely optional. He’s not supporting a household. 🙄

Most people on minimum wage could have chosen/ choose now to study or train for a more lucrative career/ a job which doesn’t involve working bank holidays if that was what was important to them. Nobody has forced anyone to pursue a particular industry in which to work. There is funded education until 18/19 with plenty of training options and then the opportunity to study further with loan funding available to all and flexible options like the OU. Blaming everyone else for one’s own choices is very tiresome.

What a stupid post.

It's illegal to force overtime on someone. He needs to learn about unions and asserting his rights. It's hard when you are young and you get exploited by your boss. His boss is absolutely the one you should be annoyed at. Does he even get any extra money on Christmas day?

Yes I mean by OPs mindset that it isn’t essential that people go out for lunch on Christmas I’d argue that for a 16 year old with no family of his own or mortgage it isn’t essential that he works full stop and that if she’s that bothered about him missing things like Christmas dinner then she could always subsidise his life for him.

FWIW I got a part time job at 16. In a retail store. Because I didn’t want to work Christmas or late nights. The great thing about life is that you have choice, especially when you are young and not in a position to have to take a job to put a roof over your head.

Why should this service be closed? Lots of people like to visit a pub on Christmas Day.

The family restaurant big chain that I clean for, the staff there dont get double pay. Nor do us cleaners. At least he gets double pay. I know about the staff as the other cleaners partner is the head chef.

Why are you blaming random people on mumsnet for the fact your son who has chosen to work in a business that is open on Christmas Day, is working on Christmas Day? We didn’t make him work there

The owner of the pub is responsible for shifts. They are making the money but likely employing your son on the smallest wage possible.

The thing that annoys me about it is the faffing about afterwards, chatting whilst the staff are waiting for them to leave. 5 mins ok fair enough, but half an hour plus...come on. Keeping a bunch of minimum wage employees hostage so you can shove food in your face and have a good laugh must be a right laugh fpr them.

You should be providing for your son so he doesn’t have to work ridiculous shifts.

Tbf I was just telling my kiddos how much I loved waitressing at a local big pub as a teen on Christmas day.....hard work but it taught me a strong work ethic and I earned good cash as a young teen and still got home for a later Christmas dinner and presents. By 15yo, Christmas was a bit less exciting anyway so work really made me appreciate the time I did spend with my family a bit more on the day. Plus on Christmas day I got good tips and the atmosphere was always pretty good.

Because these people (who are on minimum wage) don’t have a choice what jobs they get offered. People work to live not live to work.

disclaimer: I dont work in this industry but I have all the sympathy for those who do not choice as to whether to have Christmas Day off. They are not essential services and they should be closed. While yes they might get paid a bit extra as it’s the holiday season, employees are not allowed to often opt out of working in the holiday periods. Pay ought to be at least x3 over their normal pay if the businesses opt to open.

Given that your title and opening post are highly insulting to people who dare to eat out on Christmas Day, you’ve got a nerve to tick off anyone on this thread @SheinIsShite

Take a chill pill and stop your nasty judgementalism.

You sound completely bonkers
No wonder your son wants to do much overtime

I used to work in an an animal shelter and worked at Christmas, damned animals still expecting to be fed on Christmas day, the nerve of them 😡

I love going out for Christmas Day meal! Why shouldn’t I?

my husband was a chef for many many years and worked every Christmas Day.

yabu. Very much so.

But calling people who choose to eat out, lazy, isn’t rude?

What a little grafter. Well done to them.