I'm working all over Christmas again ....

[chickendancee]

Last year I started working at a convenience shop.
I obviously knew I would work some bank holidays but last year was
Christmas Eve 1pm-11.30pm
Christmas Day 1pm -11pm
Boxing Day 1pm -11pm
Nye 2-11.30
Nyd 12-10

He has told me it's the same this year
I'm really sad about it tbh
It's just me in the shop and it's obviously min wage.
I don't know if I'm being unreasonable feeling like this
Would you ?

But it’s not is it? And I am betting you’re not on minimum wage in your chosen “365 24/7” job are you?

That's awful; they're taking advantage of you. I've had similar when I worked in retail; small family firms are the worst for exploiting their staff, in my experience! You'll soon find something else at this time of year; a lot of the big chains are recruiting for Christmas. You'll probably be treated better there!

will you be alone in the shop? regardless of the time of year, I would not like this at all.

I would just say ok and hand your notice in once you've found another job - if you work in a shop i'm assuming in the next few months it wouldn't be too hard to find a similar job - tell them you upcoming holiday planned for the dates you want off for christmas - ?

Try saying no and see what happens. It's ridiculous to expect you to work all the holiday dates as they don't want to. They are taking the absolute piss butbun general people take the piss because they can .

In the next role, discuss these things in advance

It really depends on the job. If you work in a 365 24/7 job it's likely something important and not working in the local branch of cost-cutters. And very likely better paid.

And OP isn't just moaning about working Xmas day, it's the shitty shifts across the entire Xmas and NY period.

No small convenience shop needs to be opening on Christmas day!

OP, I know that you owe us nothing, and this is your life, not our entertainment, but I am absolutely rooting for you here to get a new job, as this is so nasty.
I would not normally ask, but please would you keep us updated?

I would try to say no, you worked these days last year and therefore have plans this year.
If they threaten to fire you, start looking for something else, if you are still in the job by Christmas just call in sick. Not something I would advise usually but in this case they are exploiting you: they don’t want to work themselves but still want to earn money at your expense.

I’m a HCP who is happy to work a 24/7 job, but the team share Christmas and new year shifts fairly.
Those shifts that you’re being told to work are not all essential, and the owner and their family are not treating you with any respect.
They don’t deserve to have you working there.
Like a previous PP, I’m rooting for you to leave.

Apologies if you have already thought of this; but don't limit your job search to food based retailers and supermarkets. Your experience is useful in a much wider range of retail jobs (which may come with better benefits)

You will also have developed customer service and likely problem solving experience which are useful in a wider range of jobs in other sectors away from retail. And you are clearly diligent and responsible- you worked your anti-social shifts last year as there was no one else available.

Best of luck

They do here in Ireland until about 12 pm, they make an absolute fortune too.

People forget batteries for new toys, cream, even the turkey or forget to take it out of the freezer in time. The staff would get overtime and no one would be expected to work all the day outlined in the OP.

I remember when all shops closed early on Christmas Eve and stayed close for a week, retail workers must be exhausted all over the festive period with all the extended hours now.

Look for something else, OP, then give your notice.

They are long hours.

@chickendancee If you are on your own, when do you get the breaks you are legally entitled to?

Call in sick a week before and take 2 weeks off through to new year if you haven't got a new job by then

Definitely look for another job, maybe in a big supermarket, at least they're closed on Christmas day and New year's day.
You'd probably be paid more, get in their pension scheme and there's other people to cover shifts not just you.
I'd leave your current employers right in the shit, they'd be hard pressed to find anyone else to do all those shifts, how do you manage a lunch break or even a wee?

This is awful. I'm a low paid worker, and have done some rubbish jobs to make ends meet. I had a job once that was making me unwell. I managed to get some temp work with an agency to tide me over till I got another job. Would that be an option for you OP? Some sort of agency work to keep you going, that you could start more or less immediately? You could choose your hours then, and that'd keep the bills paid till you find something else more permanent?

No. I wouldn't have worked them all the first year, never mind this year again. There is no amount of money that could persuade me to do this either. You’re doing the right thing finding another job.

Normally I get 2
30 mins when the owners or family are in

At bank holidays I just eat at the counter
If I need to pop to the loo I just close for 5 mins and re open again

A lot of people unexpectedly need things over the holidays and convenience stores are often the only option. Unless they are raising the prices on those days I don’t see anything disgusting about it.

They won’t get anyone else to work under the conditions that you do.
And they seem to think that you will continue to tolerate such treatment.
Time to show them that they’re wrong.
The worm has turned!

It wouldn't be disgusting if they were right there with OP working away, but they're not are they? They don't want to work Christmas day so they can spend it with family, but expect OP to work it alone? Nah. That's the disgusting part to me.

Would you want to work the same shifts as PP?

Would you want to be in the PP shoes and work those shifts?

You do know not everyone celebrates christmas and to many people it's just another working day?

For forcing their only employee to work all of it and none of it themselves? Hardly an act of charity is it.