To be fucked off about Working on Christmas Day

[Flipflopskid]

I am working ( not by choice) on Christmas Day ( absent from home from the early hrs of the 24 th even...) and will not be home til gone 11 pm on the 25th, hence I will be forced to miss out on everything.

The joy has gone from my heart. I'm well fucked off I can tell you.

In the past I have always shunned the idea of Christmas in a hotel, Christmas lunch in a restaurant etc. out of respect for the poor buggers who would have to work it; like their families don't matter at all ....

God it makes me so angry that people don't think about this when booking their flight,making a reservation for a mini break etc. cos they can't be bothered to do it all themselves!

" I know lets get some other poor bastard to do it instead and hey, just for god measure, fuck up a prospective special magical parent/ kids bonding session whilst we're at it!"


Am I being unreasonable?

[piratecat]

so this new trial within work. i am intrigued as to why xmas day is relevant.

[MinistryofStrewth]

Both my parents were police so normally one or the other had to miss Christmas day. Can't say it made a big impact on us.

I can get where you're coming from if it's in an industry you don't expect it. I used to get mighty peed off starting at 4am on Boxing Day for sales in (very well known) retail brand as it meant I couldn't have a proper drink Christmas Day just so saddos could do some shopping at some ungodly hour of the morning.

[Thegreatunslept]

I have worked every Christmas Day for the last 7 years! I'm an aux nurse so it has to be dun and as I never had children until now (ds is 5 months) I never minded as it let people with children spend the day with them.
Although my work does half the shifts so ur either working 7-3 or 3-9 so it usually works out fairly!
We get dsd on Boxing Day so I always book that day off and we have Boxing Day as our Christmas Day.
I'm off this year! Bit only because I'm off on maternity!

[WhosLookingAfterCourtney]

I completely agree re going to pubs etc on christmas day, I wouldn't dream of it.

How do they justify an IT company being open? Bizarre.

[Ladyflip]

You have my sympathy, but hopefully it won't be too busy at work, everyone will be in good spirits and maybe your employer will stump up for a tin of festive Roses.

My DH is a farmer, so every Christmas is a working one, but we try to make it fun. It's taken me years to get used to it though, and even now I throw the odd temper tantrum!

I hope you enjoy whatever you decide to do.

[poorbuthappy]

My dad worked many Christmas days. And do you know something?
My overriding memories of Christmas are just great fun, lovely food, presents with a loving family.
It doesn't matter when it is.
Work, get paid, enjoy the next day instead.

[LtEveDallas]

The year I was pregnant with DD I pretty much cancelled Christmas. DH was away (Iraq), I was stuck in Germany with no family around me. Most of my friends were also in Iraq.

I decided to be generous and give my (3) staff a gift... We were having to do 24 hour duties stuck in the HQ (incl sleeping there). I volunteered to spend 3 days; Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and Boxing Day.

Most miserable 3 days of my life! A couple of work phone calls, couple of faxes but otherwise no bloody contact with the outside world at all. I thought one of them would at least turn up with a turkey sandwich for me. I ate microwave meals, watched crappy BFBS TV and read a lot of books.

The same people then asked me if I would do NY Eve and Day because "it's not like you will be drinking anyway, is it?"

I told them to fuck off.

[cantheyseeme]

Im on mat leave this xmas but will be working xmas and boxing night, tbf its better than xmas eve night, i will do my xmassy stuff on the day and all i miss is the getting pissed part which im not arsed with anyway, it must suck ass to miss the actual daytime though

[Cruze]

I do feel for those having to work but accept in some professions it is just what we have to do. If you are not used to it, it probably is a shock.

OH's shifts have worked out horrible this year, ZERO days off between 20th Dec until 2nd Jan. The first 7 days are 12-9pm and the rest 7pm-4am. It's an hour travelling each way... I've pretty much accepted Christmas without him this year, his mum has demanded we go to her house at 8am Christmas morning to watch his nieces and nephews opening their presents so we won't even get a couple of hours to ourselves with our kids on Christmas morning.

I am a bit miffed! It is the first year our 3 year really 'understands' what's happening and it will be our 6 months old first Christmas.
I just keep reminding myself to be grateful that he has worked a fair few extra shifts the last few months so I can stay off work until after Xmas or I could also have been working Christmas, as I have done 9 out of the last 11 years!

[Chesntoots]

I used to work in a mobile phone call centre. Triple time Xmas day.

We used to get lots of calls first thing with people putting credit on pay as you go phones they got for Xmas.

I received lots of calls from stressed people with screaming, shouting children in the background. Most of the callers sounded fed up and at the end of their tether. I was quite pleased to be in an office with lots of free choccies, free Xmas dinner and big screens showing Xmas films. I wouldn't have swapped with them for all the tea in China!

[Financeprincess]

The IT company is probably open to provide support for systems that have to run 24/7, 365 days (e.g. in banking).

You can make the day fun, OP. There will be a lovely festive atmosphere where you work, and presuming that it's a hotel or restaurant you'll probably get some good tips. I used to work Christmas Day in a pub/restaurant when I was a student and it was a real laugh.

In the nicest possible way, I'd suggest you drop the 'spare a thought' business. IME people tend to say this when they want you to feel guilty about their imagined suffering, which you can't do anything about. The people who are having Christmas lunch where you work deserve to have a nice time, and are paying handsomely for it. Try not to be resentful of them for disturbing Christmas for you. It's not their problem. Eating in hotels/restaurants on Christmas Day is something I've noticed that older people without big families often do. They aren't thinking, "I know, let's stop mums spending Christmas Day with their children". Don't greet them with a long face if you can help it.

Good luck and I hope it's more fun than you expect.

[ilovesooty]

The day I get the opportunity to work on Christmas day I will be first in the queue volunteering.

I'm on my own and last year I travelled for a couple of hours to see my mother in
her care home, then after my visit drove home again.

There are a lot of people who have no one on Christmas day. They may have to work but have no families to come home to. Even worse they might be alone and housebound. Perhaps the OP could spare
a thought for them.

[Financeprincess]

Well said, Sooty.

[1974rach]

I'd go with the fakemas thing too. my oh starts a 10 day stretch at work on xmas eve. it is what it is (plus if you did xmas on the weekend either side the shopping may be less stressful!)

[SirChenjin]

That is crap OP . I do hope that your senior bods who made this decision to open on Christmas are also taking their turns of working this new shift pattern?

Can you move Christmas back to the 26th, or even have 2 (smaller?) Christmases?

[ilovesooty]

Thanks Financeprincess

I think it's often forgotten that Christmas day itself can be a miserable time for the elderly, homeless, sick and lonely.

At least the OP has a loving family to go home to.

[Blu]

If we are into competitive thought sparing I suggest MN cancel all threads about all problems until every person in the Philipines is newly housed and everyone in Syria safe.

[Thants]

Yanbu I don't see why a lot of places need to be open. Obviously hospitals etc but food places should close!

[earlgray]

Working Christmas can be fun! Just get a silly hat and find your Christmas spirit!
Everyone at work is in the same boat and the atmosphere is usually great. Your family can wait to do some presents when you return, all if the kids can wait!
You are lucky if you've not needed to work it up til now so suck it up and enjoy the extra cash!

[ilovesooty]

Blu was that aimed at me by any chance? The implication that anyone pointing out that the OP could be much worse off doesn't care about overseas disaster seems pretty offensive if so.

[cantheyseeme]

Food places wont close at xmas they make farrr too much money!! I work in a centre with people with mental health problems and obv they never close but you know the score when you accept the job :) It is double time though

[Flipflopskid]

FFSI I'm not even allowed to spare a thought for anyone it would appear lest i lead you to be diverted from my true Narc intentions (?!) so sorry last poster, even though ( naturally) you too are in my thoughts I am out of here ( and yes my christmas family includes both parents with late stage alzheimers and a boyfriend with cancer.

I will be working (alone) on Boxing Day in Saudi (i work in IT for an aviation engineering company) and I am travelling back ( alone) on Christmas Day.

Now I wish I was a waitress in a jumping establishment.

My last sentiment still remains to spare a thought for ALL those working at Christmas. What is wrong ?

Thanks to all who provided decent anecdotes xx

[cantheyseeme]

I think its pretty offensive to imply the OP should think herself lucky etc because other people have it harder.

[ilovesooty]

Thants I don't see why food places should close. Not everyone wants to spend the day at home and cook. If they want to go out why shouldn't they?

Personally I'd like to see public transport running on Christmas day as well.

[Flipflopskid]

Last poster = Sooty