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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think they should close the office tomorrow?

75 replies

dingit · 23/12/2013 16:59

No trains running until 10. Everyone will leave at lunchtime. But no, well known national company are staying open. So people are struggling to get in, and home. It's Xmas eve fgs!

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 23/12/2013 17:01

Spare a thought for those working in retail and it doesn't seem so bad.

whattoWHO · 23/12/2013 17:04

Will you get paid for the full day?

Thinkingofmyfabfour · 23/12/2013 17:06

Ive never been off on Christmas eve (nhs) and neither has my dh (private sector)

80sdrummer · 23/12/2013 17:07

Could you not have booked it as a holiday if you don't want to go in?

Sparklymommy · 23/12/2013 17:08

Christmas Eve is, to all intents and purposes, a working day. When I worked in a well known high street shop (now no more), Christmas Eve was compulsory for ALL staff to work and once shut everything needed setting up for Boxing Day sales. We never left before 8pm, even though the shop shut at 5:30.

My mother is working Christmas Day. She is a care assistant. It's part of the job.

GogoGobo · 23/12/2013 17:08

Book a days holiday if the idea of working on what is a normal working day is so irritating.

Parker231 · 23/12/2013 17:09

If we want Christmas Eve off we have to take it as a days holiday - otherwise you are expected in at the normal time.

CaptainSweatPants · 23/12/2013 17:09

I agree though if trains are t running until 10am & your leaving at lunchtime it hardly seems worth it

whois · 23/12/2013 17:12

My company used to give a bonus half day of holiday on Christmas Eve but now we get the full day off and the office is closed. Generates loads of employee goodwill without sacrificing too much work time as it was never the most productive day.

SPSJSAT · 23/12/2013 17:13

Spare a thought for those working in retail and it doesn't seem so bad

This.

And NHS, Forces etc.

Original poster
dingit · 23/12/2013 17:14

Not me, dh. On a normal Xmas eve, he always goes in, and is last man standing, sending all his staff home first. But tomorrow will be difficult for everyone. An office is not the same as retail, he can work from home, and would do ( major insurance company, looking at how much the storm has cost him)

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 23/12/2013 17:15

You're lucky you're allowed to go home at lunchtime ,for most its a normal working day .

Bowlersarm · 23/12/2013 17:15

But most companies will want to keep working/trading/their business open surely. Why wouldn't they? It doesn't make economic sense to close when they could be open.

SPSJSAT · 23/12/2013 17:15

I work for a national company too, and would have been working tomorrow, it being a normal working day and all.

But I didn't want to work... So I used a days leave.

Job jobbed.

livinginawinterwonderland · 23/12/2013 17:15

Why should you get it off? It's not a bank holiday, it's a normal working day. If you don't want to work a normal day, book it as holiday.

And like Worra said, think of us retail workers. I can't take any December holiday whatsoever. Our store shuts at 7pm tomorrow but some staff won't get home until gone 10, because we have to set up for Boxing Day.

Whatdoiknowanyway · 23/12/2013 17:16

It's exacerbated by the weather this year admittedly but my team at work thought I was the worlds worst boss because I said last week that the office would be open Christmas Eve (never occurred to me that it wouldn't be, I'm new there this year). I had no problem with them taking annual leave but apparently that wasn't good enough. Tough.the work doesn't disappear just because it's Christmas and the people complaining loudest don't even celebrate Christmas - go figure!

Musicaltheatremum · 23/12/2013 17:20

Agree, world doesn't stop, or does it? I am off this week as we split our weeks over Christmas and new year. So all of us get a week off at some time. This means the part timers working full time (and getting time back later) to make it work but we have to be open until 6pm both Tuesdays. Shops open late too.

crazykat · 23/12/2013 17:23

DH is working to tomorrow as he had to use holidays through the year so only has enough for Christmas Day till new year.

My dad works in retail and is working from 6am till 3pm tomorrow and the same on Boxing Day just like always. He's also working New Year's Day. It was worse when I was little and he was in the army, one year he spent Christmas in a war zone.

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 23/12/2013 17:24

I think you are lucky.

I am working Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I have 2 DC and got guest coming.

Trills · 23/12/2013 17:26

Are you expecting a day off because it's Christmas Eve, or because there is travel disruption?

If it's because of the weather then:
those who can work from home, should work from home
those who cannot work from home, and can get in, should go in
those who cannot work from home, and cannot get in, clearly can't work

DownstairsMixUp · 23/12/2013 17:27

Im in tomorrow and nye and nyd. Part of retail life :(

londonrach · 23/12/2013 17:29

I love working christmas eve. I work for the nhs. Patients are so happy with lots of news. Sometimes they give a box of biscuits but each and every one wishes me happy christmas and i return the wishes. Usually said box of biscuits and others are opened in the office which gives a lovely party feel when i pop in for my strawberry cream, choc biscult. Happy christmas everyone. Have a safe journary to your loved ones. Xxxx

Original poster
dingit · 23/12/2013 17:29

Yes trills, I'm talking about because of the weather. By the time he gets in, it will be time to come home. He would actually get more done at home, and will be very busy because of the storm. It would make more sense, financially, and their staff are then safe too!

OP posts:
HedgehogsRevenge · 23/12/2013 17:30

Didn't you know you're not allowed to want Christmas eve off when others have to work it because they chose careers that are not 9-5?
Tsk tsk OP.
FWIW I think it should be a public holiday, I'd rather have Christmas eve off than all the random Monday holidays we get the rest of the year.

octopusinasantasack · 23/12/2013 17:30

If you don't want to be at work on Xmas Eve then book a day of annual leave. If not then it's your choice to be at work so put up with it. Why should your colleagues have to book a day off only for those who haven't bothered to get the day off anyway? YABU.

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