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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:
BalloonSlayer · 23/12/2013 17:31

I used to love working Christmas Eve!

Feck all gets done, everyone happy, then sod off just after lunch for a packed ride home on the mobile vomitorium that was the train.

Ah happy days!

Original poster
dingit · 23/12/2013 17:35

ITS NOT ME, DH. And he is the first to volunteer to cover Xmas eve, as his boss' daughters birthday is then, and his colleague has gone to Canada. I'm talking about closing the office so people don't have to travel, which I think is the advice being given out?
On a normal day, he would certainly go in, but it's quite normal practice for the city to close at lunchtime on Xmas Eve( and people go drinking!)

OP posts:
FortyDoorsToNowhere · 23/12/2013 17:35

Don't get me wrong I have no problem working it.

It should state in your contract about annual leave.

Tuesday is a normal working day

Original poster
dingit · 23/12/2013 17:36

I know it's a normal day. I'm talking about the weather and travel conditions! I give up!

OP posts:
DontmindifIdo · 23/12/2013 17:37

yes but this isn't like a normal Christmas eve, as the OP says, he'll be sent home at lunchtime, but as the trains aren't running until 10, the chances are it's going to be nearly 11 before arriving. If you work somewhere where you are expected to put in a full day's work, then it would make sense to still go in, but if you are going to shut at 12-1pm, what's the point? Opening the office and expecting everyone to brave the weather for a normal day would be ok, but for only an hour or two's work seems rather pointless.

If he can work from home, can he request it tonight? Send a message to his boss explaining how late he's going to be in given the weather.

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 23/12/2013 17:38

So what do you think nurses and doctors and other care workers do when the weather is bad.

DontmindifIdo · 23/12/2013 17:39

In fact it won't even be an hour or two's work, people will arrive, start having brews and discussing how long and how tough everyone's journeys have been, check a few e-mails (that could be done at home), then stand around waiting to be told to go home. It will in effect, be about 30 minutes work they'll get out of everyone. On a day the police are advising people not to travel. pointless.

OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 23/12/2013 17:39

trills says it exactly right.

DontmindifIdo · 23/12/2013 17:41

FortyDoors - they don't get sent home at lunchtime on Christmas eve. Hospitals don't shut. They do a full shift. If they can't get in until 11 when they had a shift starting at 9, then the night shift will just have to stay. In an office, it's different, particularly in an office where people can work from home. They could have everyone log on and work from 9 - 12 from home. Or they could make everyone go in and get a lot less work done and a lot less good will.

OhYouMerryLittleKitten · 23/12/2013 17:41

Forty - if you work in central london driving is a really expensive option. If they trains arent going, they arent going.
Which is going to be a real poo for those who do work in the central london hospitals.

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 23/12/2013 17:42

The girls I work with every Sunday they have to get a taxi in as no buses are running till 9:30.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day they will have to get taxi in ( I am giving a lift to 4 people)

Original poster
dingit · 23/12/2013 17:42

Thank you don't mind. I think that still possibly may happen, things will be clearer in the morning. And of course I appreciate there are a lot of people, especially the emergency services, working tomorrow. But surely if less people travel, there will be less incidents?

OP posts:
Madamecastafiore · 23/12/2013 17:43

I am at home with 3 kids - 1 of which is 6 weeks old and DH is staying in London tonight as he HAS to go to work tomorrow. He would be fine getting the last train me tonight but will not be able to get in in the morning as trains round here not starting until 10am and he needs be at his desk at 7am.

Most places will not shut as it is too much of a financial hit at this time of year.

SauvignonBlanche · 23/12/2013 17:44

I'm taking a day's leave.

DontmindifIdo · 23/12/2013 17:46

forty, a doctor or someone who works in retail can't do their job just as easily from home. They have to travel in regardless of the conditions. If you can work from home, you don't have to travel in, unless your boss insists on it.

Original poster
dingit · 23/12/2013 17:48

Ironically, he was in late by half an hour this morning, because Southern train staff had not shown up for work. I dread to think what it will be like in the morning.

OP posts:
NiceTabard · 23/12/2013 17:50

If they have said everyone goes home at lunchtime (which is a much appreciated move by many office type companies) and the trains aren't running til 10 and he can work from home then yes of course it seems silly to expect him and others to go in.

At home he will be able to work from whenever he starts til lunchtime lovely.
If he can't start his commute til 10 he's not going to be there til, what 11 / 11.30 / 12 and then it's time to go home! Plus he won't be able to field calls / emails for any stretches underground.

In short I think YANBU and people aren't expected to go in tomorrow at my work if their trains are up the spout (we can also WFH and they have kindly said finish at lunchtime).

Minnieistheglittermouse · 23/12/2013 17:53

Sorry, the train companies decide this random p

Original poster
dingit · 23/12/2013 17:55

He will be able to field calls, as he does not go underground. However on the train he calls the Calcutta express, he never gets a seat, so impossible to open his laptop!

OP posts:
Chunderella · 23/12/2013 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

80sdrummer · 23/12/2013 19:39

I think the OP is getting the replies she is because her OP and title made no reference to the weather conditions, with the last sentence being "it's xmas eve"

octopusinasantasack · 23/12/2013 19:50

OP if you think that the weather is bad enough to stop you travelling then stay home, but you will probably find it's in your contract that you lose a day's pay. Employment contracts don't generally make allowances for the weather, I think the only time closure due to the weather applies is to schools where there is a duty of care to the children.

Chunderella · 23/12/2013 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rachelx92 · 23/12/2013 20:02

I used to work in retail and had to work christmas eve. It just felt like a standard day. I just got buses home instead because the tube was abso packed it was impossible to even get on the platform

NiceTabard · 23/12/2013 20:06

It's not a question of thinking something about the weather when there's no transport though!

Actually one of my old bosses got the right hump when I said that I couldn't get into work - the tubes and trains were all out, there was thick snow, nowhere around here was gritted and I have mobility probs and was 5 months pregnant! She told me I HAD to come into work irrespective... I said, um, no. And still feel guilty about it Hmm She reckoned that as her trains were going and her roads were gritted I was pulling a fast one Hmm Mind you she also tried to refuse me time off to get anti-D jabs when pg on the basis that "she didn't need them" so there you go. Some people are nuts like that.