AIBU to think this about working bank hols etc?

[OldandJaded]

Is it unreasonable to expect that if you work in certain industries you expect to work bank holidays (easter, Christmas included) nice days, late nights/early mornings and basically the times when most other people don't work?
I don't think it is, if you work in the hospitality trade then surely it's common sense that when the majority of working folk are off, is going to be your busiest time? Therefore the increase in business needs an increase in staff? I'm astounded by the number of people who come into hospitality that say they didn't expect to have to work Christmas/New year/Easter etc and feel it's unfair.
I've also worked in health care and have heard similar complaints - people don't stop being old/ill/sick because it's a public holiday!
I do agree it sucks that some places don't offer a little extra for working these holidays, but I wouldn't expect it because it's the type of job I'm in and comes with the territory. Most places I've worked give maybe time and a half or a small cash bonus if you work Christmas day, but the other days are business as usual.
Of course the shifts need to be shared out fairly and any religious need respected.
Working shifts, late nights, weekends and holidays does have it's advantages - I get to shop in relative peace, I don't have to travel in the rush hour, if I want to go out for a meal, to a theme park, a pub etc it's usually much quieter because other ppl are at work when I'm not!
Just don't understand those who come into an industry that relies on when other people don't work and therefore want to enjoy themselves and spend money, and then complain about it!
Rant over!

Also if you work in these industries you shouldn't have to accept a rota that has you working Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day whilst a colleague has them all off but if the rotas are fair, spreading the anti social hours out between all staff, then don't be a dick and call in fake sick on every public holiday.

It is a class issue because PEOPLE IN OTHER PROFESSIONS ARE PAID FOR BEING ON CALL RETAIL WORKERS ARENT. BUT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO KEEP THEMSELVES AVAILABLE JUST IN CASE. That is being on call but not being paid for it.

btw 15/16 years ago i was working nights in a sex chatline office. I was treated a lot better in that industry than i ever was in retail.

DF always said when we were kids that working Boxing Day & New Year's Day paid for Xmas. I can see nothing against it provided you get extra psy or time off in lieu.

I can see nothing against it provided you get extra pay or time off in lieu

some "professions" you do, but you don't any more in most "jobs", it is expected that people will work it as a standard working day.

In retail you work your contracted days, there is often no "rota" (and usually no annual leave in December, so if they all fall on your days, you work them)

I doubt there is a new retail contract anywhere that gives extra money or days off for working bank holidays

Some old ones still do

"It is a class issue because PEOPLE IN OTHER PROFESSIONS ARE PAID FOR BEING ON CALL RETAIL WORKERS ARENT. BUT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO KEEP THEMSELVES AVAILABLE JUST IN CASE. That is being on call but not being paid for it."
Helenadove - I still don't see how that or the shouty capitals make it a class issue, that's a case of different employers offering different packages of employment, not someone of a lower class being forced to be on call but not paid.
However, how does this work in practice? I've worked on 0 hours contracts and have never been expected to be on call, rather I've been rota'd in and then either had a call to cancel the shift beforehand or been sent home earlier than appointed finish time due to it being quiet. That's quite different to being on call. Similarly I have had calls asking me to go in at short notice, sometimes I can and sometimes I can't, I don't get penalised for not going.

"I can see nothing against it provided you get extra pay or time off in lieu

some "professions" you do, but you don't any more in most "jobs", it is expected that people will work it as a standard working day.

In retail you work your contracted days, there is often no "rota" (and usually no annual leave in December, so if they all fall on your days, you work them)"

Beyondthepage
Yes, it is expected and when this is made clear as part of the contract, and you accept the job and sign the contract, you agree to it, and are expected to do it. That's my whole point.
Most retail/hospitality state no a/l in December, it's one of the busiest times and if you're not available to work, when the work is needed, in a job you have applied for and accepted, then what is the point of doing so?

Rufus - no I don't think there would be, I certainly haven't come across one in my working life.

OP do you have children? I'm amazed that you don't see an issue with low paid workers on zero hours contracts and the issues they may have managing childcare around such uncertain working arrangements. It absolutely is a class issue. Arguing that this stuff is ok is a real race to the bottom.

Just because it works ok for you doesn't mean it isn't shit and unmanageable for lots of other people.

I'm also assuming you understand that many retail workers will have been doing their jobs longer than you and have had changes made to their contracts ratherbthan them choosing them?

I'm 42 and when I started in retail we didn't open Sundays except in large shops and anyone working got double time for Sundays and bank holidays. That's really not that long ago. Do you struggle to see beyond your own experiences?

Not all professional workers get paid more for antisocial hours. As a teacher, I have to do parents' evenings until 8 in the evening, as well as attending school concerts etc which go on even later. I don't enjoy it and would much rather be at home, but hey ho, it wasn't exactly hidden from me that teachers have to do such things.
When I worked in retail as a student, I expected to have to do bank holidays, so it wasn't a big deal.
I don't like zero hours contracts though. Everyone should know how many hours to expect per week so they can budget properly.

Was the union comment aimed at anyone in particular draylon?

My understanding is that you have to be in employment to join the relevant union

And the contract you sign will state your hours and expected working practice

And by the time you sign that its too late...or is there something i am missing?

It cafes can't charge double the price for a cup of coffee , and shops don't double their prices either so how can small businesses be expected to pay double time salary on bank holidays ?

I get £1 an hour extra for Bank Holidays.

Sunday might be double play, I'm not sure.

I don't mind. I'm not religious at all. I'd still work it if it was normal pay.

I'm a restaurant manager and tell all employees at interview stages that they will work 90% of the bank holidays. My company also bans the booking of any holiday between December 1st and January 1st. I get pissed off when people try to find an exception for this, or for getting out of bank holidays.

I'm not arguing for bank holiday closure at all, I think the high street needs it tbh. I'm just surprised that people really can't see that it's hard for people when buses, trains, childcare etc. don't operate as normal so they end up paying to work. I'm also surprised that people don't realise that not everyone is under 40 so therefore wouldn't have been told at interview stage that they'd have to work every bank holiday. It doesn't even affect me and I can understand why it's hard, not everyone signed up for it.

I've never had a job where I've had bank holidays off but I didn't mind, it was more the shock from other people that was surprising. The same type of people who think everyone works 9-5!

EnglishGirl wrt my situation everyone is under 40. Also we are flexible around most requests throughout the year, but I'm obviously only drawing on my experience here.

Where I last worked we got doubletime and a day in lieu for working bank holidays. But then there was a strong union presence which meant the company had to stick to that. It's only the unions that mean we have things like weekends and bank holidays at all.

I'm in the emergency services so it's just normal for us, I'm working all over Easter and I worked Xmas and New Year for the past 7 years.
It does suck sometimes but I knew what I was signing up to. I've missed so many family events and parties because of work but I still wouldn't change it for the world.
I love my job. Why retail and Mon essential people have to work is beyond me.
I think If you can be off you should be x

I worked in an office for almost 30 years but when I wanted to go to part time it was not possible to stay in the same work.

I went into retail as it pretty common to work part time. In the 10 years I have worked in retail I have had to work every bank holiday, every Christmas Eve, every Boxing Day and New Year's Day and have not been allowed to take holiday in November or December (2 shops also would not allow holiday in January).

I absolutely hate working Christmas Eve (usually having to work at least 2 hours later than normal to get the sale ready) and Boxing Day (which usually is mainly people bringing presents back for refunds). Most years Boxing Day results in a minus figure as we pay out more in refunds than we take in.

Christmas is a big occasion in my family and before I worked in retail me and OH would spend Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day with my family. Now we can only spend Christmas Day there and have to be the first to leave as I can't stay too late as I have to get up on Boxing Day.

I am lucky that I have OH to take my to work on those days as the buses where I live either run a Sunday service (hourly) or stop running totally.

I have to work tomorrow and one of my colleagues is in panic as to how to get to and from work. His bus which is usually every 20 minutes is only going to be every 2 hours. We start work at 8.30 and his buses are at 6.59 which would get him to work for 7.25 (so he would have to stand outside and wait for the manager to turn up to open up) or 8.59 which won't get him to work until 9.25.

We finish at 5.30 and his buses are at 5.05 (he won't be allowed to leave early) or 7.05

I don't understand why people need to shop Sundays, bank holidays etc. I also don't understand why so many people think it is ok to be so rude to shop staff which doesn't make the job any easier

YY English Girl. And there would never be a motion tabled where they would stop doctors being on call. Or duty solicitors.

Class issue.

Stop doctors and duty solicitors being PAID for being on call i meant.

Nah. You should pay more for unsociable hours and holidays.

YANBU - if you want all bank holidays off, get a job in a bank. Or a school.

I have friends in various industries who complain about working them, but I never did when I did (first in retail, then in media - there are certain jobs that require shift work, mine was one of them).
OH doesn't complain even though he works 3 weekends in 4 for the same flat rate.

It's what he signed up for. He likes having some days off when everyone else is at work/school, and things are generally quieter.

lbsjob87
I agree, my husband and I have two midweek days off and that's our "weekend" nice to be able to shop and run errands without the crowds.