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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not be able to simpathise with those who complain about working boxing day?

49 replies

Workwiseitsrelavent · 24/12/2017 10:50

I have worked the past 6 chrostmas days and will be working my 7th tomorrow in the hope of getting my 1st dc's first chrostmas off next year.
Step sis has complained that working in retail she's only getting christmas day off. Aibu to be irritated by her complaining I told her she should think he self lucky that she gets christmas with her family every year!!

OP posts:

Andrewofgg · 24/12/2017 11:48

Well OP you have made a rod for your own back, haven’t you?

One of my BILs had a job which involved someone going in every day for an hour - essential maintenance - and he came under pressure (before his DC were born) to do Christmas because all the others had small children. He insisted that he would not take more than his share - and went on after he became a father. And that’s how it should be.

Original poster

Workwiseitsrelavent · 24/12/2017 11:50

Yes it's a good point that my work is essential over chrostmas and step sis. Christmas on our ward is always a nice shift really lots of families and everyone is usually so cheerful (in such rubbish corcumstances) which is something you don't see alot in our job

OP posts:

Andrewofgg · 24/12/2017 11:52

Elton Do you watch TV on Christmas Day? Beyond one radio channel broadcasting recorded music (but available in national emergency) thst’s not essential. And if you want fresh food in the shops on Wednesday morning some bugger has to drive through the night to get there for you,

ClaryFray · 24/12/2017 11:52

When I didn't have kids I worked the crap shifts, now I do have kids I don't tend to. And if I take a job with those kind of hours I accept it. Or I say to my manager I worked last xmas day/Boxing Day it's someone else's turn.

Shops have no need to open xmas day or Boxing Day. Ours here are open both, and it's stupid.

SilverySurfer · 24/12/2017 11:55

Sorry you have to work tomorrow but I don't see how that means your SiL can't feel unhappy about working Boxing Day. Perhaps you should be sympathizing with each other rather than turning it into a competition?

RavingRoo · 24/12/2017 11:58

Lets me honest unless you’re in A&E or a maternity unit, your work on Christmas day is going to be light.

Sallystyle · 24/12/2017 12:00

I sympathise with them and I am working the night shift tonight so will go to bed this afternoon and then spend Xmas day trying to get some sleep again.

I am feeling very sorry for myself. I also sympathise for my colleagues who are working Xmas day and Boxing Day.

It's shit having to work over Xmas.

Mychristmasdinner · 24/12/2017 12:00

I think there's a difference between choosing a career where Christmas working is part of the deal, and something like retail where a lot of people seem to 'fall into it'. When I returned to work after children, my first job was in retail, because it was part time and fitted around my family. Thankfully, at that time shops didn't generally open on Boxing Day, so it wasn't an issue for me.

ilovesooty · 24/12/2017 12:04

Elton
We're not well paid but not on minimum wage. No one will be made to work - if my manager wants to try it I think people will volunteer. The motive would be to help our vulnerable clients to keep themselves safe.

daisypond · 24/12/2017 13:11

Lets me honest unless you’re in A&E or a maternity unit, your work on Christmas day is going to be light.
This simply isn't true. I'm working on Christmas Day and I'll be working as hard as any other day. The workload is calculated in the same way - the number of people on shift that day needed to do the job will be the same as any other day. There can't be any slacking off at all.

Rowgtfc72 · 24/12/2017 13:15

Working boxing day and new years day. Not even an essential service or retail. I pack fish for minimum wage. 6 am starts.
Christmas working sucks but there you go, it happens.

MrsJayy · 24/12/2017 13:30

I can't see hospitals lightening the load on wards just because it is christmas the shift will be the same as any other shift

etap · 24/12/2017 13:31

Some years I'd love to work Boxing Day and escape the family aha

GetOutOfMYGarden · 24/12/2017 14:25

I've worked boxing day in retail and boxing day in healthcare. Healthcare is invariably nicer - we look after each other, we try and make it nice, higher ups and patients try to make it nice for us.

I got 'fucking cunt' screeched at me on the checkouts because I said I didn't know which other store had a TV that was on clearance and that she could ask customer services.

PumpkinPie2016 · 24/12/2017 14:37

I feel for anyone who has to work Christmas. In essential services such as nursing, police and fire service, people know when they start that they will have to work some of Christmas and New Year but I still feel for them.

Those who work in retail I also feel for and don't forget it's not just the staff in stores but those attached to it. My dad has to work boxing day because he drives a HGV for a company who deliver food to big supermarkets and they are adamant they need deliveries that day!

foodfrax · 24/12/2017 14:47

I don’t really think anyone should complain about working the Christmas period if they’ve chosen that job. Some jobs are 24/7, this is one of the negatives, but I’m sure there are positives too.

worridmum · 24/12/2017 16:02

No postives in retail anymore since most places appear to have scrapped staff discount (even expensive places that demend the staff to wear stuff they sell)

mirime · 24/12/2017 16:39

@foodfrax when my husband started in retail it was because he needed a job. Any job he could get. The store also didn't open on Boxing Day then, paid double time for bank holidays and time and a third for Sundays. All gone now.

Can't think of any upsides.

Sallystyle · 24/12/2017 20:54

I don’t really think anyone should complain about working the Christmas period if they’ve chosen that job

Why not? I absolutely love my job. I am still complaining that I am about to go to work in 30 minutes and miss a lot of tomorrow too. I did take the job knowing it's a 24/7 service but that part of it is sometimes pretty shit.

I complain about my children sometimes and I chose to have them too.

5foot5 · 24/12/2017 22:38

My manager is giving serious consideration to opening our workplace for half a day on Christmas day next year.

ILoveSooty In your shoes my response would be "How decent of you to give us so much warning. That gives me twelve months to look for another job"

LockedOutOfMN · 24/12/2017 22:41

I have great sympathy for everyone who has to work over the festive period and I wish shops were closed for Christmas Eve and Boxing Day at least to save retail workers and maybe some others whose jobs are linked to retail from having to spend that time away from their families, homes, friends, pets, lives, and ending up exhausted for Christmas.

Babababababybel23 · 24/12/2017 22:44

Does it matter? If christmas lands on your day in its just tough luck. I was the same as you before I went on maternity leave. 5 in a row. Working 7am til 10pm at night. I don't begrudge people a moan if I'm going to moan about it too

MissDuke · 24/12/2017 22:50

I have to work over Christmas. Of course I knew that when I went into this line of work, but its not like that was going to be enough to stop me following this vocation. I still think we are entitled to complain!!!

I think it is disgraceful that shops open on boxing day and I don't blame your sil at all for being annoyed to be honest!

I worked 13 hours today and my ward was absolutely manic!!! So so busy. Was lovely though delivering two beautiful Christmas babies

AgnesNitt1976 · 24/12/2017 22:52

I have worked a double shift today and I am back in at 7am to work Christmas day. I have Boxing day off and will be working New Years day.

I work in the care sector and have had to work 10 out of the last 15 Christmas days. It is comes with the job, but no extra pay at all and no guarantee that I will have Christmas off next year.

My colleagues and I will do our very best to ensure that the people we support have a fantastic Christmas and I very much look forward to spending time with my family when I finish. My DD 15 hates me working Christmas but alas no choice.

I hope you get next year off OP and wish everyone a Merry Christmas x

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