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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think eating out on Christmas Day is selfish

320 replies

Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 18:23

I know that there will be people who say they appreciate the extra money and tips and not everyone celebrates Christmas and not everyone has a family to spend it with and I hear all that.

But just the same, it does force some people to come to work who’d rather not.

OP posts:

ilovesooty · 27/12/2021 20:23

@Grapefruitmelon

It’s been a difficult year but personally I’d far rather see proper government support. What they have done to hospitality this year is awful.

Sooty - but you weren’t eating out to provide a service to the restaurant, were you?

I never said I was.

I said that the service was offered and I used it. It probably benefited the restaurant as well as me. And whatever the alternative views promoted by you, I'd do it again.

GrumpyTerrier · 27/12/2021 20:23

Never would've thought of it that way. If the business opens then I would assume they would want the customers. Working on Christmas is part of some jobs. I always assume anyone at work would rather not have to be there, no matter the date.

Chloemol · 27/12/2021 20:25

@Grapefruitmelon

I know that there will be people who say they appreciate the extra money and tips and not everyone celebrates Christmas and not everyone has a family to spend it with and I hear all that.

But just the same, it does force some people to come to work who’d rather not.

So do you think the same for the NHS, emergency services, bank call centre staff who have to work as not everyone celebrates Christmas and people lose cards that then need stopping, utility company staff who have to be there in case of gas and water leaks, the AA and other recovery service staff who have to be there in case cars break down? Hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions work on Christmas Day

Original poster

Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 20:25

This isn’t as personal to me as it is to you, Sooty.

The restaurant may well have benefited from the decision your family made to eat out, but that doesn’t mean that extends so far as to individual staff.

OP posts:

PurpleDaisies · 27/12/2021 20:25

Imagine if her husband had had to work Christmas 2020, meaning that their children’s memories of his last Christmas were him at work, in a non-emergency sector?

How dare you use that poster’s husband like that. Talk about low.

gogohm · 27/12/2021 20:25

For people who live alone/couples without children etc if can be a great option to eat out, especially when home meals have bad memories. If staff choose to work and are paid lots extra then what is the problem

Original poster

Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 20:25

@Chloemol if you read the title of the thread, that’s a clue.

OP posts:

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/12/2021 20:26

The 3 reasons I wouldn’t eat out (not a trad roast anyway) on Christmas Day are,

Home made is nicer
comparatively bloody expensive
no lovely leftovers to eat up.

Original poster

Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 20:26

I’m not ‘using her husband’ like anything

That’s the whole point. Something awful could happen to any of us, at any time. It makes the time we DO (and IMO should) have away from work all the more precious.

OP posts:

RantyAunty · 27/12/2021 20:27

If they are going to be open, I may as well go.
I'd try to give out some kindness to the staff who are working that day.

ilovesooty · 27/12/2021 20:27

@Grapefruitmelon

This isn’t as personal to me as it is to you, Sooty.

The restaurant may well have benefited from the decision your family made to eat out, but that doesn’t mean that extends so far as to individual staff.

my family didn't eat out. I did, on my own.

I didn't feel personal about this at all, until you saw fit to start a thread putting the choice I made under your judgement.

RampantIvy · 27/12/2021 20:27

The few places round here that were open were run by people who don't celebrate Christmas, so why shouldn't they try and make some money?

ilovesooty · 27/12/2021 20:28

@PurpleDaisies

Imagine if her husband had had to work Christmas 2020, meaning that their children’s memories of his last Christmas were him at work, in a non-emergency sector?

How dare you use that poster’s husband like that. Talk about low.

I thought that was pretty distasteful too.

Original poster

Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 20:30

It isn’t your personal choice, though, Sooty. It isn’t a thread about you, personally.

You made a choice I feel is a bit selfish, but it doesn’t mean I think you personally are selfish. I definitely do things that are selfish, insofar as I buy myself luxuries when I probably should donate to charity, etc.

As I say, I’ve probably been reading too much Dickens, but Christmas does strike me as one of those days when if things can close, they should.

OP posts:

elbea · 27/12/2021 20:30

I used to work the Christmas shift at uni, double pay and great tips. We could work either New Year’s Day or Christmas Day, most of the younger people picked Christmas Day.

There are plenty of people working on Christmas Day - emergency services, armed forces, transport staff, nhs, shop workers…

Original poster

Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 20:30

To be fair Sooty, you have been pretty determined to turn the thread into a personal attack on you.

OP posts:

SandyUmbrella · 27/12/2021 20:30

@IsDaveThere

It doesnt force anyone to work, they can always say no.

Had a friend that lost a job this way so saying no doesn't always work. Depends on the amount of staff working and how nice your boss/manager is

Onthedowns · 27/12/2021 20:31

I am laughing at people who have stated that those working in hospitality can just say no they don't want to work.
I left a waitressing job this year after 6 years as i saud 'no'. After not seeing my family last year i didn't want to spend my Christmas day starting at 1030 and my colleagues finished at 715pm. As it involves clearing up relaying tables etc ready for boxing day.

Also the large upmarket chain i worked for only paid double time depending on the contract you were on those working on contract signed prior to a certain year were entitled to it.

Therefore working minimum wage on Christmas day isn't something people jump at doing.

My restaurant didn't have tons of cancellations it appears these are city centre places. In fact the weekend before Christmas was rammed.

You cannot compare essential services to hospitality and shops

bestdhever · 27/12/2021 20:32

@Grapefruitmelon YAB ridiculously U and you know it

There's so many industries that continue working throughout Christmas!!
Shipping (as I stated earlier)
Airlines
Emergency services ( so so many services!!)
Pharmaceuticals etc etc

Rosebel · 27/12/2021 20:32

I would never eat out Christmas Day. Obviously emergency services etc do need to be open but restaurants don't.
Staff often don't want to work (some do) but don't get a choice and sometimes they don't get a choice about what job they do either.
I blame the management but if people stayed home to eat the restaurants wouldn't bother to open.

Original poster

Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 20:33

No, I don’t ‘know it.’

Read @Onthedowns post and tell me if any of that strikes you as fair or reasonable. And I bet the restaurant she worked for probably advertised and people probably said “oh, we are doing the staff a lovely favour!”

OP posts:

ilovesooty · 27/12/2021 20:34

@Grapefruitmelon

To be fair Sooty, you have been pretty determined to turn the thread into a personal attack on you.

That's ridiculous. Think what you like though. Loads of people disagreed with you and don't care for the lines of argument you used.

Your initial post even indicates that you were being deliberately provocative.

Perhaps you could benefit from getting back to your quality family time.

PurpleDaisies · 27/12/2021 20:35

People are doing the staff a favour but helping the business not go bust.

Iheartbaby · 27/12/2021 20:36

@IsDaveThere

It doesnt force anyone to work, they can always say no.

Is that a joke

Original poster

Grapefruitmelon · 27/12/2021 20:36

I know lots of people disagreed with me. However, you’re the only one who has tried to turn it into me making a personal attack on you and your choices.

I’m certainly not being deliberately provocative. I really do think it is wrong, and a bit selfish. That doesn’t mean I think you personally are selfish, it is the action that is a bit selfish.

I will say I sometimes get upset by threads on here, I know opinions can be hard to take when it feels like a personal criticism of you, and just to reiterate it isn’t.

OP posts:

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