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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not buy a Xmas jumper just for work?

98 replies

PyongyangKipperbang · 06/12/2023 16:58

Where I work they have Xmas jumpers all December. I dont have one.

I have nothing against them but I just dont like them on me and see them as a bit of a waste of money tbh, also as I am now a carer I only work part time so am on a low income so I am not going to spend money unless I really have to!

My boss has said that I need to get one. I asked if it was compulsory, as all uniform is supplied, and she said no but it is expected and that I should get one asap. I have refused saying I dont have the money and she is not happy, she said "You can get one for £20" at which point I said that if I had £20 going begging I would be spending on my childs Xmas!

As I understand it, there is no legal requirement for me to do this, and if I refused on religious grounds she couldnt say anything as it would be discrimination, but "I cant afford it" is fine for her to have a go at me about!

OP posts:
newtlover · 06/12/2023 18:56

agree with all the christmas jumper haters here
but this is something that will crop up year after year
my solution has been to buy 2 from a charity shop, and keep them year after year- I sometimes swop with other family members who also face this dilemma

alternatively (if you are in a trade union) I'd get the boss to put the request in writing, and reply saying you do not wish to do this
unlikely they will dismiss you for not wearing a christmas jumper and if they do it would be unfair dismissal

Fedupwitheveryone · 06/12/2023 18:56

i love dressing up in nice clothes and I love Christmas, but I hate comedy themed dressing and particularly hate cheap nasty tacky knitwear.

I would consider it if they paid me £20 to wear one (and likely still refuse) ;-)

WhichEllie · 06/12/2023 19:07

Get a piece of green felt and cut out a wonky, vaguely Christmas tree like shape. Then get some red thread and stitch it very haphazardly to an existing jumper, preferably with one corner of the “tree” detached and curling up. If feeling particularly festive, take a black permanent marker and write in your worst penmanship “happy chrismas” (no capitals, misspelt) across the bottom. Squeeze the “t” in above the other letters with a helpful arrow to show its proper location. Wear it every single day until Christmas.

Job done.

UsingChangeofName · 06/12/2023 19:18

This is another new thing, like Elf on the shelf and Christmas Eve boxes, that is just excess consumerism.

Not sure when you consider 'new' but we used to wear Christmassy clothes when I taught in special school in the 1990s......

Ibizabar · 06/12/2023 19:23

Christmas jumpers are not a new thing.

ilovesooty · 06/12/2023 19:45

You can't afford one

Even if it's £3 in a charity shop you don't want one.

Just keep saying that.

AmyDudley · 06/12/2023 20:21

Ask if someone can lend you one, otherwise keep repeating you can't afford it. It is so rude to force people into this nonsense.
This sort of thing makes me really cross, I saw another thread today where someone's work was insisting everyone paid a minimum of £40 for a secret santa. You've got to be really socially thick in the current economic climate not to realise people don't want to waste money on crap.

SwordToFlamethrower · 06/12/2023 20:23

What would happen if you didn't celebrate Christmas?

This is why I'm growing to hate Christmas. Forced merry making, forced participation. Just wrong!

FictionalCharacter · 06/12/2023 20:42

Your manager is a dick. They shouldn’t be trying to force people to buy and wear Christmas tat that they don’t want when it isn’t part of the uniform. It’s bullying really.
I guess she means one with a naff picture and slogan on the front? I used to wear a quite nice one with a “wintery” pattern on it when there was an event where Christmas jumpers were expected. No way was I buying a naff one.
As PPs suggested, if she’s going to make life difficult for you, just half heartedly decorate a jumper with tinsel and the odd snowflake and say “but this is my Christmas jumper, Doris”.

Tacotortoise · 06/12/2023 20:46

LoveTheDarts · 06/12/2023 18:13

they are only 4 quid in lidl atm.

Really? How much did the person making them get paid?

FictionalCharacter · 06/12/2023 20:50

SwordToFlamethrower · 06/12/2023 20:23

What would happen if you didn't celebrate Christmas?

This is why I'm growing to hate Christmas. Forced merry making, forced participation. Just wrong!

And forced/coerced spending on shite that will go in landfill in January! I’m all for celebrating and buying nice things for the people you love, but not buying heaps of stuff to throw away just because it seems to be the done thing.

Beaverbridge · 06/12/2023 20:52

Ridiculous trying to force people to wear Xmas jumpers. Trying to be zany. Also trying to dictate what you spend your hard earned cash on. Nah feck that.

QueenBodicea · 06/12/2023 20:54

Your Manager is out of order. I'm not a carer and am earning a reasonable wage, but I would resent spending £20 or even £5 on something j didn't want.

NeverTrustAPoliceman · 06/12/2023 20:55

tacotortoise my point exactly. £4 in Lidl means it was made in appalling conditions, probably involving child labour, and shipped halfway across the world. Yes, let's celebrate the season of goodwill by supporting that 🙄

I refuse to wear a Christmas jumper, although being self employed it is not usually a problem. I have one of those little Christmas brooches, £1 from a charity shop, and might pin that to a top if I felt the need.

QueenBodicea · 06/12/2023 20:56

Also, my sister is a carer and I would be appalled to think of her being pressured to buy something like this.

QueenBodicea · 06/12/2023 20:58

I do concede to Christmas earrings bought about 15 years ago. They come out every year.

FourChimneys · 06/12/2023 20:59

"No thanks, I'm not a Christian" has got me out of that situation more than once.

I know plenty of non Christians wear them but it's an argument people usually feel uncomfortable to challenge.

TheLocust · 06/12/2023 20:59

PonyPatter44 · 06/12/2023 18:25

I hate Christmas jumpers. I don't wear crappy acrylic 'knits',and I think they're both gross and wasteful. I would just say I'm not wearing one, and leave it at that.

Agree with this. I'm not a fan of knitted jumpers full stop, especially horrid cheap acrylic things. I wouldn't wear one if it was given to me.

SutWytTi · 06/12/2023 21:11

Stand your ground! This is just bullying, tell them you can't afford it.

lap90 · 06/12/2023 21:12

Just ignore and repeat you can't afford it.

With that said, Christmas jumpers are one of those things its best to buy once Christmas is over, when they are on sale for a few quid and you can wear it for the next couple of years.

Haveallthesongsbeenwritten · 06/12/2023 21:13

PyongyangKipperbang · 06/12/2023 16:58

Where I work they have Xmas jumpers all December. I dont have one.

I have nothing against them but I just dont like them on me and see them as a bit of a waste of money tbh, also as I am now a carer I only work part time so am on a low income so I am not going to spend money unless I really have to!

My boss has said that I need to get one. I asked if it was compulsory, as all uniform is supplied, and she said no but it is expected and that I should get one asap. I have refused saying I dont have the money and she is not happy, she said "You can get one for £20" at which point I said that if I had £20 going begging I would be spending on my childs Xmas!

As I understand it, there is no legal requirement for me to do this, and if I refused on religious grounds she couldnt say anything as it would be discrimination, but "I cant afford it" is fine for her to have a go at me about!

Thats wrong your manager should not expect anyone to get anything or the company provides them! I hate xmas jumpers i would not!

Hankunamatata · 06/12/2023 21:14

I like xmas top - hate jumpers though. I'd be throughly annoyed at being told I have to wear them though.

SleepingStandingUp · 06/12/2023 21:16

So are you the only person in uniform and everyone else is in Xmas jumpers every day of December?

IVFbeenverylucky · 06/12/2023 21:20

I do think you are being a bit of a misery here. As others have said, you can pick one or two up really cheaply in charity shops (which is where I got mine and my kids), and you can get a less in-your-face on too. It's not the case that an employer has to provide everything eg a requirement to dress smartly or wear trainers etc, would not be unreasonable (depending on the role), and no one would expect the employer to pay. Wearing an Xmas jumper is hardly a uniform - there's zillions of them.