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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:
Hbh17 · 06/12/2023 21:25

It's not about the money, it's the fact that Xmas jumpers are hideous, tacky and wasteful. If it's not official uniform, then I absolutely wouldn't wear one.

Appleofmyeye2023 · 06/12/2023 21:25

FloofCloud · 06/12/2023 17:02

Alternatively just put some tinsel on a jumper you do have

This.
raid your decoration box and tack stitch some tinsel or baubles to a suitable top.
Stick to your guns here…unless it’s in your contract they can’t force you.

doing something as token gesture shows you understand reasoning but will not spend money you don’t have .

PablosTescoBar · 06/12/2023 21:25

OP, your boss is a moron as you’re probably aware. I would have some fun with it and tell her quite seriously that no Christmas jumpers featured in The Bible, so you won’t be partaking on religious authenticity grounds.

On a serious note, this is just another reason why I cannot stand this time of year and all the forced festive “fun” that comes with it. What the fuck do tacky jumpers have to do with Christmas, and why does anyone else get to decide what you should or shouldn’t wear?

PablosTescoBar · 06/12/2023 21:27

Hbh17 · 06/12/2023 21:25

It's not about the money, it's the fact that Xmas jumpers are hideous, tacky and wasteful. If it's not official uniform, then I absolutely wouldn't wear one.

Exactly this. I wouldn’t even be entertaining this nonsense for a second.

Appleofmyeye2023 · 06/12/2023 21:31

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.

Yep,
say you are Jehovah witness, 7th day evangelist or just make up your own wacky church group name and state “my church, PyongyangKipperbang celebrants, does not celebrate Christmas in this way …you will be acting in a discriminatory way with respect to my protected characteristics of religion or belief, to insist on this”

Locallady2 · 06/12/2023 21:32

I have to get one for my son every year for Christmas jumper day at school. I try to find a jumper with a sort of nordic winter pattern rather than tacky Christmas jumper so he can wear it in January/February as well.

Whoknewitwasthishard · 06/12/2023 21:35

Xmas jumper day invented by supermarkets to make us spend money on synthetic crap made by cheap labour in far off countries
Only to then go to landfill.

I've have re- named it wear some tinsel in your hair day at my school
Lots of poor kids excluded because they can't afford to buy a jumper .

BT W I love Xmas

Starlightstarbright2 · 06/12/2023 21:41

I don’t like wearing jumpers . I am plus size with big boobs . I have refused .

I just don’t debate it . It’s not happening .

DreamingInPhosphorescence · 06/12/2023 21:44

Ignore. My ‘Xmas jumper’ bought under similar circumstances is a t shirt with a T Rex dismembering reindeer. The raised eyebrows just amuse me Grin

JoyeuxNarwhal · 06/12/2023 22:11

NChance · 06/12/2023 19:47

I love that one Grin

UsingChangeofName · 06/12/2023 22:19

forced/coerced spending on shite that will go in landfill in January!

Why will it go in landfill in January ? Confused
Just keep it for the following year.
Or,
give it to a charity shop or the free school uniform outlet near here ask for them every year - so they can give them away for free, to others.

allmyliesaretrue · 06/12/2023 22:23

We had a work 'away day' last week, and the expectation was that we would wear Christmas jumpers.

I do not have a Christmas jumper and I am not prepared to spend the money on buying one, so I didn't wear one. The world did not cave in!

PlipPlopChoo · 06/12/2023 22:25

"Yes boss. Happy to get one I am only waiting for the twenty quid you need to give me for it"

Or get a £2 white T-shirt from Primark and draw a snowman on it.

DelphiniumBlue · 06/12/2023 22:34

Christmassy clothes is not the same thing as a Christmas jumper.
A Christmas jumper these days has a very specific meaning, it means a jumper or sweatshirt specifically designed for Christmas only, with some sort of Christmas logo on it.
Christmassy clothes covers things like a velvet dress or shirt, or a sparkly top.

Original poster
PyongyangKipperbang · 06/12/2023 22:41

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?

Yep!

It came up again tonight, so I said about how many shifts I would actually need it for and how it was a waste of money for so little wear and boss took my pointand agreed that it wasnt worth it. So all is good.

Glad to hear that I am not the only hater though!

OP posts:
justasmalltownmum · 06/12/2023 22:44

What about people that don't celebrate Christmas? Are they being forced to get one?

TheresaWa · 06/12/2023 22:51

Vinted ?

AuxArmesCitoyens · 09/12/2023 10:47

Oxfam: £218 million worth of Christmas novelty wear could be thrown away by the new year, after barely being worn. No wonder the planet is fucking burning.

UsingChangeofName · 09/12/2023 16:16

AuxArmesCitoyens · 09/12/2023 10:47

Oxfam: £218 million worth of Christmas novelty wear could be thrown away by the new year, after barely being worn. No wonder the planet is fucking burning.

But why would anyone throw it away ?
That is the odd thing with this sentence, not the fact that people might buy something a bit Christmassy.

OP I've been to 4 things so far where it was suggested people 'wear a Christmas Jumper'. I'd be surprised if more than a couple of people actually went and bought one. Some just wore the same one they wear every year. Someone said they'd borrowed theirs. Some just stuck some tinsel round their neck. A couple have on tops with a bit of sparkle in them - nothing to do with Christmas really, but looked in with the theme of dressing up a bit Christmassy. It really seems an odd hill to die on, as you are clearly working somewhere, where it is appropriate.

RedHelenB · 09/12/2023 16:19

LunaTheCat · 06/12/2023 17:15

If they want you to wear one they can provide.
But ..it’s a bit gross for someone involved in caring to be wearing the same jumper for 4 weeks! Say you wonder have they done a risk assessment on this 😃.

There is such a thing as a washing machine.

kitsuneghost · 09/12/2023 16:24

Ask your boss if they have a spare as you don't have the spare cash to buy one.

Luxell934 · 09/12/2023 16:30

What is this job that you need to wear a Christmas jumper for?

UsingChangeofName · 09/12/2023 16:32

But ..it’s a bit gross for someone involved in caring to be wearing the same jumper for 4 weeks!

My interpretation of the opening post is that the OP now only works part time because she is a carer to someone in her family now, rather than her paid work being as a carer ?

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