Phoning in sick on Christmas Day?

[themanors]

I work as a receptionist in a hotel
I have been told as the newest member of the team I will be working Christmas Day months in advance.
It's 11am -11 pm shift and the same Christmas Eve (my birthday)
It's minimum wage and we won't get paid extra.
My dad is 87 and isn't in the best health and I'm his only family
I'm really scared that this might be his last Christmas and I'm wasting it at work for a company who doesn't care
I asked to swap and was told no
I asked if anyone else wanted to work was told no

Aibu to phone in sick?
Il just add I'm not workshy
I never ring in sick

Just look for something else OP, there's bound to be something else, and if you're only on minimum wage anyway, it's not like you're risking losing a big bonus or anything, is it?

If she can work a 12 hour shift any other day, there no extra care needed for Christmas Day.

Honestly, some people will use any excuse under the sun.

On a minimum wage job? Two rooms at Christmas?

Nope I'm sorry but various jobs have to work Christmas and this is one of them- DH is working this Christmas and will miss it with our kids.. hopefully he'll get it off next year

As an ex-hospitality worker who worked Christmas for about 20 odd years, please do not call in sick a) it is not fair on the rest of the team b) they will remember you making a fuss about this and at some point soon after I have no doubt you will be leaving anyway. It has been explained to you that as the newest member of the team it unfortunately falls to you to cover the shifts. So, either, cover the shifts and have Christmas on Boxing Day as lots of people do…. Or leave and find another job outside of the hospitality (shift work) business.

It isn't the responsibility of the OPs employers if her dad is on his own for 12 hours. She's chosen to work a job which entails shift work including Christmas day. If her dad can't manage on his own for 12 hours then I'm assuming there must already be some sort of care arrangements in place as Christmas is no different to the other days he'll be on his own.

And I laugh that people use the threat of telling employers to stick their job up their arse. Making yourself unemployed this way when you'll need to rely on your employer as a future reference is hardly going to do the OP any favours.

I absolutely wouldn’t phone in sick. It means someone else will have to come in at the last minute, who might have an equal reason to need to be off.

You could start looking for another job and be clear before you start that you can’t work those two days.

Or you could just tell them you won’t do it and hope they don’t sack you.

I’m sorry to hear your dad is so sick. But it doesn’t trump other people’s personal lives. You would be able to spend the days you are off with him.

I totally understand where you are coming from OP and you have been very reasonable in suggesting shorter shifts etc. Is there anyway you could speak/contact management/HR and explain your situation?
You are clearly not workshy, having never called in sick previously. That is not representative of the working population!
I hope you can come to a decision. As you said, this could be your Dad's last Xmas

I hear you but OP's father is unwell and possibly his last xmas,
FYI, I have worked several xmas' when my son was little also

Yes.
Yes.

They can also perfectly legally sack you for asking your colleagues to share a Christmas Day shift, posting on the internet about it, using 'your' when it should be 'you're' or for looking at them a bit funny.

And if you get sacked, it's perfectly legal for your benefits to be subject to a sanction.

You will get rumbled and paid off if they extend probation.

I get the impression it's less about Christmas and more about your dislike of this job in particular. I'm guessing there are other things that frustrate you about it day to day.

I've had to work Xmas before when I did care work and we shifted our Christmas to Boxing Day so that was our relaxing day instead. It is just as tricky when you have young children or elderly parents. We all took turns though and the childless or those without other commitments would often volunteer to do the earlier Christmas day shifts so parents could be home to see young ones open gifts or choose to have Boxing day off so parents could be home Xmas day. The reverse applied to New Year eve. Many of those with commitments would work NYE or early on NYD so the youngsters could go out partying.

If you phone in sick you will totally ruin another family's Christmas when someone else is called-in with no notice to cover for you. Most companies that have to be open over Christmas rotate who has to be on, so the person who covers for you might even have had to work last Christmas themselves. It's really not an OK thing to do.
If it's a deal-breaker for you not to work Christmas, then you need to start looking for a different role, in a sector that doesn't open on public holidays, and check with the recruiter.

@Cosyblankets well I was trying to think outside the box and put forward another option other than pulling a sickie and ruining someone else's Christmas.

OP could try and barter that she gets a discounted room for dad if any are spare or even just a Christmas dinner and depending on his mobility etc he could join her at reception most have a nice foyer. The atmosphere might be quite nice and he might enjoy being surrounded by other people, and having some Christmas carols

Come Boxing Day you won’t have a job!

She doesn't have to use them as a reference. Whoever she used before as a reference she can use them again. It's not the end of the world.

Can you ask if you can bring your dad in for a meal at the restaurant? Maybe at a staff discount?

You’re off Boxing Day?

For years we did Christmas Day on Boxing Day if working Christmas. Then with children just did things around them eg Christmas morning together then go to work.

This is literally how a vast number of essential services and various businesses are staffed over holidays. Many many many people are missing time with family and making it up in other ways.

Have Christmas breakfast with your dad on Christmas Day and have full Christmas dinner on Boxing Day.

I would 100% call in sick but maybe for 4+ days to make it look less Christmas-specific!

You just hit the nail on the head there really. It’s a glorified Sunday dinner. I don’t understand why people get so upset about one day. Christmas is the day you say it is

you don't seem to want to hear the opinion of anyone that doesn't agree with you, so i'm not really sure why you posted.
If you're still employed there at Christmas, lie and say that you're too sick to work, just think how kind and friendly your colleagues will be towards you - it will make it an even lovelier place to work.

People are being unnecessarily harsh here, everybody has their reasons to want a special day off and OP has tried to compromise. I'd be pushing for at least the second half of Xmas day of and telling them you will not be able to work the second half as you have commitments, jobs are replaceable, family members arnt.

You are in a difficult situation because your dad is on his own and you want to be with him.

However, you can't just go sick.

You need to either get a new job asap or simply just tell them you can't work Christmas Day and stick to your guns.

It's then their decision what they do about it. Obviously be prepared that they won't be happy about it.

I think it’s a really shitty way for the hotel to cover their staffing needs, but as other people have said, calling in sick will likely get you fired. And then finding work will be even harder.

You could just hope they hire someone else before December. If turnover is so high that’s a distinct possibility. But I would look for another job, one that doesn’t put everything on the newest employee. Decide what you’re prepared to do on Christmas Day and ask about it before you accept a position. Or, if you are able, keep this job until the beginning of December, saving hard. Hand in your notice so you leave on December 23rd. And look for something in the new year. But make sure you have enough to see you through as hiring can take a few weeks to get going again in January.

I can’t believe how many people are against you on this one OP.

Maybe they’re all staying in hotels at Christmas.

I also love the lack of empathy for you. Aren’t we such a selfish lot.

I’m Very loyal to my employer, and never go sick nor do I condone it generally. However, it’s obvious that your employer, managers and colleagues do not care a jot about you and often elder care is brushed aside although child care seems to be the most important thing in the world.

Just be prepared that you may lose your job over this, and hopefully with a bit of luck you’ll move onto something new way before Christmas.

But if you are still there, call in sick. Fuck ‘em. Spend this very precious time with your dad. If he dies next year, then you will regret it for the rest of your life. You won’t feel like that about throwing a sicky.