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

I’m not sure a hotel opening Christmas Day is opening out of sheer greed.

Lots of people are likely to need hotel accommodation if they’re travelling to see people over Christmas. The hotel is providing a service.

It’s a risk when you work in hospitality - if it was going to be a deal breaker for you, you should have negotiated before taking the job.

But as others have said, you have time to find a different job.

Sounds like you've made up your mind...

Fair point here

Just pick a different day as "fake Xmas" that's what I do as a Dr that's worked 7 out of 9 Xmas' since I've graduated. Does bug me as they often don't change the rolling rota pattern so I'm often working 13h days 24,25,26,27th each time

Tbh if it was me I'd just find another job you've got nearly 4m to do so

I wouldn’t phone in sick, but I wouldn’t be working Christmas Day for my normal pay either. Look for another job between now and then.

She hasn't been there long enough for any legal protection. They don't have to prove she lied.

start searching for an office job

resign at the end of november

I would find another job. It doesn't sound like you've been in this one very long so it's a bit off to go in suggesting everyone works Xmas day if that's not the done thing. I'd be very unimpressed if a new starter said that in my work place. Please don't ring in sick, it's a crappy thing to do when you're not sick. If the boot was on the other foot you wouldn't be happy if you worked last Xmas and now this year someone has lied so you have to cover for them.

He wouldn't understand why Christmas Day wasn't Christmas

Why not? If he is capable of understanding when Christmas is, then he is capable of understanding that you have a work commitment.

I'm applying for everything now
Retail /office etc

I took this job because I needed a job and to earn money
The shifts are rubbish but it is what it is
It's just Christmas Day that's upsetting me

I would say you don’t want to work it now.

then look for other jobs, it’s it’s just paying minimum wage, you’ll probably be able to find something else. You’d be better off working in a supermarket, the big chains tend to be more reasonable with shift patterns.

Resign when you’ve lined something else up, failing all, resign 23rd November, say it’s because of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day shift and you would stay if they could arrange a fairer shift pattern. They might agree to change the shift pattern including you rather than scrambling at a months notice to recruit someone, training them and then have them work Christmas Eve and day.

NHS are paid handsomely for Xmas day. I'm nhs.

I say get out of it what ever way you have to, deal with the consequences after.
I would take the rest of my life off work if I could spend another Christmas Day with any of my parents!!

But everyone else there has had their turn at working Christmas Day, you've been told it's your turn as you're new. Yeah it sucks that your dad could be on his own but you can't just ring in sick, it's not fair. Either work the shift and celebrate on another day or quit

most places pay extra for christmas
celebrate on boxing day
does he have anyone else?

No one will believe you. You'll jeopardise your employment. Look for another job.

Yes, you do seem to have very little interest or compassion in the wellbeing of OP's colleagues, being called in last minute.

I can understand why OP wants to prioritise herself/her family over her colleagues and their families. But they're all strangers to us so I'm not sure why she expects us to agree that she's more important.

And it's not out of greed hotels open, it's because people want to spend Christmas away, often lonely people or those who find Christmas difficult. It's expensive to stay in a hotel, it's a choice - they wouldn't open if people didn't book. Also typically there's a serious uplift in pay eg my local restaurant pays staff double plus you are expected to leave £10 cash tip per person in your party to thank the staff who are mostly young but also those who just need the job.

There have been numerous AIBUs about the downsides of being an only child. Is this an example?

Change jobs

If you are his only family, take him to work for the day, can he sit in the lobby? And have your Xmas the day after.

Just tell them you will work one of those days but both both. Give your reasons. If they say no, start looking for another role ASAP. But do not call in sick on Christmas Day unless you are genuinely sick. You have had enough notice to bring Christmas forward and celebrate another day. But the person you drop in it won't.

There's two other receptionists started 2 months before me
They haven't worked any Christmas shifts as they are new
Yet because im newer it's on me
So its not a case of everyone taking turns

They will just sack you if you call in sick Christmas Day, and then you won't be able to use them as a reference.

Where do you live that you can't get another job by December?!

Why should she sacrifice what may be her dad's Christmas?

Op those are horrendous hours to work over Christmas, i don't believe there's no-one else that can do it. I reckon as you're new they trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Tell them no and look for a new job.