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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Phoning in sick on Christmas Day?

343 replies

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:06

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

OP posts:
backinthebox · 15/08/2024 13:45

I work in the holiday industry. In my first year I worked Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Because I travel, it means I am away from my family altogether, I don’t even get to see them before or after work, (although I am permitted to bring my husband and kids to work with me in certain circumstances.) I was away the Christmas my grandmother died.

We have a points based system for sharing the Christmas work out, which meant that even though I have now been there for 25 years and am one of the longest serving staff in my role, I worked the last 2 Christmases too. Even though there are hundreds of us, we know who has the Christmas work, and if someone calls in sick everyone knows exactly why they were off. It gets talked about. It’s considered really bad form to effectively shit on your colleagues by calling in sick when you just don’t want to work Christmas. If you have a good reason, everyone is sympathetic. If you don’t, and you’ve dropped a colleague in it instead, your name is mud for a very long time.

If you really don’t want to work Christmas, start looking for another job now. You’ve got a few months.

TheGoogleMum · 15/08/2024 13:45

Best to find another job I think. I'd be highly suspicious of someone claiming to be sick Christmas Day

gardenmusic · 15/08/2024 13:45

The 12 hour shift on Christmas day is unreasonable.
If it had been broken up it wouldn't be so bad. I would seek another job.

x2boys · 15/08/2024 13:45

themanors · 15/08/2024 13:09

So I leave my dad alone all day ?
To go and earn about £130
It just doesn't sit right and I'm worried he's going to be upset alone.
If this is the last Christmas he has and I would rather go to work

And he could have another 5 or 10 years ,I'm not unsympathetic I also have elderly frail parents ,,but you can't just expect to be given special treatment just in case, you could becusing the same excuse for the next few years .

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 15/08/2024 13:45

I do not know whether your concern for your dad is making you confrontational OP or whether you are generally like this, but truly you are being totally unreasonable in your attitude. It’s perfectly normal for hotels to be open at Christmas, it’s normal for people who own businesses to pay others to do work they don’t want to do, it’s normal for people who are not scheduled to work Christmas not to volunteer to give up their time off. Christmas Eve is not a bank holiday. So presumably you have one of the bank holidays off? Being Boxing Day. As the newest employee that’s normal too.

It is totally understandable that you want to spend the day with your dad. But getting sacked won’t help you. So just leave the job in the hotel. I honestly don’t think that your attitude is conducive to hospitality work.

SleepingisanArt · 15/08/2024 13:46

OP perhaps the other new receptionists had already booked holidays for the Christmas period (we live 5 hours by car from one side of the family and 12 hours from the other so would have to book annual leave if we wanted to see either for Christmas) and that's why they aren't able to 'share' your shift with you.

Receptionists are not just for checking people in and out so although your shift will be much quieter you'll still have stuff to do. The owner doesn't need to work in the business, they employ staff, and they charge more because they can - even the local crap pub charges a fortune for Xmas lunch.

Hospitality is a hard industry and you need to get used to that fact.

godmum56 · 15/08/2024 13:46

Poster AIBU
MN yes
Poster No I am not

never gonna end well

TheBestBear · 15/08/2024 13:47

Don't ring in sick.

Either be firm and let them know you will not be in Christmas Day - with the reasons you've given.

Or, as others have said find another job.

JC89 · 15/08/2024 13:50

You've talked a lot about splitting the shift but surely that just takes Christmas day away from more people? You can't host Christmas then go to work for 3-4 hours in the middle of the day, nor can you travel to see family (unless they live very close) if you need to go into work.

It's a rubbish situation, as it is for everyone who has to work on Christmas Day, I hope you do manage to find something else!

Soffana · 15/08/2024 13:51

Why don't celebrate Christmas a day late? I doesn't matter.

Londonrach1 · 15/08/2024 13:53

Look for another job. You have time as it's august

Eggyleggy · 15/08/2024 13:53

You make a lot of good points and that situation is totally unfair but you should still not call in sick on Christmas Day.
You shouldn't have to do 12 hour shifts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That should be divided between colleagues.
The owners should be offering time and a half or double pay to incentivise staff to work or if they can't / won't pay enough then they should work the shift themselves.
You say there is a huge staff turnover. Is it likely that come Christmas you'll no longer be the newest member of staff?
I think I'd wait until end of October and if the situation hasn't changed (new staff to split the shifts) say then that you won't do both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so they need to find solution or you'll be quitting. There are loads of openings in retail and hospitality in the lead up to Christmas so you're sure to find something just as good.

LubyLoo · 15/08/2024 13:53

You have three options:

  1. Get a new job which is easily done.
  2. Celebrate on Boxing Day (or any other day)
  3. Work your shift.

Make your choice. If you ring in sick on Christmas Day expect to be sacked.

dollopz · 15/08/2024 13:54

Do not just call in sick, tell them well in advance what you will be doing so they have time to organise shifts. I would tell them that you’re prepared to cover 4-11pm both days for double pay but no more hours and they can split the other hours between the other two new staff.

But seriously look for other work, there is a good reason for the high turn over and they can’t expect your commitment for unsocial hours on the minimum wage.

newfire · 15/08/2024 13:55

Christmas Day is just another day. I would declare the 26th/27th Christmas Eve and day and celebrate then. Lots of my family members work Christmas Day due to working in healthcare and hospitality and we just pick a couple of days that we can all meet up.

Raree · 15/08/2024 13:55

Phone in sick ,if this is real Which a lot of post's I doubt these days who gives a fuck , the only issue is if you like your job will they scrutinize your illness who cares ffs

honeybeetheoneandonly · 15/08/2024 13:55

Most jobs will want a contact for a reference from your current employer, so definitely don't call in sick when it's fairly obvious that it's not sickness. In any case, there is a very good chance you will be able to find another job before Christmas anyway.

Stompythedinosaur · 15/08/2024 13:56

I think you're being ridiculous. You took a job that includes working bank holidays. So you have to do a turn.

I imagine colleagues don't want to split the shift because they worked other years. Presumably you will get next Christmas off.

You could suggest a change in the way things are done for the future, but that'll be far more convincing if you aren't doing it only for personal benefit. Maybe next year you could offer to do a few hours for the person stuck with the unlucky shift?

Change jobs if you aren't willing to work as per your contract.

StormingNorman · 15/08/2024 13:56

Ilovelurchers · 15/08/2024 13:18

Everyone on here is obsessed with employer's rights, and also playing by "the rules" - it's a very right wing website in the main. Very little compassion or interest in the well-being of employees.

Luckily you don't need a consensus of posters on here to tell you to take time off. Just do it if you consider it the right choice for you in your context.

I don't see how your employer's could prove you were lying and fire you. Depends on the terms of your contract - can you be dismissed without a good reason?

I would take this down personally - with the age of your dad etc it's a bit identifiable. Your employers might see it.

Brilliant advice. OP has less than two years service. They don’t need to prove she was lying, they can sack her quite easily for being unreliable.

Whether OP’s employer sees this post is irrelevant. She has been very vocal in not wanting to work. Nobody is buying the sickness card on Christmas Day. Literally everybody will know she’s lying.

Meadowflower2023 · 15/08/2024 13:59

From your replies I'm shocked how you even got a public facing job in hospitality OP. You also seem to lack the knowledge that you work for a business, a business that someone else has built up, hence why they aren't working Christmas Day. Of course a hotel would be open over the Christmas period, it's nothing to do with greed, it's business. Do the right thing and look for another job, you don't sound suited to this one.

Summerbay23 · 15/08/2024 14:00

Just celebrate Christmas Day with your dad on Boxing Day. You can still go all out, food, presents etc. I’m sure as adult to adult your dad will understand. Phoning in sick on Christmas Day would be pretty low x

pinkyredrose · 15/08/2024 14:01

ilovesooty · 15/08/2024 13:44

And why should other colleagues have their Christmas ruined if she lies and calls in sick last minute?

Show quote history

But it's ok for Op to have her Christmas ruined? And her birthday? And leave her 87yr old father on his own?

Op this is worth handing your notice in for. Do you have enough savings to keep you going for a few months? You could temp until you find something permanent.

In a few yrs time when you look back do you want to remember that Christmas where you worked all through it for a company that doesn't give a shit about you or do you want to remember that lovely Christmas with your father?

BeSpoonyAquaHare · 15/08/2024 14:01

It sounds like you’ve already made up your mind that this is what you’re doing. FWIW I think it’s selfish - the people who will suffer are your colleagues who also have family who are important to them and who will be called in at the last minute to cover for you. You are not more important than them and your family relationships aren’t deeper or more meaningful than theirs.

But since you have already decided to do this, you need to be prepared to face the consequences. You almost certainly will lose your job. You will also be despised by your colleagues for any remaining days before you are fired. And in the event that you aren’t fired, you will definitely be scheduled for next Christmas regardless of whether new staff have since joined.

By far your best solution is to find another job in a workplace which isn’t open over Christmas. You could sign up with a temping agency and have a lot more freedom over the days you work. Alternatively, receptionist jobs in offices, GP surgeries, schools and salons are very unlikely to be open over Christmas.

ilovesooty · 15/08/2024 14:02

pinkyredrose · 15/08/2024 14:01

But it's ok for Op to have her Christmas ruined? And her birthday? And leave her 87yr old father on his own?

Op this is worth handing your notice in for. Do you have enough savings to keep you going for a few months? You could temp until you find something permanent.

In a few yrs time when you look back do you want to remember that Christmas where you worked all through it for a company that doesn't give a shit about you or do you want to remember that lovely Christmas with your father?

Show quote history

Handing in her notice is one thing. Lying about being sick at the last minute is another.

HollaHolla · 15/08/2024 14:03

Sorry - it's one of the pitfalls of working hospitality. I did it for years. We all had to work; no exceptions. Or else, no job come 26 December. If you were sick, you had to provide a sickline. It was 1.5 time, from memory - and I am sure I was only on £4 an hour (in the early 00's!) They did organise taxis, food, etc., for everyone though.
I do think that you will just keep responding, 'Oh, it's all so unfair', to every message, though. So, not sure AIBU (or hotel work) is for you.