To think you shouldn't have to work in the office on Christmas Eve?

[oliverwe]

I work in an office environment. Some people work from home fully remotely, most people are in the office 3-4 days a week. My manager has decided that we must come in 5 days a week. That is minus him and other managers of course, who usually go to their country houses for long weekends.

My folk live in Cornwall and I'd like to go and see them for Christmas. It's about 6 hours on the train or driving.

Manager has told me he expects me in the office on Christmas Eve. I can't take annual leave as other people are. AIBU to think I shouldn't need to be in the office? I can and used to work from home so it's just grinch behaviour.

Even before the op clarified it was obvious she would be working from Cornwall. Because as you smugly pointed out she can’t drive at work simultaneously. Use your brain.

Christmas Day is a public holiday and is definitely a special day.
If you meant Christmas Eve, it's also a special day. Look up the public transport time tables and you'll see that things finish early. Many offices also close early.

It is by law a normal working day. Any businesses closing early etc are doing so at their own expense. They do not have to unless it is a day specifically referenced in your contract.

They must have seen productivity drop on previous Christmas Eves. Do t blame the bosses…blame the colleagues who spoilt it for the rest of you.

How's he going to know if you're dialled up from home? Is he going in?

Op post 20.44 as pp said, can’t you read?

@LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway you seem confused & equating two different things. I can be aware that not everywhere closes early but still not have chosen to work in those places…

I wanted to not be in the office Christmas eve so I booked leave, I got it this year I don't every year.

Where did the OP say she will drive to her mum's the night before and work from home the next day? Go on, tell me. My brain clearly isn't working properly. Because I can't see her saying that ANYWHERE. I really can't.

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And her employer might not consider that a suitable working environment.

Yup. I'm struggling to understand how anyone who can't work out that OP would travel the night before or work on the train is even employable.

All this fuss about having wfh culture is nonsense. Bosses were perfectly happy with it when it worked better for them during covid.

They do not have to, but many do.
Similarly, public transport schedules are different.
Also, as I've already mentioned those who do not have family nearby need to be able to travel on the 24th to see their family on the 25th, there being no public transport on the 25th.
It's not a 'normal day' and everybody knows it.

Exactly

So she's going to work from home, drive to Cornwall and also get a sick note from the GP, all at the same time? If she's already been refused leave the employer has a right to demand a fit note if the wish to verify her "illness".

In a non-essential office job? Yeah, sure you did.

OP has not said at any point that she will do her full day's work on the train on the way there. And how the F can she? Doing a full day's work on a 6 hour train trip will be impossible.

People are just assuming she will do her work then. And how can she do a full day's work properly on the train? Give over. I don't think it's ME who is 'unemployable' luv.

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All that matters is your boss's opinion, nobody elses.

We used to always work in the office on Christmas Eve. It got moved to a 2pm finish in later years.

Of course they were. Some work being done at home was better than none being done at all during Covid. But now people have WFH long enough to work out all the little tricks and how to get away with the minimum amount of work, it is just human nature for some. And as per usual the few piss takers have ruined it for everyone.

Sorry OP but I think YABU.

if you’re contracted to work then you need to be available as and where.

I worked a job that allowed a bit of flex/early finish/wfh around Christmas but never guaranteed depending what was happening. If you have a long trip somewhere for Christmas Day then you need to book leave on 23rd/24th - that’s what I always did.

Any businesses closing early etc are doing so at their own expense.

It also depends on the business & the cost of staying open, eg a large Sainsbury’s or John Lewis will close at 4/5pm because the reduced footfall means it’s not worth been open.

Do you think the average office is really busy on Christmas Eve?

@Gwenhwyfar quite!

Could you just go and say you didn’t realise you had to be in?

FWIW I think this unnecessary level of meanness is why most people are pushing to stay working from home at least some of the time.

People don't 'need' to travel to family on Christmas Eve they want to. Which is perfectly understandable. But generally time off or flexibility is on the goodwill of the employer and people throwing tantrums and Sickies because they don't get it is unreasonable.

This isn’t about you though. The op wants to get gone for Christmas.