Page 12 | To think we shouldn't have to work the day before Christmas Eve?

Cosyblankets · 05/12/2024 13:46

Wolfpa · 05/12/2024 13:29

@Cosyblankets the 23rd is just a normal day, no different to the 22nd or 21st.

My point was it's not a normal working day if they have to do a six hour round trip on top of their normal hours. I'm not disputing the days in any way. I'm saying six extra hours is not normal

BestLife82 · 05/12/2024 13:52

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:33

I work in a bathroom shop.
We are closed over Christmas and were lead to believe we broke up on the 22nd
Turns out now we don't
On the 23rd we have to travel to Manchester (3 hours each way ) to have a buffet and games with the company owner.
We have to listen to a presentation on how the company's done this year.
If we don't go we will have a day deducted from our salary.
It's the day before Christmas Eve and we have to drive to Manchester to have picky food with the owner and play Christmas games.
Aibu to think it's ridiculous?
And we have been repeatedly told if we don't go we won't get paid and it will halt any progression in the company !

Sounds fairly typical for 21st century capitalism. Company owned by some socially inept narcissist who wants to hang out with his employees because he doesn't have any real friends, at least not any who treat him with the deference he demands.

I would be asking how travel to Manchester will be reimbursed and what other expenses would be covered.

Heartbreaktuna · 05/12/2024 13:57

Bit of a tangent but. Legally they don't have to reimburse you. if they don't you can claim tax relief on anything not reimbursed.
www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/vehicles-you-use-for-work

Gloriia · 05/12/2024 13:59

MILLYmo0se · 05/12/2024 12:49

I'd be outraged to be told I have to travel 6 hours for work at my own expense, I've no idea why everone seems to think it's fine.
I'd be fine with it if my normal hours are 9-5 and I could get a train/bus (paid by work) at 9am and arrive back around 5 ish but otherwise nope, I'd prefer to take it unpaid.

Well yes this is crazy. Working the day before Christmas eve is one thing, doing a 6hr return trip another. I'd be saying it's a no from me I'll stay in the office and answer the phones.

Havalona · 05/12/2024 14:07

If I didn't want to go I'd say/do one of the following. Assuming you are 100% correct about the business/shop closing for Christmas on 22nd.

Hi, as the shop is closing at the end of trading on 22nd December, I have already made arrangements to visit family and won't be available on Monday 23rd.

Honestly if they don't accept that, I'd take the deduction of a day's pay and skip it, as the cost and stress of getting there and back would balance that out.

If there is no other way out of it, then go, provided they pay you full expenses there and back, and preferably use the train and taxi/uber to get to and from the place in Manchester.

adriftinadenofvipers · 05/12/2024 14:07

It's a crazy plan but I don't think you can easily get out of it unless you take a day's leave.

You should be appropriately reimbursed though.

If this is typical I'd be looking for a new job in January.

CloudywMeatballs · 05/12/2024 14:11

Why wouldn't you have to work on December 23? It's not a holiday. In fact, I would expect to have to work December 24 too.

Polyp0 · 05/12/2024 14:12

Everyone's getting on their high horses, but if you were told the shop shuts on Friday, it would be reasonable to infer that you wouldn't be expected to work on the Monday.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 05/12/2024 14:13

Lemonyfuckit · 05/12/2024 13:07

I don't see the issue with this at all, 23rd is a normal working day so don't see why you would get it off unless you take annual leave. To be honest 24th is a normal working day too for most - at my firm the approach is to feel free to log off / go home from midday/lunchtime IF your work permits (we're client facing so the client does come first however) unless of course you've booked the day off as annual leave.

Read the thread

Cosyblankets · 05/12/2024 14:15

OP your biggest mistake here is the wording of your title

Latenightreader · 05/12/2024 14:18

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:39

As I said when the company opened
We were told we close black eye Friday
Also the days we are closed over Christmas come out of our holiday allowance

Original comment deleted because I realised there was an additional page of comments…

LaurieFairyCake · 05/12/2024 14:22

There's no travel in your contract and they're not paying for travel expenses so that's a hard no from me

That would be £50 petrol in my car 2 days before literally the most expensive time of the year

Fuck that

BustyLaRoux · 05/12/2024 14:23

What’s black eye Friday??

I do think an arrival time of 9am is unreasonable for people who are driving 3 hours. If it’s a few speeches and some sausage rolls, how are they going to fill a day between 9am-6pm?? If they’d said arrive at midday and leave at 5pm then fair enough. It’s a working day. And no travel expenses paid either. Surely that’s not reasonable. Expecting you to work your hours is reasonable though, regardless of when other traders “break up”.

I shall be working on 23rd. And 24th also. Though no black eyes or sausage roll expectations for me!

Antsinmypantsneedtodance · 05/12/2024 14:24

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:57

We aren't getting any travel expenses
We have been told we get 2 hours to use in January as a early finish

Check your contract. But your work base is usually stated. In retail it somwtimes says about travel to other locations. But usually something about expenses is mentioned if so.

If you are working 6 hours above your normal working hours becsuse of travel if you are on minimum wage this would potentially take you under Nmw And be illegal so check it. If the 23rd was out of your leave allowance then explain its too late now for you to change plans and therefore the 23rd will be taken as leave or unpaid. Is it really a company you want to progress in anyway.

AllTheChaos · 05/12/2024 14:32

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:57

We aren't getting any travel expenses
We have been told we get 2 hours to use in January as a early finish

Well just say you can’t drive that far and need to get a train at the company’s expense. Work travel is paid for by work!

SkunderlaiSkendi · 05/12/2024 14:33

I wouldnt drive it, get them to pay a train

However the title of the thread is 'AIBU to think we shouldnt work on this day'

and Yes you are unreasonable, plenty of us are

Alondra · 05/12/2024 14:36

justasking111 · 05/12/2024 13:29

My son is on a zero hours contract two days a week, Monday, Tuesday,for an architect practice. This year. He's having to work the 23rd and 24th as is everyone till 5pm. Then drive home 2.5 hours to do his family home.

It's a tough market out there

The government in the UK fudges numbers of employment, with people employed on zero contracts working for no rights at all but still showing as working.

In Spain and many European countries, zero contracts are illegal. Employees always need to have a working contract.

It breaks my heart reading posts like yours. It's not a tough market, it's a political policy.

Movinghouseatlast · 05/12/2024 14:37

It is totally unreasonable of them not to pay travel expenses. What have they said about this? You should challenge this.

I wouldn't want to drive for 3 hours to start 'work' at 9am. You will be very tired for the journey home as you are being expected to put in a full working day. This really is not on and you should challenge it.

However being expected to basically go to a work event instead of your usual work isn't unreasonable and is very common. It's kind of like a conference. So that part you shouldn't challenge.

Cerealkiller4U · 05/12/2024 14:37

blinddoorshyt · 05/12/2024 09:57

We aren't getting any travel expenses
We have been told we get 2 hours to use in January as a early finish

Oh. That’s rubbish! What if you can’t afford it?

IsawwhatIsaw · 05/12/2024 14:40

Doesn’t sound too bad if in work time?
I’m finishing midday on Christmas Eve

Clauz · 05/12/2024 14:41

Check your contract to see what it says about holidays and closure dates. And if you don't want to go, book it off. It's not unreasonable given the huge journey they want you to make.

You could also tell them you can't afford the travel - I think it's unreasonable for them not to pay for this and definitely not normal to not cover the travel time as paid.

holju · 05/12/2024 14:44

BustyLaRoux · 05/12/2024 14:23

What’s black eye Friday??

I do think an arrival time of 9am is unreasonable for people who are driving 3 hours. If it’s a few speeches and some sausage rolls, how are they going to fill a day between 9am-6pm?? If they’d said arrive at midday and leave at 5pm then fair enough. It’s a working day. And no travel expenses paid either. Surely that’s not reasonable. Expecting you to work your hours is reasonable though, regardless of when other traders “break up”.

I shall be working on 23rd. And 24th also. Though no black eyes or sausage roll expectations for me!

Black eye Friday is a term for the last Friday before Christmas, where people tradionally used to go out straight after work, get hammered by 8:30 and have fights in the street.

coffeesaveslives · 05/12/2024 14:45

I'm surprised so many people would apparently be totally fine with this

Katiesaidthat · 05/12/2024 14:52

I wouldn´t go. No expenses? Nah. Don´t think so.

Birch101 · 05/12/2024 14:55

Honestly reading all your updates that is bonkers.

Honestly I would work out the cost of doing this travelling vs a days wage especially as you are expected to go in your own time and not get pay expenses

Sorry but every company I know with multiple UK locations have local get togethers for Christmas or all expenses including overnight stays are paid for by the company after all entertaining staff at an annual event is tax free for companies (up to a certain amount)

And yes of course the days the company is closed over Christmas comes out of your AL allowance, decent companies will provide extra days for this that cover the non BH days