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

[blinddoorshyt]

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 !

That's really shitty, and so is the vanity project shindig on the 23rd.

If I were you I'd be looking for another job.

Yes indeed.

Swings and roundabouts, innit?!
I think teacher friends are lucky to have the long summer holidays but on the flip side, I know I am lucky I can book leave during most of the year, whenever I want but within reason.
My work place is under pressure at Christmas so we don’t always get the time off, as requested, but I’m fortunate enough to receive a decent salary which compensates.

I’ll never forget the year I had 3 zero hour contracts where I really did get zero hours. Awful.

It’s not a treat or Op probably wouldn’t be here complaining about it. The employers know it’s not a treat either and that’s why they’ve essentially forced employees to attend by threatening them with no career profession if they take the day off.

Her usual workplace location is a 15 minute drive. On the 23rd she has to leave about 5 or 6am to get there for 9am then the same trip back while probably fighting Christmas traffic AND she’s not getting the travel expenses reimbursed. She’ll likely be exhausted and out of pocket.

How is that a treat?

Agree you’re getting a hard time because of the title of your thread it's not the real issue

i live in greater Manchester and my aim is not going anywhere near town until January. Travelling anywhere by road or public transport is an absolute nightmare

my job involves travel, it's in my contract. There is no way I'd agree to be somewhere that far away for 9am and expect to travel back to get in late that wasn’t anything business critical especially just before Christmas Eve (and yes I know that’s not the issue but it does factor into the discussions)

What's Black eye Friday?

Just book a date leave?

Friday like any other

Clearly OP is not experiencing this as a treat! But I doubt that the employer arranged it just to piss everyone off and ruin their Christmas. The intention was probably to provide a way for colleagues to celebrate together and get to know each other a bit better, and being up for it would be taken as a sign of a team player who wanted to do well in the company and likely to advance.
I guess that being asked to travel in non-working hours is unusual in this company, since it has come as a shock that only 2 hours TOIL will be given for a 6 hour journey. In the jobs I've had, travelling time has rarely been paid so I wouldn't be particularly surprised. But there's no doubt that it's a long way to go for a day trip and hopefully it will only happen once a year.

I get that it may seem alot of effort but you are getting paid for it, are getting updated about the company you work for and having some down time with colleagues. And, you get to have time off over Christmas.

I work as a private self employed carer in the community and if I dont work I dont get paid. I also dont get paid for time taken or the cost of any training courses I have to take.

Dont get me wrong, I love my job and the people I work with - otherwise I wouldnt have done this for last 13 years. They really make it worthwhile, and I have to say its the most fulfilling job Ive ever done.

But, I will be working Christmas Eve, Christmas Day (8.00 am - 7 pm & believe me there have been years when its 6.45 am - 10.30 pm so Im counting myself lucky), Boxing Day, New Years etc etc. I work every day through the year unless Im on holiday.

Even my 'weekends off' are just ones where Im working in the mornings & have the afternoons & evenings free.

I get it that in the lead up to Christmas its nice to have abit of give to get everything ready, but at the end of the day its your job & you are getting paid to go. Why is it a problem?

You could be really sneaky. Text someone to say that the taxi didn't turn up and you'll be on a later train. Dang that train was cancelled.

I'd check the cost of train tickets on train line add in any other expenses and deduct it from a days net salary. Still looking good?

The 6 plus hours (minimum) of travelling that is outside work hours that she isn’t paid for or reimbursed for and the short notice

The 24th is also a working day. I do think it's a pain but add it to the list of totally pointless things we need to do to earn a living.

Make positive noises about it at work and call in sick with a tummy bug.

I'm surprised you aren't working Saturday and Sunday too. Shops are mostly open Christmas Eve until 4pm. Sorry no sympathy here as we are both working Christmas Eve but hopefully will be able to leave by 3pm

I doubt many employees want to go. I'd take it unpaid. You might start a trend and the daft CEO will take the hint.

Of course the days it’s closed come out of your holiday allowance, you can’t possibly expect it not to.

Not read the whole thread but a 6 hour drive with no expenses is unreasonable. It’s also classed as a business trip - as you are driving for your employer and not to a normal place of work, so you’d need business cover on your insurance policy. Ask to see their travel policy - i wouldn’t be surprised if a bathroom company doesn’t have sales employees that are paid travel allowance. Legally they don’t have to pay mileage but they should have a policy. Then see if you can get the train and claim it. Tell them you aren’t insured for business travel and are not prepared to add this to your policy at your expense.

My job is in the management of driver compliance and training.

Black eye Friday is such a violent time of year

Is the day before Christmas Eve a public holiday in Newcastle? If the issue is the unpaid travel then call that the issue; going on about how it’s the day before Christmas Eve is childish. It’s a normal working day!

Sorry people are being so judgemental! I'd be really pissed off too. That would be my idea of hell driving for 6 hours over Xmas time when roads will be chaos. I'd rather work a normal day. Can you car share? Put some Xmas tunes on? Or all go on the train?

Really annoying if you now need to arrange childcare too. I'd be annoyed. But I guess you either need to take it unpaid, or as others said suck it up. I'd weigh up how much petrol/ train will cost and if you get that money back? Then find out what time you will be home. Will you be paid over time? Etc. Then see if it's financially and mentally worth the hassle.

They expect you to pay your own travel? That’s not on. The roads will be chaos. They need to pay for the train for everyone. That will be busy too.

Sent my reply before reading all of yours! Yeah, that would be a flat no from me. So stressful. I'd just take the pay hit. You'd lose the money either way (petrol, etc) plus you'll be shattered for Xmas day. Nightmare. What a stupid idea

You do realise that both the 23rd and 24th are normal working days don’t you? Bank holidays are 25th and 26th.

Your employer is just using g the time for a company meeting when you are unlikely to be selling bathrooms .

The only annoying thing is the expectation that you will travel so far . They should pay your train or bus ticket with taxis .

YABU to think you shouldn’t work though and be paid for extra holiday.