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 !

I presume you picked a job knowing you'd have to work over Xmas?

Op was told they close from the 20th. Also petrol isn't paid for and she would travelling 6 hours in her own time to do the 9-6 day in Manchester. You couldn't pay me to go over the M62 for a work jolly so close to Xmas so even if it was all paid for I still wouldn't go.

I finish work at 6pm on Christmas Eve. There’s always someone who’s got it worse off. Be thankful you’ve got time off, there’s people who don’t.

If it's within your normal working hours, you don't have a leg to stand on I'm afraid. Many of us will certainly be working on 23rd and loads will work 24th - 26th as well. Use a day's leave if you feel so strongly that you don't want to be there. Otherwise you'll just have to get on with it.

@GUARDIAN1 it's not though. I would totally agree with you if it was but OP is being expected to put in 6 hours longer than a normal working day and fund about £60 of travel expenses from her own pocket for this

No need to be rude! I have travelled plenty thanks both throughout the UK and around the
world. It’s not a phrase I’ve come across, and others have said exactly the same!

It's a work day. So you go to work or you won't get paid.

Seems about right.

You aren't at school and don't break up from term, and even if you did, it would be on the day stipulated, not whenever you liked.

Omg have you actually RTFT?

A lot on here either haven't, or have read very selectively.

But her usual work day consists of starting work at 9.00am with a 15 minute (unpaid) journey to work, finishing work at 6.00pm with a 15 minute (unpaid) journey home. The company is requiring her to travel (unpaid) for around 3 hours, depending on the route she takes before arriving to start work at 9.00 am, spend the day in Manchester till 6.00pm and then travel (unpaid) goodness knows how long to get home from Manchester on the day before Christmas Eve. Not only is she not getting paid for the 6 hours travel time it may well take her in those circumstances, but also, she will be out of pocket by around £60.00 (probably more as she can't get a cheap ticket because she'll have to leave at some unearthly hour of the morning) for travel she doesn't want to have to undertake. The OP is quite happy to go to work in her normal place of work, but not to be forced to take a day's holiday or unpaid leave in order to waste time at a ridiculous company meeting called by a thoughtless CEO in a place miles away from the OP's home. It might be better if the company were paying travel expenses and a hotel in Manchester for one or two nights, but other than that, why should she and her colleagues from all over the country have to suffer for one person's vanity jolly?

It doesn't matter where the OP lives. If they've asked a number of people to meet at a particular location, it's very likely to be covered by a contract that states you work on other locations as required.

Mine definitely says that and I've so far never had to go anywhere else, as I'm timetabled to be in my room all day every day but five a year, but if asked to meet somewhere else, we'd all be absolutely expected to do it.

What's the plan in case of snow? Has your company thought of that? Seem to remember it snowed a lot when I lived in Newcastle

It's outrageous they aren't paying travel expenses. So with that, the time of year (ie busy roads and dark); I'd take annual leave but would begrudge doing so. I mean you might even not get A/L approved now, so be prepared to ring in sick.
Ridiculous employer imo.
They should pay travel and schedule it for a better time of year. Also, for those of you travelling a long way, give you a couple of hours TOIL as you'll go over your contracted hours with the extra travel.

Its not covered by her contract as she has already stated Thats just wishful thinking on your part so you can stick the boot in.

And i shall say it again If the OP was in a high flying career this thread would be full of comments about how dare they and what about her kids etc etc despite the fact that a high flying career pays more money and in that situation you could suck up the cost of the trip.

The pure snobbery on this thread is astounding and demonstrates what some people think of retail workers

If it was an unsafe discharge, particularly if death was due to unsafe discharge, it should have been reported to the safeguarding community team for investigation against the hospital and to the coroner, who would have established the cause if death. I’m really sorry to hear you’ve lost your dad. X

Nope, she said it doesn't mention 'travelling', which it won't. How you get to work or how long it takes you each way isn't your employer's concern.

The location of work can still be stipulated.

It’s unreasonable to expect you to do this driving, as it means a 5am to 9pm day, and wouldn’t be deemed to be safe in most businesses. I would raise this and say you can only do it if they pay for a train.

But OP was told that they would finish on Friday. Now the rules are being changed, and it seems really unfair to expect staff to make a 3 hour trip. However, either it’s work( is it an office you’re usually based in?) in which case do it in work hours, or just say you can’t get into Manchester ( trains will e fully booked rammed full and driving isn’t an option due to xx. )but you’ll work from home or from your usual office .
Or take it as leave, but point out the late change of plan has caused stress and logistical problems .

You must have very poor working conditions if that's what you think.

No need to be rude! I have travelled plenty thanks both throughout the UK and around the
world. It’s not a phrase I’ve come across, and others have said exactly the same!

It had been explained many, many times by the time you posted. Many.

I answered the OP and someone who queried the term. I don’t know who you think you are, but there’s no dam rule that demands that every comment is read and I’m not about to field
20+ pages! Regardless, just because you might know the term, others don’t. There’s no need to be rude and question people’s ability to read or learn through travel. I’m sure there’s loads of terms I know that you may not, but I wouldn’t dream of being so superior. This thread isn’t even about that!

Oh, so working from home (more convenient) would be fine and employers should facilitate, but working from a less convenient location is out of the question on one occasion when it's central for all involved.

@Hellisemptyallthdevilsarehere If you'd RTFT you'd know it's not "working", it's a jolly.

Honestly this thread has been a joke for the OP. Nobody reads, loads come on and say the same thing and also don't read.

For clarity :

OP was told finish was Friday 20th.
She was then told she had to attend an "event" at her own expense that required a six hour round trip (300 odd miles).
She had to be there at 9 am, requiring her to leave to travel at 6 am on one of the busiest days of the year.

She was told if she didn't attend she'd lose a day's pay.
SHE IS NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT WORKING ON THE 23rd.

If the 23rd was a normal working day for the business she'd be there. BUT IT'S NOT.

OP, again, tell them to fuck off. I'd also be looking for a new job as they have shit management and are completely unreasonable.

@TheFormidableMrsC I have read what she's said and she's been disparaging about the purpose and implied the presentation won't be worth her paying any attention to, but it's still a working day, for all employees of the company where she works, to attend to engage what the employer wants them to focus on. It's fine if OP, or PP think it'll be a bit of a doss, or boring, non essential to the day to day running of the shop, but whatever. It's paid, it's directed. Either book the day off or get yourself there as expected. It's literally a one off.

I have a long career behind me in professional services. I cannot and never have experienced a situation like this. The only way it would be reasonable is if travel expenses were paid or hotel accommodation was laid on. The expectation is utterly unreasonable and if you'd be happy to drive for six hours, some 370 miles the day before Christmas Eve, then good on you. However, I cannot think of a single scenario in any job I have had where an employer would do this. Yes she should book leave because I can guarantee her management won't be doing this. They'll be put up "on expenses".

I wouldn’t dream of being so superior.

No, you weren't dreaming of it. You were doing it.

It's paid?

The day involves six hours of unpaid travel time and significant expenses which aren't reimbursed and probably exceed her earnings for the day.