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 !

Nothing in her contract requires her to work three hours away, particularly without being compensated for her travel time and expenses.

Why is the thread title what it is if the OP doesn't have a problem with working the day before Christmas eve?

Your employer is a thoughtless arsehole OP. It isn't remotely reasonable to expect you to travel three hours there for a 9am start and be there until 6pm and then travel 3 hours back without any reimbursement for travel expenses or for having to do business travel outside of work time. The travel costs will likely be a significant chunk of your daily pay. Travel on 23rd December is likely to be extremely busy owing to people getting away for Christmas and travelling to family etc. What on earth are you all supposed to be doing there all day for 9 hours ..how long does it take for some corporate fat cat to do a speech about bathroom tiles profits and dole out some mince pies....what an absolute waste of your time. Don't go and then spend the day brushing up your CV and start job hunting...

Something very wrong with you!

Unfortunately the OP didn't phrase it properly, which has muddied the waters for those who just reply to the first post. If she'd phrased it something like: "AIBU to not want to have to travel on the day before Christmas Eve for 6 hours, unpaid, for a full working day in an office over 300 miles away when I work in a local shop and had been told I'd have that day off", she might have had a better response.

But it involves six hours of unpaid travel. Not exactly a normal working day and incredibly unreasonable.

Honestly, it's depressing how many on this thread sound like either bad managers or people who've drunk the Kool-Aid in terms of what a workplace can and can't reasonably expect. Or both.

I'd take the option of losing a days pay!

If it's a normal working day for you, then I don't see how you can refuse to go! The 23rd December is a normal working day, as is the 24th. It's down to the discretion of the company how early they close and when. Yes, some companies will shut on the 20th and not reopen until January, this is common within the building and construction industry. However, if a person is self-employed, then it's not unreasonable for them to want the services of a bathroom shop on or before the 24th December. I used to have to work up until the 24th December, in an office based role, and we might be allowed to leave at 3 pm on that day. We would be expected to work between 27th December - 31st December too.

Whilst I wouldn't subject my staff to that I wouldn't have more than a grumble if a boss said that to me.

You haven't RTFT have you?

FFS! RTFT! Why are people still coming on saying the same thing 🙈

I don't think it's unreasonable you even might enjoy it and you will get paid and it will give you an opportunity to meet everyone outside work.I would go if I was you.

This.

This thread is eye opening because it shows how these unreasonable employers get away with this shit.

Too many people willing to act like serfs who should be grateful to have any kind of job and not willing to stand up and say, "That's not in my contract so unless you're going to properly remunerate me for that I won't be doing it."

You work the hours you are contracted to. I'll be finishing at 5pm on 24th, no travelling to relatives for me unless they fancy me arriving at 3am on 25th Dec, probably around the same time as Santa.

You don't think it's unreasonable for the OP to have to be at a venue 3 hours away at 9 am, that involves a six hour round trip and 370 miles at her own expense, the day before Christmas Eve? You'd do that happily would you? Don't be ridiculous.

In many places the Friday before Christmas when businesses close was always known as Black Friday. Before it became a sales term for retail.
OP that's super annoying but if it's a normal working day I guess there isn't much you can do. I personally if I could afford to would take the holiday.

I would decline to attend. Tell them I can't get there, certainly won't pay for the privilege of getting there, and you'll take it as a personal day.

Sounds like a company you don't want to stick with long term if that's how they treat their employees, anyway.

Any chance you're in a union? Can contact cab?

You're saying the same thing too....Rtft!!!! Lots of us actually have and have shown no signs of not doing (knowing what OP has said more accurately than those bemoaning the people who won't give up hours to rtfl), and are sick of being told we must. We still think being asked to travel once (obviously outside core working hours) isn't the end of the world.

God help you if you ever have to live through something really difficult.

Many people have to work all day on Xmas Eve. My DS is a class 1 lorry driver. How would you like delivery drivers not to work on Xmas Eve? YABVU.

Think it's a nice gesture from the Boss to lay this on for the staff. Its just one day. I understand the not getting paid bit but not the progression within the company. People seem to have too much time off at Christmas it is just one day. If it was the 24th think I would be a bit unhappy but it is the day before. Remember when all you has was Christmas day and Boxing Day the bank holidays 2 days.

What are your thoughts about the fact that the employer isn't covering travel expenses?

OP didn't say she thought it was difficult, she said it was ridiculous. Plenty on here agree.

My thoughts are that it's our own responsibility to pay commuting costs.

Will you put your hand in your pocket to contribute to the OP's petrol costs then?