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 !

@Stretchanoctave yeah it's such a treat having to drive 6 hours for a few sausage rolls

@RoseQuail 15 min drive to the shop
The shops been open nearly a year

What is blackeye friday?

I have never heard that used..is that some kind of roadman talk?

Well, it's work, isn't it? It's not designed for your convenience.

"Mad friday" here too.

I agree that 23rd Dec is just a normal working day. However, are you cross that it's being used solely for a mandatory long distance Christmas social rather than actually working in the shop? Would you rather they'd made the Christmas party optional and you could've chosen not to go and finished work on Thursday 22nd instead which is when actual retail activity in the shop will cease?

Edited to add - If you are, I can understand why but I think you have to suck it up as a team building activity, as PP have suggested. I assume you are getting reimbursed for travel?

We had to work until 8pm Christmas Eve (if that fell on 'our late shift') and annual leave was booked months in advance. It's a part of adulting that hits hard when you leave school.

It's not just sausage rolls, it's a teambuilding session, isn't it? These things are often mandatory but I agree you should get overtime pay.

We work in a shop
Nowhere in our contract does it mention any travelling
I wouldn't care if the shop is open
The 6 hour drive is the issue

Are travel expenses being paid and over time for your extra hours?

I actually don’t think it’s reasonable for them to expect you to do a six hour round trip which means you won’t get home until midnight. Presumably those aren’t your usual hours? Are you being paid for the overtime? What about your petrol / train tickets etc?

So take the day off and lose a day's pay or see if they will let you book it as holiday, otherwise it is a normal working day.

Sounds like a proctologist may be able to help

@RoseQuail we were told we were closed from Friday 20th December as that's when the traders break up
So they have changed to justify this Manchester trip as "work "

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

Standard employment contracts have a clause re 'any other duties'. So whilst it may not be explicitly stated, it is covered.

YABU. Christmas Eve is a working day too. Unless it’s at the weekend or you’re a school child.

Why wouldn't they get home till midnight?

The shop being closed doesn’t automatically mean a day’s holiday, unless your bosses give it to you as a day’s holiday. In this case they haven’t, so you have the choice as to whether or not to take a day’s leave or join the Xmas meeting

Do you have the 20th closure in writing? If your contract says based in the shop only, then you have a point. If it just says work for the business etc, then you probably don't.

I run a business. We're shutting lunchtime on the 24th, which is quite normal tbh.

Tell them you haven't got access to a car and see what they say?

But in general, I think you are being unreasonable in not expecting to work up until 5pm on Christmas Eve.