Probably - but people too lazy to cook their own christmas dinner are spoiling mine

[SheinIsShite]

My youngest DS is 16 and works in a pub kitchen. Dish washing, food prep, plating starters/dessert. He is contracted to do 8 hours a week which is usually OK. Obviously this time of year is busy and because he is not at school he has more shifts.

School finished on Friday, he worked Friday evening. And Saturday, and Sunday. Did an extra shift on Monday afternoon as they were short. Yesterday was rostered 11-6 but got home at 22.50 as they were so busy and needed to prep for the 700 covers they have booked today between 12 and 4.30pm. He starts again at 10am this morning, and although they have said he'll be done by 6.30 I don't believe that so he will more than likely miss our family meal.

So all of you paying £85 a head for Christmas lunch in a very standard chain pub, thanks for that.

Totally appreciate that some people have to work and we are all grateful to the police, fire, midwives etc. But going out for your Chrtistmas lunch is not essential.

But why shouldn't this pub owner open if it's going to be a lucrative day for him? He isn't running a business to create a perfect job for your DS. He's running a business to make a profit.

I do get what you are saying, it is rubbish but it's working on hospitality. My FIL was a chef and titled every Xmas for 30 years, when he started in hospitality they weren't open Xmas days. It's tough but it's not lazy to go out for Xmas lunch, if therec wasn't the market for it, they wouldn't open. What annoyed my FIL was the people who would book a large table for 2 (the last sitting) then turn up at 3.30 and complain they are been rushed because the restaurant closed at 5 and the staff wanted to go home.

It's grim to imply people are lazy.

Many people struggle to cook due to disability.

Others may be escaping the house due to bad memories or wanting to be around others because they are lonely

Others still may just enjoy getting out of the house or find it easier to meet family in the middle if they live far apart

Plus as a teen/student I loved working at Christmas as I could earn heaps of money and it was busy.

My mum worked at Christmas often (a nurse) and rather than seeing that as Christmas "ruined" we just made new traditions like laying a beautiful Christmas table and getting a feast ready for her when she was back

I worked in hospitality as a teen - from 15 onwards.

To be honest, working Christmas never bothered me (but my parents had jobs where working Christmas was normal- police/nurse).

We actually used to have quite a lot of fun despite the busy times. People tend to tip well too.

Can you eat later? My experience is that Christmas day finish was usually fairly reliable as we would do what was necessary and leave the rest for the next day.

And that's the third person who has nothing to contribute apart from insults.

Merry Christmas to you too.

No, not lazy, just wealthy 😂

I'm sure it's been said many times on this thread, but honestly this is just so silly of OP.

The pub doesn't have to offer Xmas lunch - but they chose to do so.

OP's son doesn't have to be working at a pub - but he chose to do so.

OP's son doesn't have to be working at all at the age of 16, unless there's some massive backstory of terrible family poverty and his parents can't afford to give him the necessities of life (even with the help of benefits). In which case OP should probably be concentrating on that issue.

I'm sure he will be glad of the money. I know I was when I used to work at PC World with a 5am start Boxing Day.

If there’s not much choice of employment where you are I’m assuming you’re rural? If you lived in a town/city there would be more shop work, supermarkets, barista work, McDonalds, etc which would all be shut on Xmas day.

was the same for Dd as we live rurally, she worked at a boarding kennels which is always booked full at Xmas. All those selfish people putting their dogs in kennels at Xmas 😆

ultimately I think having that part time job did her the world of good for getting her first job after her degree. When there were hundreds of applicants chasing every position in her sector she did well getting a job and I think having an employment history which demonstrates a good work ethic, dealing with members of the public, team work, etc will help with that. And will be worth the odd missed Xmas dinner.

My child works in a nice hotel and I'm sad she works every Xmas day but the people staying there are mainly those without family and they make sure it's a great day for all. I'm very proud of her efforts and work ethic and we just make sure when she is about we make the most of her when we have her

There’s down sides to every job and this is the hospitality one.

Two out of three of my teens are working in a restaurant today, and when they accepted the job they were told this is busiest day behind Mother’s Day, so don’t accept the role if they don’t want to work it, it’s hard for a 16 year old to get a job in the first place, they’re lucky to have the jobs!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Be quiet.

Your son chose to do that as a job.

Oh op, just be proud you have a ds with a good work ethic and if he's late in just plate it up and warm up later.

Not the end of the world, I think your attitude may spoil the day rather than him washing pots at the pub.

I think it's lovely to eat out on Christmas Day, we might next year.

For goodness sake he's 16 with no responsibilities working in hospitality. There are mothers of 1 yr olds working in emergency surgery today. There are single mums working waitressing jobs to keep body and soul together. He's 16 working for pocket money.

A tricky one because if he had turned down the shifts they would have found someone to fill in because so many are looking for jobs regardless of the location and he wouldn’t have had a job to go back to.
If you had wanted him to be home at this time of year then he would have needed to hand his notice before the Christmas bookings started and looked for something after Christmas, risking not being able to find anything and you having to give him an allowance if it was affordable for you to do so.
Im assuming he needs to have a part time job to fund some of his spends otherwise you would have told him to say no to part of the shifts and risk the job.
People aren’t selfish for using a service that is offered/encouraged and many places rely on being busy at Christmas to see them through Jan/Feb.
If I had been in your shoes I would have asked my child what they wanted to do… If they weren’t bothered about the family meal and wanted to do the shifts then I’d tell them to do take whatever shifts they wanted.
If my child wanted to not work for some of the key parts of Christmas I would have told them to turn down the shifts they didn’t want as only contracted the 8 hours and if they lost their job it wouldn’t be the end of the world at 16.
I would have said that if they worked Christmas Eve then to turn down the Christmas Day one and then work Boxing Day or similar.

I'm more annoyed at those who drink and drive and cause accidents rather than those daring to pay an arm and a leg at the local Toby Carvery. 85 quid for a carvery, really?

I'm sorry your son ( or you ) are feeling he's being put upon but hospitality expects that Christmas will be long hours but they do it because it is the most prosperous time of the year for them .
Surely he knew what he was taking on and is being paid for those extra hours .

Have you ever left your home after 7 pm and gone out ? How dare you !

Now now OP
Maybe, just maybe, given your attitude, he might actually prefer to be at work and not in the company of an over bearing Mother

Yep. He probably requested to work

This!!!! 🤣

Assuming he wants this job?
I think he should be encouraged and congratulated for this attitude at 16

it’s disappointing that it’s impacting on your Christmas dinner and family time but I’m sure this is setting him up to work hard you’ll be thankful of that in the future. Hope you can enjoy the day otherwise

I know - it's ridiculously expensive for what you get. They have been doing a festive menu through December which is basically the same as their Christmas Day menu which is £35 for three courses. On Christmas Day the same menu is £81.95 (drinks extra). Yes the staff are all on double time but it's very poor value for money IMHO - for a family of 4 you are spending probably £350 as a bare minimum. Imagine all the delicious food you could get from Waitrose or M&S if you don't want to prep from scratch!!

Still, there must be a market for it. On the covers thing - DS said 200 tables so probably 700 covers, but he has been known to get the wrong end of the stick so he probably means 200 people/covers.

You've got no idea of people's personal circumstances. You cannot possibly say they are lazy. Your son chose a job in hospitality. Stop complaining, it is great experience for him.

Would you prefer him to be unemployed @SheinIsShite?

100% agree! Good for him. Hope they pay him well.