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.

OP ~ you're having a hard time here & understandably so. Please have a look at the title of your thread

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

If you had started a thread for DM's who are missing out on spending time with loved ones due to work commitments you would have got a more positive, empathic response I think

But saying lazy people are spoiling your Christmas is naturally going to rile people who have made the choice to dine out for all manner of reasons, totally unrelated to laziness

Well the employer is breaking the law if that's the case and the sooner he gets another job the better

YABU it’s part and parcel of being a chef my DH is a chef and he’s working today so we won’t be having our Christmas dinner until he gets home. I worked Christmas Day every year for god knows how many years. You seem to have this attitude of it’s ok for other people to work Christmas Day just not your DS because that has an affect on you.

Your sons still at school
so is presumably working out of choice rather than necessity. Therefore your issue is with your son.

@SheinIsShite I'm an emergency service worker and have worked Xmas Day, Boxing Day, NYE or NYD frequently (but not every year) for nearly 20 years.

So I can say with hand on my heart that I don't object to people who want to eat out on Christmas day!

If your son works at a place that's open, then that's not the patrons' fault that he has to work.
It's pretty unfair of you to blame some people who don't want to, or aren't able to, cook a meal themselves.

It's not their fault your 'Christmas is spoiled' and as someone who has missed Christmas day with my children, I'd not blame them.
He chose the job.

(I don't even blame ppl that I am required on Xmas day. Some people are very ill, poorly, sad, angry, addicted, or just make bad mistakes. No one would choose the lives these people live, I mainly feel sad for them and grateful for my own life.)

Oh stop with the woe is me Op.
My DH went to work at 7am this morning. He’s making sure that all the electricity to run your ovens, tv’s etc goes round the country. I don’t moan about people having to use electricity.
We just work around his shift and go with the flow.
Stop moaning and just enjoy the day

I personally have never gone out to a restaurant for Christmas dinner. I'd feel bad for the staff...

I get wishing your whole family could be together, but honestly, how lucky for your son. His first job and he's picking up lots of extra shifts. Hopefully he's stashing the money away and saving it for driving lessons, a car, extra costs at uni or a house deposit. How lucky for him that so many people do prefer to go out for lunch.

We are having Christmas at home, but I totally understand why many want to go out and let someone else take care of it all.

Give them a big tip if you feel bad. It won't help the staff if the restaurant closes.

My son’s also working this (and last and no doubt next) Christmas in a pub kitchen. My nurse mother had to work every other Christmas and my doctor partner similarly, as do all emergency service employees. It goes with the jobs.

Why didn't you give your son the money he would have been paid so he didn't have to work on Christmas day?

I'm more concerned about the breaches to the law than people buying a service which is being offered. Quite shocked how many people think that ignoring child labour laws is a good thing.

Why? Do you feel bad for everyone who works on Christmas Day?

I'm sure there will be plenty of months where he's only working his minimum hours so I imagine he's grateful for the extra hours and money. I would be proud of him if at 16 he's got that work ethic in him.
DS17 got home from work at 3:15am. Okay, so he's not working today, but we knew he was working late and adjusted today accordingly for him so he is still included in all the festivities. He loves his job and takes any shift he can.

Yes, I didn't realise that the son was underage. Was assuming that 'school' was being used in the American sense to refer to uni or college.

Hospitality is mainly customer demand driven, the reason there's no finish times is because people don't want to leave until they want to leave.
Wonder how happy many of the posters saying that there should be absolute finish times would abruptly change their tune were they to be ushered out of somewhere when they've paid for a meal/drinks because the staff are going home.

Can't have it all ways, a service we demand but then no one being expected to deliver it because it's not fair. Though as a pp said, it's always seemingly ok for someone else to do it, to be told it's just part of the job and service, just as long as the complainant isn't affected.

I worked a 12 hour shift yesterday, another today is likely because it depends on what time the guests want to depart, not what time I want to go home. That's hospitality, because that's what's demanded by the people who use it.

This!!!

NOTHING about Christmas is essential so I'm failing to see why you're just zooming in on one aspect!

Presumably you’d be ok with someone else’s DS working Christmas Day though?

Even if they don’t fall into categories you deem acceptable for eating out doesn’t mean they’re too lazy to cook. It just means they want to eat out. Is everyone who eats out always lazy then?

As a teenager I waitressed in a hotel over Christmas and it was such a great shift. Double pay, everyone was jolly, good tips. I loved it. By that age you’re too old for toys and generally not acquired a taste for food beyond fuel and I couldn’t drink with my parents so Christmas Day was just being stuck at home watching crap telly. Your issue is with your son and your expectations. He’s choosing to work.

It doesn't matter if they are. You don't need to justify choosing to have Christmas dinner out if you want to!

My 17 year old is working in a restaurant today…im about to give him a lift. He has a great work ethic and will earn double pay today and get good tips… i am proud of him.

If an employer is behaving in a way that's contrary to the law, eg, in respect of the hours worked by a minor, that should be addressed, regardless of the time of year Christmas doesn't override the law of the land. Such behaviour wouldn't be more or less questionable or unethical in the middle of June.

That said, these are issues for the employer, not the customers. I regularly look at online menus and the price of Christmas lunch out is enough to make me hyperventilate! However, I'm disabled, so if my DH wasn't so handy in the kitchen and we wanted an elaborate meal on Christmas Day, we'd put the money aside and book, along with anyone else whose circumstances, cooking skills and state of mind don't make the kitchen a good place for them. We wouldn't be on our own and it's not something I'd feel guilty about.

Why on earth would you assume that none of the staff want to be there?

I think we should take the OPs assertion that her son doesn't with a pinch of salt. There are plenty of 16 year olds who would be pleased with the excuse "the boss is forcing me" to give their clinging mother to get out of the obligation of the family Christmas lunch.