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Original poster

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

717 replies

SheinIsShite · 25/12/2025 09:15

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 posts:
Worndownbyit · 26/12/2025 20:06

So what would your DS do to earn money if not for all the lazy so-and-so's going out to eat? It's ridiculous you complaining when he's there of his own free will!

FunMustard · 26/12/2025 20:10

Maybe your beef should be with the pub that not only opened on Christmas day, but had 700 groups booked in.

Businesses control when they are open. If they're not open then those lazy buggers would just have to cook wouldn't they!

SereneRaven · 26/12/2025 20:12

SheinIsShite · 25/12/2025 09:15

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.

I completely understand your frustration. It seems so unfair doesn't it? You're young teenage son just wants to work a handful of hours for some pocket money and job experience, he thinks he might be getting about 10 hours a week and he ends up working exceptionally long days and night shifts during the holidays, when you would prefer him to be home enjoying family time. Such is the life of those of us who live and work the hospitality game. A lot of us out there, and yeah, not necessarily by choice (sometimes there is no other job option) We give up our evenings, weekends, and holidays, so that we can make the evenings, weekends and holidays of our paid customers that much better....
It's not always as easy to say "Well then don't work in the hospitality field then"... Because depending on where you live, your transportation options, your experience and skills etc, sometimes there aren't a lot of choices for young workers.

The good news is, if your son is anything like I was at that age doing the same thing, he will be making pretty good money, better than 8 hours a week anyway, and he will appreciate his time off all the more. At least I did. When I had endless time off from school and work, the hours just faded away easily and lazily. When I had very few hours off, I really appreciated the time that I had for the little things like having a family meal or playing a game with the family or going for a walk with the family, hopefully, you can enjoy some other times with your son and he with you and your family over the less busy days of this holiday season.

I know it feels unfair, but that's life. Think of all the people who work in essential services, all the doctors and nurses, all the taxi drivers, all the firefighters and security guards and phone operators... True they get paid a lot better to be an essential service, but then think of all the pizza delivery drivers, all the cooks, all the dishwashers, all the chamber maids, all the night clerks, all the bus boys... They all work so that other people can enjoy their time off. Hospitality and tourism is not the easiest thing to work in, but know that he is giving other people and enjoyable evening. There is a simple pleasure in that knowledge that you could contributed something nice to somebody else's day

Sarahw33 · 26/12/2025 20:12

I worked Xmas day in a pub at 16 and it was great fun with good tips. I also like to go out with the family on Xmas day like we did yesterday. 27 of us. I don’t wish to spend my entire day tied to the kitchen getting all flustered cooking then cleaning up. And yes it’s overpriced. However I’m well aware we are paying for luxury of having people to the heavy work for us not necessarily the food. You should carry on as normal and he can heat his when he gets in. I would never have expected my family to wait on me.

Holdonforsummer · 26/12/2025 20:13

So as a midwife, I’m not allowed to go out for lunch on Christmas Day the odd year I am not working in the hospital?

JoeTheDrummer · 26/12/2025 20:13

My DH is a hospital doctor & works Christmas Day every 5 years. We just shift it to another day and celebrate then. Our kids understand, it really doesn’t matter what day it is. I’m sure you and your other DC could have found another day to have had the Christmas meal with your son, even if it was the 15th Dec or 8th Jan or whatever.

Lovetoplan2 · 26/12/2025 20:14

Oh fgs you want him to have a job or not?! Plenty of yp would be happy to have the work.

SereneRaven · 26/12/2025 20:17

SheinIsShite · 25/12/2025 09:49

There are not a lot of part time jobs around here for 16 year olds with no work experience.

The good thing about how he is spending his Christmas holiday now, is not only is he making a lot better money than he would be if he was only getting the 8 hours a week he thought he would be getting, but also he is gaining that experience that he didn't previously have.

If I were a potential employer, hearing that this young man with limited experience has worked all those hours over a busy Christmas season would show me that he is reliable and dependable and hardworking and adaptable.

Sarahw33 · 26/12/2025 20:17

Also why does going out for Xmas make you lazy? You could say that for every meal out celebrating then couldn’t you?

Pessismistic · 26/12/2025 20:17

Holdonforsummer · 26/12/2025 20:13

So as a midwife, I’m not allowed to go out for lunch on Christmas Day the odd year I am not working in the hospital?

According to the op everyone is selfish going to a pub for Christmas Day of course she’s delusional I’m glad you got Christmas off and I hope you enjoyed you dinner out. The op is off her head.

oldmoaner · 26/12/2025 20:27

Well if he didn't want to work over Christmas and other holidays he needs to get a job that isn't in hospitality, police, fire, hospital, caring, prisons, etc etc or his mother needs to leave him to it if he wants to earn money.

BauhausOfEliott · 26/12/2025 20:31

If your son gets laid off because people don’t use their local pubs - which is a very real possibility - you’ll be moaning at people for being too stingy to eat out and putting your precious baby out of a Saturday job.

Do you seriously not understand that the money pubs and restaurants make at Christmas keeps them afloat in January and February? My ex partner ran a pub and if he hadn’t made enough money at Christmas, he would have had to cut staff hours or get rid of his kitchen porter altogether in January. People who eat out on Christmas Day help to keep pubs and restaurants in business. And no, it isn’t fucking lazy to use a business for the purpose it’s designed for. The people eating in that pub are lining your son’s pockets and you’ve got the fucking nerve to have a go at them?

Your child is a school kid working for pocket money. He doesn’t have to do any job at all. He isn’t supporting a family or paying rent. He’s a child with a Saturday job. He could say no to hours and look for something else any time he wanted.

Fucking hilarious that you’re getting annoyed with people being rude to you when you’ve just posted a massive insulting rant at anyone who dares to have Christmas dinner at the pub. Grow up.

Grammarnut · 26/12/2025 21:17

Actually I agree with you. Cook your own.

Arraminta · 26/12/2025 21:26

This thread truly shows that some people have zero understanding of how the economy works.

Ellemaggie · 26/12/2025 21:34

Well, it's tough really, isn't it? If he wants an expensive trip and this is the most convenient job for him, then that's what he's got to do. This is what adult life is in many respects - weighing up options and finding that there's probably no ideal one, but you prioritise what you want most. It likely will only be a few years before he has other options and can hopefully move into a job that doesn't take up all of Christmas.

BlahBlah2025 · 26/12/2025 21:40

The world owes you nothing OP. Nothing.

Not sure where your sense of entitlement came from? The world and the pub and the workers at the pub and the clients of the pub do not revolve around your DS's needs.

Your DS CHOSE to work. At any point he could have walked out and not gone in today.

He had choices. And he chose to work. Not sure why you are complaining? No one put a gun to his head and say you must work today or you'll die.

No, they said you'll get double time. Nice. And he worked longer hours so he'll be paid more.

If he wasn't working, someone else would take the job. It shows there's market demand for this sort of job. There is market demand for all sorts of casual work. People come, people go... would you rather that this wasn't the case? Because in that case, there'd be no job at all for your DS. That's what it's like in France but anyway... never mind, you really don't understand how business and the economy run...

If you disagree with his hours, that's your problem, not the pub's problem or the people paying to eat there.

And by your argument he's selfish, because he's taking a job from an 18 year old when he shouldn't be working the hours he's working aged 16. An 18 year old who is out of work needs it more than him.... He's selfish because what about the people that will be servicing him in his expensive hotel, when he's paying for a bit of luxury? Should they all not be working long hours? Why is his expensive trip not selfish to workers but Christmas out for other people is?

You have no idea OP. No idea at all how the world works.

Grapewrath · 26/12/2025 21:42

All my teens work in hospitality- we have dinner at 7 and it’s absolutely lovely. I’m grateful they have jobs that pay regularly and tip well
This is the most insane post ever.

Goldwren1923 · 26/12/2025 21:56

Be grateful he has a job because of all these people eating out

such a lazy attitude!!!

omggggggg · 26/12/2025 21:58

OP having a hissy fit because her ds would rather work than spend Christmas at home.

Yourlifeinyourhands · 26/12/2025 22:22

No one made him work there. Ridiculous post!

Femalemachinest · 26/12/2025 22:28

Isnt it crazy how the responses on this are the total opposite to the tread on shops being open today. What's the difference? Why are people ok with hospitality being open but not retail?

OneFunnyPearlTurtle · 26/12/2025 22:39

Maybe he’s looking forward to working on Christmas Day so that he doesn’t have to be somewhere where his enjoyment levels and participation could be micromanaged. Good on him for his work ethic

lelosalamanca · 26/12/2025 22:41

BlahBlah2025 · 26/12/2025 21:40

The world owes you nothing OP. Nothing.

Not sure where your sense of entitlement came from? The world and the pub and the workers at the pub and the clients of the pub do not revolve around your DS's needs.

Your DS CHOSE to work. At any point he could have walked out and not gone in today.

He had choices. And he chose to work. Not sure why you are complaining? No one put a gun to his head and say you must work today or you'll die.

No, they said you'll get double time. Nice. And he worked longer hours so he'll be paid more.

If he wasn't working, someone else would take the job. It shows there's market demand for this sort of job. There is market demand for all sorts of casual work. People come, people go... would you rather that this wasn't the case? Because in that case, there'd be no job at all for your DS. That's what it's like in France but anyway... never mind, you really don't understand how business and the economy run...

If you disagree with his hours, that's your problem, not the pub's problem or the people paying to eat there.

And by your argument he's selfish, because he's taking a job from an 18 year old when he shouldn't be working the hours he's working aged 16. An 18 year old who is out of work needs it more than him.... He's selfish because what about the people that will be servicing him in his expensive hotel, when he's paying for a bit of luxury? Should they all not be working long hours? Why is his expensive trip not selfish to workers but Christmas out for other people is?

You have no idea OP. No idea at all how the world works.

👏 well said

I am presuming the OP won't think her son is selfish when he's on his expensive trip and the staff in his hotel are having to work nights, bank holidays or weekends to serve him and accommodate him- funny how that works eh? its only other people that are "selfish".

GeeWhisikers · 26/12/2025 22:50

Everything that needs to be said has already been said. The stupidest post of the year, by some way. Ridiculous. Can’t possibly be real.

OrangeITellYou · 26/12/2025 23:01

If you live somewhere with a cheap food place that has 200 tables then where you move is big enough to have other options for work??