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.

I agree with you OP. I'm amazed that shop staff should, apparently be entitled to Christmas Day off because "they're so busy and should be spending time with their families", yet those in hospitality are told "well you chose the job, so suck it up".

So if you had 6 months knowing this, why the temper tantrum now?

OP you might want to teach your child about employment laws and boundaries. Though I'm my experience teenagers are often happy just to have the chance to earn some extra cash.

Would you prefer it if everyone stayed away from the pub and they were let go because there wasn't enough work?

Why?

This busy period is potentially keeping the pub open during a tricky time for hospitality. Which in turn will keep his colleagues, many of which will have families to support and bills to pay, in employment.
Well done your son on his work ethic.

Good grief how awful for your son being forced to work unpaid for all of those lazy, work shy sprout peeling avoiding bastards. I’d be calling the police as this sounds like modern slavery. If only he had agency over his own choices…oh wait…

You’ll be such good company today with all the anger and bitterness oozing out of you. You can’t change it, you now have a choice sulk or make the best of it and have another lovely dinner with your ds when he’s not working and make the day special for him.

OP you're being uber crazy.

I agree. He does not have to work there. If you knew he was going to.busy why not do a Christmas dinner on a different date so he can attend?

If he CHOOSES to do over his 8 hour contract that's up to him isn't it. Nothing do with anyone else.

Wow, read between the lines. Maybe they’ve had a bereavement?

also, maybe they are sensible enough to go somewhere which doesn’t serve shit food. 🤷‍♀️

I cook a decent roast but I’m perfectly happy with the roast dinners at some local establishments, others not so much. So i only go to the decent ones.

It’s the same with people needing the police on Christmas Eve, why can’t they all behave themselves. My bil is a police officer and was working nights last night so he missed Christmas Eve with his kids, how we all didn’t realise he would be working unsociable hours when he joined I have no idea 🙄 Bloody members of the public needing the police are a joke.

Bloody hell op. THAT’s quite the take! I’ve worked. Christmas Day before! It’s a pub not the gulag. Get a grip!

This is one of the most mental things I’ve ever read on here!

Well there are plenty open here. I'm going out for a curry with a friend and her family. £37.50 for the set menu - very reasonable I think.

The pub will be bringing in a huge amount of money this week, which will get them through leaner times in January. Otherwise you’d be on here whinging about your son being let go from his job in a month!

Christmas changes quickly at that age, over the next few years he could be working, travelling, with a partner’s family….best to enjoy spending Christmassy time together rather than specifically Christmas Day.

Our teens have worked on Christmas Day over the years, we just adjusted timings accordingly for the dinner and carried on as normal with the rest of the festivities.

And OP, are you saying you’ve never once in your life gone out for a meal or a drink on an occasion that can be celebrated at home - new year, Easter, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day etc - do you also think that’s lazy too and the staff serving you are hard done by?!

Well police are kind of essential services. As are nurses, fire fighters, air traffic controllers.

Nobody needs to go out for christmas lunch to a pub.

In that case he's lucky to have been able to secure one.

And OP, are you saying you’ve never once in your life gone out for a meal or a drink on an occasion that is can be celebrated at home - new year, Easter, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day etc - do you also think that’s lazy too and the staff serving you are hard done by?!

Of course she has. I bet then she wasn't hand wringing about the poor staff

The problem is you’re babying a 16 yo who’s working. If you want to baby your son don’t let him work, support him financially.

Meanwhile I'm here sparing a thought for my aunt whose son suddenly died a few weeks ago.

You have more to be grateful for than you think OP.

just move the dinner to a different time, it's what families up and down the country do.

We used to fight over the Christmas shifts at that age, as we got double time and loads of tips. Hope your DS gets that too. It used to be a fun atmosphere too with champagne flowing behind the scenes (possibly not for a 16 yr old)…. Happy Christmas, hope he’s home soon x

So if you knew he would end up working Christmas and that will spoil your Christmas, why not celebrate a different day?

Im a nurse. I've worked every other Christmas for 20 years. We also have extended family a drive away so have always been flexible. Christmas day does not have to be celebrated on 25th, We've celebrated days before or days after so we can all be together and often have more than one "Christmas day"